Listen To The Cadillac CT5-V Pop Between Gear Changes: Video
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Every model in the Cadillac CT5 range is a luxury sedan, but the 2021 Cadillac CT5-V adds the words “high-performance.” In fact, it’s currently the most powerful CT5 there is, and will remain so until the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing launches this summer. Given its dual role of the CT5-V, it makes perfect sense that Cadillac has provided it with two distinct characters according to how it is driven.
For example, there is a particular sound effect that becomes apparent only when the CT5-V is being pushed as hard as it will go. The twin-turbo 3.6L V6 LGY gasoline engine, rated at 360 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque, makes a distinctive popping sound during gear changes when the throttle is fully open.
This is not unique to the Cadillac CT5-V. Several other performance cars from other automakers do this, too. But that makes it no less relevant to the Cadillac.
If the GM Hydra-Matic 10-speed automatic gearbox is left to make its own decisions about when to shift from one ratio to the next, the sound will be heard only rarely. Taking the car to the max legally in every gear would require either a very long runway or a visit to a German autobahn.
However, there is a more practical way of making the engine pop on its way through the gears. The effect does not occur only at maximum revs but rather at wide open throttle, so a driver wanting to hear it can make early shifts manually. The V6 engine note is slightly more muted in these conditions, but the pops are as loud and as pleasing as ever.
The Cadillac CT5-V – and indeed every other Cadillac CT5 for the Americas – is built at the GM Lansing Grand River assembly plant in Michigan, on the Alpha 2 platform also for the Cadillac CT4. It is priced to start at $48,790 (including $995 destination charge) with rear-wheel-drive, or at $51,390 with all-wheel-drive.
To hear the CT5-V popping during a series of manual shifts, check out this video:
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Ya, like a luxury car needs to make those annoying sounds. Just one more way Cadillac keeps chasing the imports. This is something I’d expect from a rice-burner kids car.
The one thing I really wish my base CT4 would have way less engine noise. It doesn’t even sound pleasant and is the only thing I don’t like about the car.
But that’s the thing – the V is not just a luxury car. It’s a performance luxury car, and the sound is a big part of the overall performance/sport experience, and is also something that happens on Mercedes, bmw and Audi models.
Keep in mind that the sound is only made at wide open throttle… so it’s far from a constant and is far from being annoying.
Ding ding ding. Alex nailed it.
This isn’t anything annoying, but rather a gorgeous sound that’s complementary to the driving experience. Ferraris have been doing this for a decade now and it has nothing to do with rice burners or kids car.
Dan – don’t confuse the untuned noises from the base LSY to those with the LGY. Totally different engines and the LGY is tuned to make great sounds… the LSY is not.
When I said what I said, I knew it would hit a sore spot with many. But I don’ t care. I speak what I feel and/or believe, not what others want to hear. With that said, I work at an extremely busy intersection in the Los Angeles area. We have the NFL up the street (I say this because many of them drive high end luxury/sports cars) and they just LOVE to wind them up as they take off from this intersection. It’s also located on the west side of Los Angeles area with a lot of these cars flying around. My point is that the “popping” noise is not luxury. It’s not cute. It’s stupid as hell and certainly does NOT become a Cadillac. It’s something you would expect on a rice-burner and from the wienies driving the BMW and begging for attention.
Now, if you are speaking about the nice rumble sound from that car (not the popping noise) or the nice rumble of a V8, that is nice. But this article was not about that sound, it’s about the popping noise. Huge difference.
Have you actually experienced the sound on the CT5-V?
Alex: Don’t need to. I don’t care if it’s just a little different from the others. It’s absolutely not something I would ever want my car to do. The purpose is? Nothing. Some look-at-me BMW or rice burner probably came up with it to gain attention. Cadillac (weather the standard models or sport models) is or should be luxury. Nothing here exudes luxury.
3.0 TT is fine engine(had one in CT6). But the one aspect I couldn’t ignore was the ugly black belts with the Sedona Sauvage interior. One of these years Cadillac will spend some money on interiors so it doesn’t look 75% done. Enough with black on black with more black, even when the interior primary color isn’t black!
