This is it, the first engine shot of the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V. Unfortunately, it's not a very good one as it doesn't actually show the engine. What it does show is a very suspicious looking cover over what many suspect is a supercharged LS3 V8. We still think it's nothing more than the 505hp LS7 from the current Z06 and there's nothing conclusive enough in this photo to prove otherwise...
One reason we're suspicious of the supercharger claim is the absence of a heat exchanger tucked behind the grille. If this CTS-V is packing a detuned version of the blown V8 built for the Corvette SS, it would need some method of reducing the temperature of the liquid from the intercooler. As far as we can tell, there's nothing behind the grille of this prototype but a big condenser for the air conditioning.
Another reason we're not buying the supercharger theory just yet -- the sound of this prototype at speed. Audio from our first spy video of the Cadillac CTS-V had a distinct absence of supercharger whine. Our latest footage sounds about the same. What we can hear is the deep bellow of a serious V8, so like we said before, this car is going to be fast no matter what engine is under the hood.
Stay tuned for a full spy video coming early next week, and in the meantime we'll keep digging up all the information we can on the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V.
estreka says:
04:59 PM, 06/15/07
They sure have gone through a lot of trouble of keeping us guessing. I guess if the Mustang has a useless bulge...
jim118 says:
07:56 PM, 06/15/07
The reason you don't see the intercooler is because it is integrated into the intake manifold. It's sitting in top on the motor right where that fabric-looking cover is.
rockylee says:
12:36 AM, 06/16/07
WOW, if I had the money this would rank at the top of my list as well !!!!
-Rocky
fst1 says:
08:17 AM, 06/16/07
jim118:
The intercooler and the heat exchanger are two different parts.
-- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor
jim118 says:
09:08 AM, 06/16/07
Yes. Again, it's all part of the assembly that is covered on top of the motor.
fst1 says:
09:49 AM, 06/16/07
jim118:
If the heat exchanger is located on top of the engine, then where is it getting cool air from given there's no hood scoop?
jkavanagh says:
10:59 AM, 06/16/07
jim118, the intercooler system consists of two distinct heat exchangers. Only one of them is part of the assembly atop the engine. This is the intercooler. It is where the hot air is cooled by liquid.
A second heat exchanger--the one that is missing behind the grille of the CTS-V--is required to cool the hot liquid. This is essentially a smallish radiator and must be located where the ambient air can cool it.
hondacura4 says:
01:28 PM, 06/17/07
Ive always wondered why Cadillac positioned the regular CTS against the 3 but the CTS-V is positioned againstt the M5. So this leaves the STS-V where?
stingray454 says:
07:07 AM, 06/18/07
It's not always necessary to use a separate heat exchanger for a liquid intercooler. You can use the regular engine coolant for it, with a single larger capacity radiator.
That engine still looks taller than an LS7, and why would they bother with that engine cover unless they were trying to hide something different?
jkavanagh says:
12:21 PM, 06/18/07
stingray, what was the last car to use the engine coolant circuit for the intercooler?
You'll notice those setups have been abandoned as they can't lower intake temperatures below the coolant temp. With the coolant temps of modern cars creeeping up into the ~220°F range, a moderately-boosted engine will actually be better off not intercooling at all, in that case.
ateixeira says:
09:44 AM, 06/22/07
This thing looks very promising...
leafs1 says:
06:43 PM, 11/ 2/07
Does anyone know a price range on the 09 -V yet?