Cadillac's V-series turns 20 years old this year, as it spans all the way back to 2004. At the time, Cadillac was desperate to reinvent itself and shed its "cars for old-timers" reputation that it had held for decades. Their boldest idea was to create a hot version of one of their newest models, the CTS. It was a success, and those who could afford the blisteringly-quick Caddy loved it.
Cadillac is an American brand belonging to the General Motors Company - a multinational automaker located in the USA. It develops and produces luxury vehicles, with notable flagships like the Escalade and Celestiq, the latter being an ultra-luxury EV. A range of electric Cadillacs are also in the cards. The brand is also known for its V-Series of cars, with the Blackwing models being the most potent performers in the lineup.
Since then, there have been several Cadillac models to receive the 'V' treatment, from sedans to SUVs. They're all exceptionally quick, but which one holds the title of fastest Cadillac V model? Here we rank the V models of the past by their 0-60 times - which model will be called the quickest?
0-60 mph times featured in the following write-up were taken from Cadillac's press site claims as well as real world test drive scenarios. V models are ranked from slowest to quickest.
Engine | 4.4-Liter Supercharged V8 |
Horsepower | 469 hp |
Torque | 439 lb-ft |
Top Speed | 155 mph |
Drivetrain | RWD |
Transmission | 6-Speed Automatic |
Nearly two decades ago, Cadillac was already building cars with impressive specs and rapid 0-60 times. The STS was a short-lived nameplate, spanning only six years from 2005 to 2011. The STS as a whole was meant to be a slightly more luxurious version of the Cadillac CTS. Despite its agreeable pricing, it sold poorly and earned itself an early death. However, Cadillac did try to breathe some competitive muscle into the STS when they released the STS-V for the 2006 model year, claiming a 0-60 time of 4.6 seconds, although most reports indicate 4.8 seconds was more realistic. The luxury marque shoehorned a supercharged version of their Northstar V8 into the car, upping the horsepower to nearly 470. But, like the normal STS, it sold poorly and was discontinued after just three years.
Engine | 3.0-Liter Twin-Turbo V6 |
Horsepower | 360 hp |
Torque | 405 lb-ft |
Top Speed | 156 mph |
Drivetrain | RWD | AWD |
Transmission | 10-Speed Automatic |
The 2024 CT5-V, unlike its powerlifting Blackwing brother, uses a twin-turbocharged V6 engine that puts out less than 400 horses. It's been historically attainable with a starting price below $50,000 in 2020, meaning a sub-five-second 0-60 mph time was within reach for the masses. The most recent version is available in both rear- and all-wheel drive, with the latter being slower to 60 mph by two-tenths. The RWD CT5-V will get their in 4.6 seconds - and the price still comes in at a good $51,495 MSRP.
And the worst. Never forget the worst.
Engine | 2.7-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four |
Horsepower | 325 hp |
Torque | 380 lb-ft |
Top Speed | 156 mph |
Drivetrain | RWD | AWD |
Transmission | 10-Speed Automatic |
Cadillac's CT4-V is the smallest car in the current V lineup, and it also has the least amount of power. The CT4 is the spiritual successor to the now-discontinued CTS, as it occupies the same size segment. The CT4-V uses a modified version of GM's LB3 turbocharged inline-four engine, which can churn out nearly 400 pound-feet of torque. It may not be entirely a 3 Series-beater, but its low price and decent power make it an attractive option for those in the market for a small, fast sedan. Like the CT5, the CT4 also offers a Blackwing variant that uses an entirely different power plant. As you may be able to guess, we'll be covering that one later on in this list.
Engine | 6.2-Liter Supercharged V8 |
Horsepower | 682 hp |
Torque | 653 lb-ft |
Top Speed | 125 lb-ft |
Drivetrain | AWD |
Transmission | 10-Speed Automatic |
Our first and only SUV makes an appearance on our list. The Cadillac Escalade has been a cultural and luxury icon for over two decades, ever since its introduction in 1999. Since then, it's been one of the most commonly seen vehicles in high-income areas of Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. In short, the Escalade always seems to follow the money. Cadillac figured it best to take that mantra to heart, and decided to create a V version of the Escalade. The Escalade V has a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that can put out almost 700 horses, making for a seriously quick 0-60 mph time for a full-size SUV.
