The Cadillac CTS-V was a high-performance variant of the CTS sedan from General Motors’ Cadillac division. The nameplate spans three generations, with the first-gen model launching for the 2004 model year and the last being discontinued after the 2019 model year.
| First Gen | Second Gen | Third Gen | |
| Model Years | 2004 – 2007 | 2008 – 2015 | 2016-2019 |
| Assembly Location | Lansing Grand River Plant, Michigan, USA | Lansing Grand River Plant, Michigan, USA | Lansing Grand River Plant, Michigan, USA |
| Body Style(s) | Sedan | Sedan, Wagon, Coupe | Sedan |
| Layout | Front-Engined, Longitudinal | Front-Engined, Longitudinal | Front-Engined, Longitudinal |
| Engine | Atmospheric 5.7L LS6 V8 | Supercharged 6.2L LSA V8 | Supercharged 6.2L LT4 V8 |
| Transmission | Tremec T56 6-Speed Manual | Tremec TR-6060 6-Speed Manual or 6L90 6-Speed Auto | 8L90 8-Speed Auto |
| Drive Wheels | Rear-Wheel-Drive | Rear-Wheel-Drive | Rear-Wheel-Drive |
| Availability | U.S.A. | U.S.A., Canada | U.S.A., Canada, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Middle East |
| Predecessor | - | First-get CTS-V | Second-gen CTS-V |
| Successor | Second-gen CTS-V | Third-get CTS-V | CT5-V Blackwing |
First-Generation CTS-V
| Model Years | 2004 – 2007 |
| Assembly Location | Lansing Grand River Plant, Michigan, USA |
| Body Style(s) | Sedan |
| Power (hp / kW) | 400 / 302 |
| Torque (lb-ft / Nm) | 395 / 536 |
| Engine(s) | Atmospheric 5.7L LS6 V8 |
| Transmission(s) | Tremec T56 6-Speed Manual |
| Drive Wheels | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Availability | U.S.A. |
When the Cadillac CTS-V debuted for the first time as a 2004 model, it was available exclusively with a Tremec T-56 six-speed manual transmission, which was paired with a 5.7-liter LS6 V8 engine making 400-horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque. Affectionately nicknamed the “four-door Z06”, the first-ever CTS-V was praised for its ability to offer both Corvette-like performance and smooth Cadillac refinement, a combination that is still admired in vehicles that can trace their ancestral roots to CTS-V, including the 2020 CT4-V and 2020 CT5-V as well as the CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing models.
With a good launch, the P245/45WR18 Goodyear tires are able to hang on well enough to sling the nearly-4,000-pound sedan from zero to sixty in less than five seconds. The rear differential housing actually underwent several redesigns before engineers settled on one that could endure consecutive launches. While the acceleration was competitive for the time, but what really made the CTS-V shine was its ability to transcend the mundanity of street driving when taken to a track or briskly swept through curvy canyon roads.
| Model | Comments |
|---|---|
| 2004 Cadillac CTS-V | First model year |
| 2005 Cadillac CTS-V | Second model year |
| 2006 Cadillac CTS-V | Third model year |
| 2007 Cadillac CTS-V | Final model year |
See complete first-generation Cadillac CTS-V information and details (coming soon).
Second-Generation CTS-V
| Model Years | 2008 – 2015 |
| Assembly Location | Lansing Grand River Plant, Michigan, USA |
| Body Style(s) | Sedan, Coupe, Wagon |
| Power (hp / kW) | 580 / 432 |
| Torque | 556 / 745 |
| Engine | Supercharged 6.2L LSA V8 |
| Transmission(s) | Tremec TR-6060 6-Speed Manual or 6L90 6-Speed Auto |
| Drive Wheels | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Availability | U.S.A., Canada |
The second-generation CTS-V welcomed a complete re-engineering of Cadillac’s most athletic steed, as well as the switch from a naturally aspirated to a supercharged V8 via the 6.2-liter LSA engine. The standard manual T-56 transmission was replaced by a TR-6060 unit, which is also a Tremec-built 6-speed. However, the TR-6060 features a short-throw shifter and twin-disk clutch, yet maintains a dual-mass flywheel setup. The optional 6L90 Hydra-Matic auto featured paddle shift technology, but it was an otherwise conventional (planetary gearing with a torque converter) automatic six-speed.
