Used 2010 Cadillac CTS

Cadillac shocked the auto world in 2002 with the angular "Art and Science" look of its all-new CTS sport sedan. Then, it added the marque’s first true high-performance variant in many years, the 2004 CTS-V. Two more performance models joined the line for 2006 – the larger STS-V Sedan and the Corvette-based XLR-V Roadster – both powered by a supercharged Cadillac Northstar V8. That first CTS-V, an entry-luxury mid-size sedan with a potent Corvette engine underhood, was best described as quick but crude. However, last year’s overhaul produced a CTS-V that could finally challenge the world’s best performance luxury sedans, as evidenced by its record-breaking fastest sedan lap time at Germany’s famed Nurburgring test track.

We spent quality time with manual and automatic 2010 Cadillac CTS-Vs on public roads and on a private "country club" race course and came away mightily impressed. The most powerful Cadillac ever and GM’s (and America’s) first high-performance sedan that’s competitive in every way with the best European ultra-performance entries, it is literally a quiet, comfortable, highly civilized four-door Corvette in the best sense of that comparison. Step on it hard, and it goes like a rocket. Zero to 60 mph comes up (in first gear) in 3.9 seconds with none of the previous model’s rear-axle antics, and it hits the quarter mile in 12 seconds at 118 mph with little effort. Thanks to Magnetic Ride Control, hard-accelerating, hard-cornering and hard-braking track laps are equally composed, the steering is precise and responsive, and no matter how hard or long you beat them, the race-bred Michelins and big red Brembos never tire or fade.

Inside the CTS-V, hand-stitched premium leather adorns the instrument panel, doors and center console, while the decorative trim is a new Obsidian material. Suede textured trims covers the seats, steering wheel and shifter. State-of-the-art infotainment features include standard Bose digital surround-sound audio with a 40-gigabyte hard drive and hands-free Bluetooth capability and available advanced navigation with a pop-up screen. Optional super-supportive Recaro performance seats 14-way adjustments include pneumatic bolster adjustments for both cushions and backrests.

The 2010 Cadillac CTS-V’s exterior builds on the standard CTS’ already assertive stance with beefy Michelin Pilot Sport 2 Z-rated "summer" performance tires on 19-inch (19 x 9 inch front, 19-9.5 inch rear) forged aluminum wheels. A raised hood accommodates the supercharged engine, and both fascias are specific to the CTS-V. The larger, mesh-covered grille and lower air intakes in front provide additional cooling for engine and brakes, while large chrome exhausts protrude from a deep lower valence in back.

Magnetic Ride Control (MRC)
Billed as "the world’s fastest-reacting suspension technology" with selectable Tour and Sport modes, it uses shocks controlled by electro-magnets instead of mechanical valves to instantaneously adjust damping to surface and dynamic conditions.

Six-speed Automatic Transmission
The CTS-V’s new Hydra-Matic 6L90 electronically controlled, twin-plate clutch six-speed automatic is as quick and smooth as any we’ve driven. It has tap up/tap down gear control with steering-wheel paddles, selectable modes and Performance Algorithm Shifting to provide a performance-oriented shift pattern during sustained aggressive driving.

Beyond the seriously stunning performance from its 556-horsepower supercharged V8 and standard Tremec six-speed manual transmission, the 2010 CTS-V comes well equipped with all the usual luxury sedan features plus GM’s Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) suspension, Michelin Pilot Sport 2 "summer" performance tires, heavy duty Brembo brakes, hand-stitched leather-lined interior and Bose digital surround-sound audio with a 40-gigabite hard drive and hands-free Bluetooth capability.

The 2010 Cadillac CTS-V’s small selection of options includes a six-speed automatic transmission (at no charge), Recaro performance seat package, upgraded wood trim package, an advanced navigation system and an UltraView "double" sunroof.

The 2010 Cadillac CTS-V’s surprisingly smooth 6.2-liter supercharged "LSA" V-8 pumps out a road-ripping 556 horsepower and 551 pound-feet of torque. A somewhat tamer sibling of the hand-built "LS9" supercharged V8 that generates an incredible 638 horsepower and 604 pounds-feet in the new Corvette ZR1, it is a Corvette-based pushrod (cam-in-block) V8, not a multivalve, double-overhead-cam design like Cadillac’s Northstar V8 and most other modern engines. Its integral intercooler controls intake air temperature to optimize output, and its performance-enhancing supercharger’s new four-lobe rotor is surprisingly quiet.

6.2-liter V8
556 horsepower @ 6100 rpm
551 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/19 (manual), 12/18 (automatic)