Classics Of The Future

Cadillac CTS-V, 2004

 

CTS-V The basic CTS saloon was considerably beefed up to cope with the huge extra power from the Corvette engine, gaining a special cradle for the engine, huge brakes, and the Corvette LS6’s manual transmission. The car could do 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 4.6 seconds, and the combination of excellent weight distribution, taut suspension, generous torque, and a surprisingly capable chassis meant the CTS-V could lap Germany’s Nurburgring circuit in 8 minutes 19 seconds—rivalling the accomplished Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG.

Origin	USA
Engine	5,665 cc, V8
Top speed	163 mph (262 km/h)

The CTS-V saloon borrowed the 400 bhp, push-rod, V8 engine from the Chevrolet Corvette LS6, with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Cadillac ELR, 2013

 

ELR The car was first seen in public as the Cadillac Convert concept in 2009, and four years later, after some prevarication, it went on sale. It was a plug-in hybrid with a drivetrain derived from the Chevrolet Volt, its small petrol engine acting as the generator for power in the lithium-ion battery pack to drive an electric motor. In pure electric mode, the range was 39 miles (63 km). In 2016 the price was dropped significantly in an attempt to boost sales; the car’s performance was also improved by 25 per cent.

Origin	USA
Engine	Electric motor and 1,398 cc, straight-four
Top speed	106 mph (171 km/h)

An upscale alternative to the Tesla Model S, Cadillac’s petrol-electric hybrid had styling that was redolent of the marque’s heavyweight traditions.

 

It is a quote. The Classic Car Book – The Definitive Visual History 2016