In addition to the re-designing of the sedan’s interior and exterior, Cadillac also introduced CTS-V Wagon and CTS-V Coupe models for the 2011 model year. The two new body styles would be offered for four model years before being discontinued. Notably, CTS-V Wagons equipped with manual transmissions are currently highly-coveted by automotive enthusiasts.
| Model | Comments |
|---|---|
| 2008 Cadillac CTS-V | First model year |
| 2009 Cadillac CTS-V | Second model year |
| 2010 Cadillac CTS-V | Third model year |
| 2011 Cadillac CTS-V | Fourth model year – wagon and coupe models introduced |
| 2012 Cadillac CTS-V | Fifth model year |
| 2013 Cadillac CTS-V | Sixth model year |
| 2014 Cadillac CTS-V | Seventh model year – wagon and coupe models discontinued |
| 2015 Cadillac CTS-V | Final model year |
See complete second-generation Cadillac CTS-V information and details (coming soon).
Third-Generation CTS-V
| Model Years | 2016 – 2019 |
| Assembly Location | Lansing Grand River Plant, Michigan, USA |
| Body Style | Sedan |
| Power (hp / kW) | 640 / 477 |
| Torque (lb-ft / Nm) | 640 / 855 |
| Engine(s) | Supercharged 6.2L LT4 V8 |
| Transmission(s) | 8L90 8-Speed Auto |
| Drive Wheels | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Availability | U.S.A., Canada, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Middle East |
The final-generation of the CTS-V was available exclusively as a four-door sedan and rode on the then-new Alpha platform. Unlike the first two generations, the third-gen model was not offered with a manual transmission. The 8L90 eight-speed automatic transmission was the sole offering, though it gave the driver the option to manually control gear shifts via steering wheel paddles. Additionally, Performance Algorithm Shifting delivered shift performance that rivaled the dual-clutch/semi-automatic transmissions found in many luxury performance sedans at the time – such as the BMW M5 or Audi S7 – but with the smoothness and refinement that come with a conventional automatic fitted with a torque converter.
While the transmission offering might have been less than ideal for automotive purists, the supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8 was anything but lackluster despite having a slightly lower output compared to the Chevy C7 Corvette Z06 and sixth-gen Camaro ZL1 applications. The 640 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque generated by the blown smallblock was enough to propel the high-performance luxury sedan from zero to sixty miles-per-hour in just 3.7 seconds.
Several limited edition CTS-V models were built from the 2016 through 2019 model years, including the Crystal White Frost Edition, Carbon Black Edition, Championship Edition, and Pedestal Edition.
| Model | Comments |
|---|---|
| 2016 Cadillac CTS-V | First model year |
| 2017 Cadillac CTS-V | Second model year |
| 2018 Cadillac CTS-V | Third model year |
| 2019 Cadillac CTS-V | Final model year |
See complete third-generation Cadillac CTS-V information and details (coming soon).
Discontinuation
The production of the Cadillac CTS-V – as well as its younger sibling, the ATS-V – ended before spring of 2019. Notably, the last Cadillac CTS-V ever produced was finished in Velocity Red, which is one of the rarer paint colors for the model line as it was introduced to the nameplate for the final 2019 model year, replacing the darker Red Obsession Tintcoat.
The death of the CTS-V came at a time when consumers favored crossovers and SUVs, which meant The General began axing products in low-demand. In fact, General Motors trimmed its U.S. sedan lineup by ten models in five years, and currently has just three sedans left (in the U.S. market).
Sales
See Cadillac CTS sales numbers for global markets.
Discussion
Discuss the Cadillac CTS-V in our Cadillac forum.
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