Page 7 - Victory Driven: Cadillac V-Series sample pages

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The E55 was powered by a new Mercedes-Benz (M113) 5.0-liter
V8 motor and in usual AMG fashion, it was bored out to just under
5.5 liters, hence the E55’s number title. Additional AMG upgrades
included:
CADILLAC’S V-SERIES
24-valve SOHC (twin-cam, one-per-bank) cylinder heads
and beefed-up internals
A heavy-duty five-speed automatic transmission out of a
Fine Books © Dalton Watson Fi V12 Benz and equipped with driver-select modes and an
electronic stability control program (ESP)
AMG-tuned suspension with stiffer shocks/springs and
thicker anti-roll bars
The E50’s big brakes, wheels and even wider tires
Power ratings had the American-market E55 making 349 hp and
a whopping 391 lb-ft from its naturally aspirated V8. Performance
figures were 4.9 seconds to 60 mph, 13.5 seconds in the 1⁄4-mile at
105 mph and a governed top speed of 158 mph. The (W210) E55
Sporty robust models, like the 2002, quickly became BMW’s forte and set
soldiered on until the end of the 2002 model year, when for 2003,
a course the carmaker would follow with resounding success.
the refreshed and supercharged (W211) E55 was given the duty.
© Dalton Watson Fine Books © Dalton Watson Fine Books BMW “M” FOR MOTORSPORT
As the meaning of its famed letter moniker clearly indicates, BMW’s
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high-end, ultra-high performance “M” division traces its origins
to the world of motorsports. Similar to Mercedes, BMW’s racing
involvement grew with ever-increasing fervor through the 1960s
and 1970s.
© Dalton Watson Fine Books © Dalton Watson Fine Books During this period, BMW models like the 1600, 1800, 2000Ti and the
2002 represented Bavarian Motor Works on the European racing
circuit. Although these cars had 4-cylinder engines, they were highly
modified for racing. As BMW improved these models and increased
The E55 AMG was a true super sedan and a benchmark for Cadillac’s first
their performance, they secured numerous European Touring Car
championships (ETCC), fostering BMW’s post war reputation as a
CTS-V.
maker of sports-oriented sedans/coupes.
Starting in the mid-1960s, tuner companies like Alpina, Hartge and
Mercedes-Benz continued its onslaught of world-class vehicles,
Schnitzer (AC Schnitzer) built their businesses and reputations on
with ever-increasing levels of high technology and superior build
modifying and preparing these BMW models for competition. Later,
quality. AMG upgraded them all, with its hand-assembled, naturally
American-based BMW tuning firms developed, including Callaway
aspirated, supercharged or BITURBO (twin-turbocharged) V6, V8
Turbosystems, Dinan Performance Engineering and Korman
and V12 engines and performance-enhancing packages. AMG
Autoworks. Although these companies played an integral part in
vehicles remained limited-volume, appealing to a very select,
alton Watson Fine Books © Dalton Watson BMW’s early racing legacy, with their practices and expertise setting
enthusiast buyer, but their significance and prestige for Mercedes- an example, they remain separate entities to this day. Unlike AMG,
Benz always outweighed their numbers.
which was eventually absorbed by Mercedes-Benz, becoming an
in-house performance/racing division, the BMW tuners did not
The first-generation Cadillac CTS-V was situated in direct
directly lead to the formation of BMW Motorsport. According to Bob
competition with the Mercedes-Benz C/E-Class AMG-variants.
INTRODUCTION // CONCEPTION
Lutz, the tuners were well respected by BMW, but they were never
Following the chronological evolution of the V-Series, there will
an influence to use outside sources for the Motorsport division. The
be a more detailed look at corresponding AMG models. However,
goal was to keep everything in the company.
Mercedes-Benz-AMG was only one of the automotive combatants in
the German axis of ultra-high performance with which the V-Series
Differing from Mercedes-Benz, who seemed to keep AMG at an
would have to contend. Now it is on to Bavaria.
arm’s length with a firm grip for many years, BMW was intent
ine Books ©