Page 20 - Victory Driven: Cadillac V-Series sample pages

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THE FULL WEIGHT OF SUCCESS
Supercar-like, straight-line performance was but one credential on
the CTS-V3’s accomplished resume. It was conceived and built to
excel with dual purpose. First, as a sophisticated luxury sedan and
second, as a full-on track weapon. Integral to the latter was its
power-to-weight ratio. Comparing the CTS-V3 with its rivals:
The 2016 E63 S AMG weighed in at 4,431 lbs, with a power-
Fine Books © Dalton Watson Fi to-weight ratio of 8 lbs per horsepower
The M5 tipped the scales at 4,387 lbs with each of its
horses having to haul 7.8 lbs
With a curb weight of 4,145 lbs, the CTS-V3 was the lightest
of the super sedans, including the all-wheel-drive (quattro)
Audi RS 7 (4,497 lbs). Each of the CTS-V3’s supercharged
ponies had to haul only 6.5 lbs
This seemingly small difference was supremely significant when
performing on a track. The CTS-V3’s precise and calculated
abilities will become fully evident with more in-depth, head-to-head
comparisons against later editions of the AMG E63 and BMW M5.
OPERATIONS REPORT: SUMMARY
Just when the long-established and dominant E63 AMG and M5
© Dalton Watson Fine Books © Dalton Watson Fine Books were being accused of straying from their original callings, the
2016 CTS-V was unleashed. It represented the highest evolution of
the still young V-Series in its purest and finest form. Once again,
Cadillac had raised the bar for the super sedan and by doing so,
produced one of the most dynamic road cars ever.
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Cadillac did it the American way, with gloves off and no holds barred.
Its designers and engineers took a proven formula and revised it,
creating a superior machine. Like its V-Series predecessors, the
Much like John Heinricy’s connection to the V1s and V2s, Tony Roma’s
finger prints were all over the V3s. Especially their steering wheels.
CTS-V3 was meant to be a true driver’s car enabling the utmost
feeling of control, connecting driver and car in an almost symbiotic
state. It fully accomplished this, instilling confidence when carving
© Dalton Watson Fine Books © Dalton Watson Fine Books a road or track and exhilaration when cruising at triple-digit speeds.
CTS-V3. Both variants had their own unique aspects, specific
During its tour, if any modern Cadillac rightfully deserved the
mission statements and precisely targeted adversaries.
accolade of “Standard of the World”, it was the CTS-V3.
LEVEL-6
North American Production totals for the 2016 CTS-V were 1,887
From its beginnings, the V-Series represented a full team effort.
units (1,345 in the U.S./542 in Canada).
From management approving development to the designers
advanced artistry on the base models, all provided a solid
VaUNTED // ThE V3 CTS-V SEDaN aND aTS-V SEDaN aND COUPE (2016-2019) CADILLAC’S V-SERIES DYNAMIC DUO: 2016 ATS-V SEDAN AND COUPE
foundation. As for the task of creating ultra-high performance cars
Cadillac first unveiled the ATS-V sedan and coupe at the 2015 North
able to run lap for lap with the world’s best and beat them, the
American International Auto Show in Los Angeles, November 2014.
engineers always took the lead. For the V3s, they were directed by
This was prior to the CTS-V3 at the Detroit show, in January 2015.
CTS and V-Series Chief Engineer, Tony Roma. His hands had been
The ATS-Vs were also featured in automotive press reviews when
on all V-cars to this point, as well as other GM heavy hitters like
in production a few months earlier. For the context of this history,
the Camaro ZL1. Roma’s impressive resume with GM, dates back
since the three Alpha-weapons were developed together by the
to 1993, when he started out as a 4L60-E transmission calibration
alton Watson Fine Books © Dalton Watson same team of designers and engineers and all are designated V3s,
engineer for Corvette and Camaro.
it makes perfect sense to examine them in relation to each other.
From there, he rose through the high-performance ranks, holding
Like their V2 predecessors, the V3 Cadillacs were not an
various titles including:
afterthought, but a fully calculated and integral part of the Alpha
V8 Powertrain System Engineer for HPVO
platform’s development. All three were developed at the Milford
CTS-V World Challenge Race Engine Team Manager
Proving Grounds and the Nürburgring and similarly equipped
Engineering Group Manager for GMPD/HPVO
with the same performance enhancements and advanced driver-
assistance technologies. However, for the ATS-Vs, their elite, ultra-
Sr. Engineering Group Manager for HPVO
high performance status was distinctly different than that of the
Performance Variant Manager Camaro ZL1/CTS-V
ine Books ©