Spy photos: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V uncovered

Eats the S6, M5 and E63 AMG as well in looks. Probably only takes a back seat to the CLS63 AMG.

This is good stuff, Ed! Thanks!

I'm happy they finally slammed the rear end. I bet it handles so much better than the last one.
Or maybe it's my imagination. In the first photo, the rear wheels look huge, but the last photo makes the front wheels look huge. Could this be a photoshop? In fact, upon further investigation, the rims are in the exact same position in both photos. I bet this is a fake.

A fake? From multiple angles? I don't think so. Look at the pics in the article. In the rear shot you can actually see the photographer shooting photos of the CTS-V from the back of another car.

Be still my heart. On looks alone, this blows away anything from BMW or Mercedes. Or Audi, for that matter, although none of their sedans look quite right with those long front overhangs. Those headlights and tail lights are just great. I love how Caddy went sharp and angular when everyone else was going swoopy-doopy. I'd put the IS-F in a distant second place. None of them look bad, but there is simply no competition. I think people forgive and accept weird styling from certain manufacturers because of reputation. "It's a Mercedes/BMW/Lexus, it's a great car!" That's fine, there is more to life than looking good. But this, to me, is the Corvette of sedans. Maybe not the "best" in every way, but close enough for public roads, and just too sexy to ignore.

I'm actually not crazy about it. Since the grille is smaller it actually makes the car look less aggressive than the standard CTS (and more like the old one). The rest of it is top-notch though.

If the new CTS is already a heavy car with a V6, the V8 is going to be a little bit heftier. We'll see if they got rid off of the "hoppity hop" rear end and cure some of the drive shaft woes. A friend of mine trade his for an Infiniti M45 after several trips to the dealer to cure drive shaft issues. Don't get me wrong, the picture shows a very awesome looking car.

I like the car overall but the lack of detailing on the lower fascias really hurt the cars looks. The front bumper looks like something I could buy off eBay. Cadillac, make the creases on the bumpers sharper and give it some definition. Mercedes executes this perfectly. Look at the Edmunds LT MB C300 for example. The front bumper is crisp and clean like the rest of the styling. Consistency in detail is crutial here.

Im still a bit lost on how Cadillac positions its lineup. All the publications seem to put the CTS up against cars like the G35 and the 3 Series, and Im ok with that.
 
Then there is the CTS-V which is always compared with cars in next class up, M5, E63 AMG, RS6 ETC ETC. So if the CTS-V is compared to these cars why does the STS-V even exist? The STS is a 5 Series, Audi A6, and E Class series fighter.

After this is introduced I doubt anyone will care about the STS-V. Which is a shame, because I like the STS line a lot, but the CTS-V is so much better.
 
The STS is a 5 series, E class and A6 fighter, however when you move to the higher performance models, I think the CTS-V is meant to be the flagship.

Caddy has had a model identity problem for decades, remember the Cimmaron?
I'm ambivalent re CTS styling. I'd like to see a camparo test of M45 vs. CTS-V both w/awd.
BTW how did Motor Trend not include G37 in their initial 18-20 candidates for COTY?

That front end is crazy low...I know of some bumps (intentional and natural) that would love to take the body kit right off...

Clumsygrandpa, the M45 and CTS-V arent in the same segment. The M45 would be in line with the STS V8. Currently Infiniti has nothing to directly compete with cars in this range.

This thing puts the Lexus on the trailer. Not only is it better looking, and has the muscle to back it up, it doesn't have the stigma of a Toyota Camry rental.

As long as they got the steering feedback correct, this might be the car to slay the mighty M5!

The greatest sedan ever made ? Certainly "The Standard of the World" of the mid-size segment ;)
 
-Rocky