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A Deep Dive Of The 2014 Cadillac CTS Vsport With Chief Engineer Dave Leone: Video

The third-generation of Cadillac’s CTS is the best-handling, fastest iteration of the mid-size sedan yet. As Cadillac chief engineer David Leone told MotoMan, to go faster, you need to add power and reduce weight. That’s a lot easier said than done, though. So let’s have Leone walk us through the fastest version of the third-gen CTS, the Vsport, and show us where and how he and has team shaved weight, improved aerodynamics and added power.

Leone starts off with arguably the most important component in the CTS Vsport, the twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter LF3 V6 engine. He says the engine team originally estimated the TT3.6 would be “close to 400 horsepower,” but the engine exceeded expectations , delivering 420 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque.

Then Leone turns his attention to the numerous pieces that the team worked to make as light as possible. These include aluminium doors, an all-aluminium front cradle, a tubular aluminium instrument panel beam, a roll-formed aluminium bumper beam and an aluminium B-pillar. In total, these various parts helped Cadillac shave over 250 lbs from the new CTS over the outgoing model.

Don’t take our word for it, though. No one knows the third-generation Cadillac CTS better than Leone, so pay close attention as he walks you through the major changes made to the car in the video below.

Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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