Nice video! I know a lot of people like to be negative. I like to be positive. I appreciate that video. Thank you so much.
Well said.
Good sounds! I had installed an aftermarket manual control on the dual mode exhaust on my former ’12 GS. My buddy called it instant glass packs.
I believe the popping exhaust sound between the shifts is the engines ECU reducing the spark instantaneously to ease the the shifts on the transmission…
In a Cadillac, what that worth, another two grand !! Cadillac will never again be Cadillac. What a shame.
Hello cadillac,really a luxury car that is designed to make loud popping noise, Really Really,,i hear many loud obnoxious very new cars on the road now and this is something a kid would want to be loud and obnoxious.
I’m counting the days now when electric cars finally have market share and people can actually have conversations while walking along sidewalks again without all the loud POPPING NOISE.
Give us a break.truly.jk
Been driving my CT5-V for almost a year now. The beautiful sounds made by the CT5-V are completely different than the loud and obnoxious popping noises you’re talking about. This complements the car and the driving experience… the others you describe do not.
Also, I have plenty of conversations inside my car, which is whisper quiet, thank you very much.
OK CADILLAC IF LOUD POPPING NOISE IS WHAT YOUR AFTER HOWS THIS LOUDER RANT,,THESE LOUD NOISES RRRR OBNOXIOUS AND TOTALLY UNNECESSARY ESPECIALLY IN A LUXURY CAR..BUT IF LOUD OBNOXIOUS IS WHAT YOU RESPOND TO I WROTE THIS LOUDDD AND UNNECESSARY THE WAY YOU LIKE IT,,thank god electric cars are the real future and being able to walk and drive and bike our quiet streets will be a blessing,truly.jk
It’s only loud when you’re at full throttle and electric cars you could have them.
Thank you very much!
That is a glorious sounding 6-cylinder. Current BMW M3/4 wished it sounded this good.
Curious how will the CT4-V BW will sound?
I’m starting this on a separate comment thread because I really don’t think most of the comments above are talking about the same thing this article is about. When I listen to that video, I hear a really nice exhaust note (sound) that although it’s not for me personally, I think it sounds nice. However, the article is about the “POP” noise under full throttle or under certain conditions not attainable by most drivers. There is a HUGE difference between the two. If you don’t believe me, then come to Los Angeles and stand at a busy intersection for a few hours. You will change your mind quite fast and if you don’t, then maybe you belong in the BMW family of look at me drivers. Bottom line? This is certainly not what Cadillac should be. I have zero problem with them having a nice exhaust note for the V-series cars. But give those of us who like quiet something too!!!! I love my CT4 except for the noise the 2.0 Turbo makes. Very non-Cadillac.
And MyMode has the quiet exhaust option.
I don’t hear much above playing the stereo loud. 🙂
who is playing the stereo loud in a Caddy ?? Don’t answer, I know, a person who has no clue what a REAL Cadillac is. Bet the windows are tinted, big wheels and fake stick on crap. Guess who.
What a village idi.t, ct6v has 36 speakers who wouldn’t want to hit up that system. Window tint? Uhh makes a care look slicker r u kidding me old man. What does big wheels and fake sticker even mean Jimmy du…..sss T
I still think cadillac should of kept the Vs as the v8s and not water it down, the sound you hear that from Blackwing model ct6v or CTS-V and the new ct5v blackwing is awesome. The V8s just sound astounding.
I also believe if you want a quieter drive just change the sound to tour mode. So if that’s an issue for someone hating engine throttle noises change the mode.
Nice video should add in the exterior noises too, add a go pro+ETM to the rear while you run ur pulls.
GOD, that is fkn beautiful. I really hope this tech trickles its way down to a future Camaro. Twin Turbo V6 Camaro….. YES PLEASE.
Lol u r a big troll, caddy has a v8 twin turbo and v8 supercharged… common v6 is for Hondas bahahaha