Cadillac is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the V-Series sub-brand, marking two decades since the debut of the CTS-V.R in the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge GT race at Sebring. Over the years, Cadillac’s V-Series models have offered a combination of luxury and track-ready performance, which is now set to continue into the all-electric space, most likely with the new Cadillac Lyriq-V, as GM Authority was the first to report. Which raises one very interesting question – will EVs be the better expression of the Cadillac V-Series than the ICE models that came before?
Before you grab the torches and pitchforks in the comments section, let’s explore the idea. For starters, EVs are quick – very quick, in fact, a characteristic that definitely falls in line with the Cadillac V-Series brand. Chalk it up to a vertical torque curve and huge power levels, and EVs can be insanely quick in a straight line.
But what about in the corners? Although EVs tend to be quite heavy, a lot of the heft is mounted low thanks to flat battery packs under the floor. As such, EVs can handle surprisingly well for how heavy they are. Throw in a set of super-sticky tires, and EVs can have a tenacious grip on the road.
Even so, all that doesn’t necessarily translate into quick lap times. Sometimes, though, it does. The all-electric Porsche Taycan, for example, set a new EV lap record at the infamous Nurburgring race track in Germany earlier this year, blazing around Nordschleife in a mind-bending 7:07.55. By comparison, the ICE-powered Chevy Corvette Z06 lapped the ‘Ring in 7:12.64.
Which brings us to perhaps the most controversial aspect of EVs, at least for performance enthusiasts – the sound. It goes without saying that an uncorked internal combustion monster sounds amazing, and always will. But that’s not to say all EVs sound terrible. Sometimes, battery-powered models can even sound cool – in our opinion, the GMC Hummer EV’s various sound patterns are a decent example of this.
Either way, the EV versus ICE debate is sure to rage on endlessly, and it remains to be seen if the market prefers an EV Cadillac V-Series over an ICE-powered Cadillac V-Series. For now, at least.
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A big NO.
No manual, artificial/no steering feedback, heavy weight, no supercharged V8 sound/whine, no high hp RWD fun and no sense of mechanical feeling. These are the things that make V-Series so sought after and adored by the enthusiasts.
Why not name the EV's " Edsel" and see what happens.
EVs are superior in every characteristics of any vehicle. This is why there are the best on any planet or moon, including our Moon and on Mars.
Jonathan, just ignore the naysayers. Their great-grandfathers did the same when the first gasoline autos arrived over 120 years ago. By 2050, gasoline engines will be museum pieces just as steam engines are.
EV's were out 100 years ago and they FAILED, TWICE. 3 strikes and your ouuuuuuuttttttt!
-The Ice MAN
Aside from the cold weather that drains the batteries, the long charging time, the limited range vs. ICE vehicles, the higher cost to insure, wearing tires out twice as fast as an ICE vehicle, higher insurance costs, and tens of thousands to replace a defective battery, you are right- EVs are superior.
* deaf ears* Waste of bandwidth to even ask.
Who cares? Cadillac will be gone in the next 5 or so years.....
Please explain this Thesis, I am curious the thought process that went into this comment
Just put the electric car in there own class
Where’s the tangible / meaningful “benefit”?
Sacrificing the primary benefit of the original V brand for a secondary one dilutes it…reducing it to simply badging, emblems and decals.
LOL…no
Has anyone noticed the large amount of used Teslas on lots lately? The fact that they're so expensive to repair and replace batteries doesn't make sense to the real world. And the first initial discussion that Porsche is about $200,000 and that's what it takes to have something in EV format that handles just as well. We're not ready yet. I like them, but we're just not there yet. They're just not affordable enough for the real world. But once again jam it down her throats force us and the majority of the sheet will conform. I enjoy my ice vehicles the way they sound and the way they handle. I don't want to be another individual sitting at Wawa for half an hour every other day so my vehicle can charge. Just saying
slot car racing, no thanks. I have a Vagon, and may be buried in it from the way things look for future cars.
The problem with this hypothesis is it's coming from the top down - meaning that GM is pushing the talking points, not its customer base, to which the EV's sitting on the lots longer then do their ICE counterparts is proof that the population at large are avoiding buying them. If GM decides to go fully EV's for its V and Blackwing series and not offer ICE, they may benefit from a niche market of EV buyers, but they will we loosing a majority of Americans who love ICE and what can be done to modify their performance.
Ice is the only way to go!! 👍
NO!!!! GM scrap the EV nonsense right now and look into Hybrid powertrains!! This woke agenda needs to stop
I need the engine sound and transmission shift feeling.
Sell me a GTP Hybrid power train and we can talk about electric. I am an electrician and it is foolish and short sited to think that the very old American infrastructure could support a massive EV market.
Ev’s Do not meet the traditional American market. Cars have never been about what we need. It’s about what we want. I for one love the idea of an ev …. But I need 350 to 400 mile between charges with full winter/summer temp control, and all the fixings in full operation. And I need the charging system installed as part of my purchase. Not to mention I would need a charge time of less then 10 minutes for less then $50 no matter where I stop.
We’re still to far way.