Video: 2011 Nissan GT-R v. Hennessey V650 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

Cadillac, there is no substitute? The CTS-V is cool and desirable and all, but this result is Hennessey's doing.

I'm impressed with the car, but not impressed with the Hennessey marketing approach. "We brought slicks and 165 more horsepower to the line and barely beat a far-weaker production car that was selected for its ability to draw internet buzz." Good for you. Oh, and "family station wagon" my foot.

Damn impressive for a bone stock GT-R =)

I'd choose the CTS-V Coupe with a full manual tranny if I had to go with either. I love the GTR, but all of the electronic wizardry that makes it fast also insulates me from the fun of driving a car (choosing gears, snapping the clutch, rev-matching, pedaling the rear out at low speeds, short-shifting for economy).

I like hatchbacks, but the wagon isn't my cup of tea. Coupe all the way. (double rainbows...)

Fun race though!
Kevin

Yeah, and that was the "old" 2011 GTR.
Try it against the new 2012..... ;)

+1 actualsize

That was exactly what I was thinking. Plus dumping almost the same amount of money into a wagon as a GT-R doesn't make sense unless you want the ultimate sleeper (without going to the Germans).

So what you're telling me is a car with street tires can practically match a car with 165 more horsepower and drap slicks in a race?

Not impresses Hennessey....

And don't tell me the AWD helps the GT-R off the line, the extra rear weight of the CTS Wagon helps the drag radials just as much.

How about a race with turns? CTS-V wouldn't have a chance. I love the cts-v wagon, but just leave it alone its perfect as is, don't try to be something its not.

I know addition/subtraction can be tricky but I'm pretty sure the Hennessey version has 94hp more than stock, not 165. Unless the "650" is at the wheels, which Im not sure about.

Either way, I think the as-tested price is the best comparison. The starting MSRP for the 2012 GT-R is $6,000 more than the 2011 (probably worth it though).

Is it wrong to really want both of these cars? I'll take my wagon bone stock with a 3rd pedal, though.

Two sweet cars. I love marketing stunts!

If I could afford to put gas in it, I would buy a CTS-V wagon in a heartbeat.

I wouldn't buy a GTR ever, because it's too damn automatic in everything it does. Awesome awesome car, but just not involving enough for a supercar. Kind of how people feel about R8's without 3 pedals. Too quiet, too tame.

I'll have the GT-R hands down.

The fact that the Caddy has 3 pedals seals the deal for me. I wouldn't have cared if the results were the exact opposite. I want a real manual.

Now put me in the Caddy Coupe and we're all good.

So I am to assume that there are a few folks (maybe many?) who cannot drive a stick shift? That's a crying shame.

It should only be fair if the GTR had drag clicks too. I don't know why Hennessey keeps making these videos when it's clear it's underwhelming compared to a bone stock GTR..

I'll take the Caddy. Sure it's modified to keep up with the stock Nissan, so what, it would still be the cheaper car (without the Hennessey name). Now modify the Nissan to seat 5 Adults with actual legs and carry all their luggage. Then I suppose you got a fair race. Though I do think Hennessey is kinda a joke. I'm sure it's pretty darn easy to get 650 hp out of a 638 hp engine that was detuned to 556. It's a supercharged LS. Go fast parts are plentiful and well engineered, and frankly all that was probably required was a different pulley, a computer tune, and an exhaust just for the sound. Hennessey makes cool vehicles, but charges a TON for what can be accomplished for much less.

I am a GM supporter but, I kinda agree with Actualsize. I think GM (and Ford) need to do more work on getting more HP to the ground. We know they can make the big numbers but it doesn't always show up in the drag times.

This is all you really need to add to your CTS-V wagon

http://www.lingenfelter.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LPE&Product_Code=L250080709&Category_Code=C412

$63,465 + $1,444 = Sub $65k, 630 hp swagger wagon

Enjoyed the video appreciate the work that went into making it happen.

GT-R is the one I'd buy and drive if I were spending this amount of coin for a vehicle.

The beautiful thing is that the GT-R doesn't need drag radials. Nor does it need a dry track. And it only needs a reflash to pick up another 50 hp/50 lbs-ft with no hard parts.

That said, I've had plenty of seat time in modified examples of both types of cars (well, not the wagon, but the sedan CTS-V) and if I could only have one, I'd definitely choose the CTS-V. Comfy, rather discreet if you keep the stock exhaust, plenty of power and more to be had if you want it. Plus, it has no waiting, instant torque. I'm a big manual transmission fan as well, but the CTS-V, surprisingly, really is a better car with the automatic. Yeah, it blunts throttle response a bit vs. the stick, but it is so much easier to put the power down. I think I'd buy one with the auto all things considered.

In an ideal world, I'd have one of each, both making around 700 whp.

The GT-R is also smaller, and will only do that launch a few times before you're back at the shop with a $25k transmission repair build. The V will do that all day, methinks.

And if you're complaining about the drag radials... let's do a 20 roll on street tires and see how different the result is.

Bottom line: two cool cars, one cool race.

Well, next time ODOT redoes some of our local roads as bone dry drag slicks, I'll ponder this Hennessey Cadillac.

Meanwhile, on any wet or damp road, the kind we routinely have in Oregon and most places in the USA, the Hennessey would likely be drifting all over the place while Godzilla will simply track along and go where the driver wants. Also, Godzilla will happily slow down as needed while Caddy will drift by and possibly spin out when those rear slicks hydroplane and loose grip.