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Engine | 3.6-Liter Twin-Turbo V6 |
Horsepower | 464 hp |
Torque | 445 lb-ft |
Top Speed | 189 mph |
Drivetrain | RWD |
Transmission | 6-Speed Manual |
Next up is another discontinued model, the Cadillac ATS-V. The ATS model as a whole was also given discontinued in 2018 to make room for the upcoming refreshed lineup of Cadillac sedans, those being the CT4, CT5, and CT6. Considering the ATS-V's rather small power plant, it's capable of some serious damage on the streets. Despite only having six cylinders, the twin-turbocharged forced induction allows the LF4 engine to produce 464 hp, as well as helping the ATS-V reach a top speed just 11 miles-per-hour short of 200 MPH.
Engine | 3.6-Liter Twin-Turbo V6 |
Horsepower | 472 hp |
Torque | 445 lb-ft |
Top Speed | 189 mph |
Drivetrain | RWD | AWD |
Transmission | 6-Speed MT | 10-Speed Auto |
We've arrived at our first Blackwing entry, the CT4-V Blackwing. Basically, the intimidating moniker is there to let everyone know this Caddy means serious business. As for the CT4-V version, GM decided to use a twin-turbocharged version of their 3.6-liter V6. It's able to produce an impressive amount of power, clocking in at over 470 horses. Using that oomph, the CT4-V Blackwing can reach 60 mph 3.9 seconds with the self-shifter equipped, or 3.8 seconds if you choose the available automatic. Considering a new CT4-V Blackwing costs just about $60,000, its speed-to-money ratio makes it quite a bargain.
Engine | 4.2-Liter Twin-Turbo V8 |
Horsepower | 550 hp |
Torque | 640 lb-ft |
Top Speed | 149 mph (Limited) |
Drivetrain | AWD |
Transmission | 10-Speed Automatic |
The next entry on our list is the Cadillac CT6-V, a model that's especially significant in Cadillac's V lineup. The 4.2-liter twin-turbo V8 that it used was specially developed by Cadillac, and uses no recycled parts. The 4.2-liter motor was originally named the Blackwing. Cadillac would later adopt that name for their high-performance models. The Blackwing engine, reportedly, cost Cadillac $20,000 each to produce. This didn't go over well with the powers-that-be, and LTA V8 production was limited to just 1,500 examples. Of that number, 875 were destined for CT6-Vs, and 625 of them went to CT6s in Platinum trim guise - the highest possible grade you could option on a CT6. AWD provided the grip needed to rocket this car to 60 mph in under four seconds.
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Engine | 6.2-Liter Supercharged V8 |
Horsepower | 640 hp |
Torque | 630 lb-ft |
Top Speed | 200 mph |
Drivetrain | RWD |
Transmission | Eight-Speed Automatic |
We've reached the penultimate model in the list. 2016 marked the first year of the final-gen CTS sedan. So, because of this, the CTS-V was tasked with going out with a bang. It received a supercharged, modified version of GM's 6.2-liter LT4 V8 which easily made 640 horses - at the time, it was the most powerful Cadillac ever produced, and the most powerful in its class. The 2016 CTS-V was also the first mass-market Cadillac to reach a top speed of 200 mph.
Engine | 6.2-Liter Supercharged V8 |
Horsepower | 668 hp |
Torque | 659 lb-ft |
Top Speed | >200 mph |
Drivetrain | RWD | AWD |
Transmission | 6-Speed MT | 10-Speed Auto |
The quickest Cadillac V model is the latest CT5-V Blackwing. This list features the regular CT5-V higher up, so it's only fitting that its muscular brother is the most rapid mass-market Cadillac available in 2024. The CT5-V Blackwing's power comes courtesy of GM's favorite supercharged V8, the 6.2-liter LT4. As standard, buyers receive a six-speed manual transmission, with a 10-speed automatic being optional. To stop all of that supercharged V8 power, Cadillac offers a Brembo ceramic brake package, which also saves 64 pounds from the CT5-V Blackwing's total curb weight. And if you think this one is good, you'll want to see what Cadillac has in store for the 2025 model year.
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Sources: ZeroTo60Time.com, QuantrellCadillac.com, AutoData.net, JDPower.com, Cadillac.com
2024-07-14T06:30:16Z dg43tfdfdgfd