Would it be a good move for Hennessey to proclaim their offering as the ultimate family drift car ??

Nitpick all you want, it's a neat stunt. It doesn't mean anything, but neat nonetheless.

The Hennessey Caddy is probably more reliable too.

because if you buy a cts-v wagon and slap on drag tires and an after market package then HEY! you're neither insecure nor impractical like your typical gtr owner.

It was cool till the "Cadillac: There is no Substitute" part.

Obviously the CTS-V is no GT-R killer around a racetrack, but for the price it is every bit it's equal in a straight line and IMO sounds and looks way better. And seats five. That is the point, not that the Caddy is a better all-around performer. Also the 2012 GT-R starts just over $90k if I am not mistaken. That would leave the Caddy another $11k in performance upgrades to have price parity with the '12 GT-R. I am pretty sure that Hennessey could shave another four tenths off that ET to match the '12 with $11 grand. Those who bitch about the Caddy's power advantage against a stock GT-R should remember that the CTS-V weighs 600 lbs more than that GT-R.

It's AWD vs. RWD, even with slicks the advantage is still AWD in a 1/4 drag. I'm sure the caddy would be faster on the top end as it should it has almost 200 more HP. Those saying a CTS-V looks and sounds better than a GTR either have never seen one in person, heard one or driven one.

Yep I have heard and seen a GT-R in person. And the Cadillac too. GT-R IMO is butt-ugly and always has been. CTS-V IMO is best looking GM vehicle in the last 30 years (not the coupe though). The old R32/33/34 Skyline sounded awesome, but still not as good as any high compression V8.

@ copmotor440cid

"Those who bitch about the Caddy's power advantage against a stock GT-R should remember that the CTS-V weighs 600 lbs more than that GT-R."

+1 ... My sentiments exactly!

"The Hennessey Caddy is probably more reliable too."

Having not gone through factory development proving, I somehow doubt that.

Count me in the "not impressed" camp that a modified car with 165 more hp (!) and drag slicks can only eek out a 0.1 second 1/4 mile lead.

Disregarding the power/weight difference, at the end of the day the CTS still has slicks on them.

SLICKS+V8+CRAZY ENGINE DISPLACEMENT+SUPERCHARGER= CADILLAC RAW POWER
STOCK= NISSAN GT-R

ITS A JOKE FOR ME TO SEE A CAR LIKE THE CADILLAC WIT ALL THOSE ADVANTAGES BARELY BEATING THE GT-R.. WIT ALL THOSE ADVANTAGES SPECIALLY THE CHEATER SLICKZ! COME ON.. U ARE GONNA DAILY DRIVE UR CADILLAC WIT SLICKZ EVERYDAY??? REALLY??? HAHAHAHAHAH!
NISSAN'S GT-R IS AN EXAMPLE HOW U CREATE AN AUTOMOBILE WIT LESS HP's and PUTING ALL PONY's TO THE TARMAC THE RITE WAY.PLUS.. I REMIND ALL U WHO IS READING. THE NISSAN GT-R WAS DESIGN FOR ROAD RACING NOT FOR DRAG.. BUT HEY. NOW WE ALL LEARNED THAT THE GT-R IS HELL OF A DRAG WARRIOR AS WELL. SO I ASK ALL U PEOPLE READING THIS.. HOW MANY TALENTS DOES THAT CADILLAC HAVE?? JUST DRAG RACING? CAN THE CADILLAC CHALLENGE THE GT-R ON ROAD RACING.. I DONT THINK SO.

That being said I do like the Caddy, not the Hennessey form because don't get me started on what a horrible company Hennessey is, but the CTS-V is an awesome car. I would take it over the German counterparts any day (E63, M5).

I'd own BOTH if I could, but this test was laughable. What does the GTR need to tie? A $40 K&N? ;-)

Read a lot about the GT-R's electronic gizmos detaching the driver. But then drove the car on the street and track, and it's other talents more than make up for it. It's fun for different reasons than say a corvette or 911. And a large part of that fun is because it's damn easy to drive fast. And if you're a good driver, you can drive it insanely fast.

hahaha YES

"Cadillac: Do a crap load of mods to a Family Wagon for an extra 100hp, get it within $2,000 from a true Sports Super Car 's Price, and beat it by 0.1 seconds... There's no Substitute"

That was truly lame. The Caddy is fun, but I'll keep the stock GT-R thanks. I'm sure that 650hp Wagon would annihilate the GT-R on the highway, but that would be illegal... 8-)

That was fun.

Her: "Darling, there's a funny chinking noise from the back of the Caddy. You did remember to unload the antiques before going to the strip the other day, didn't you?"

Him: "Errmmm....."

In 10-15 years from now, the GT-R will still be a legendary vehicle. However, that Cadillac will be just another depreciated Caddy no one will care about. While GT-R isn't a good looking car, take it on a track and it will destroy that Cadillac. Also, the fact that the Caddy needed 650 HP and slick tires to just barely beat a 485 hp GT-R only highlights how much superior the engineering in the GT-R is. Take the 530 hp 2012 version and that wagon doesn't stand a chance.

It doesn't take a lot of brains to take a 2012 Ford Focus and make it just as fast as an F430. That won't make the focus a better car. I am not sure why Americans are so fascinated with straight line acceleration. I mean really, the fun of driving a car has nothing to do with acceleration. From that angle, with 4400lbs of weight, the Caddy is still just a boring car which can accelerate really really fast. In that case, just throw a 700 hp into a Volvo Station wagon and you get the same thing.