Cadillac CTS-V blitzes Nurburgring

Nissan recently boasted of the 7min 29sec lap of the Nurburgring achieved by its storming GT-R, and now it's Cadillac's turn to boast of its feats at the circuit that's become the default proving ground for performance-car manufacturers.

GM's premium US brand has for some time been honing its CTS-V sedan (unveiled at this year's Detroit motor show) and the claimed result is a 7:59.32 lap of the legendary Nordschleife (northern loop), which Cadillac says is the fastest ever publicly documented for a production sedan.

To put this in perspective, the CTS-V has matched the benchmark time rallying demigod Walter Rohrl eked out of a current-generation Porsche 911 Carrera S and it's three seconds quicker than a Mercedes CLK 63 AMG Black Series.

Even the latest V8-powered BMW M3 only has a recorded best of 8:05 in the hands of Horst von Saurma, editor in chief of the authoritative German mag Sport Auto.

Cadillac says the CTS-V was "equipped exactly as planned for consumer production" and the wheelman responsible was John Heinricy, a GM Performance Division executive and "acclaimed racing driver".

The new 2009 CTS-V debuts a new version of Cadillac's acclaimed Magnetic Ride Control suspension and an LSA 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine that's similar to the unit that powers the new Chevy Corvette ZR1.

Cadillac is yet to reveal exact power figures, but estimates the peak output to be around 410kW -- well up on the BMW M5 (373kW) and Mercedes E63 AMG (378kW).

The CTS-V will be offered with the choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions, with the new automatic sporting steering wheel-mounted shift buttons.

Its maker says one of the objectives is to make the CTS-V the world's fastest production sedan, as a part of the overall goal to make the V-Series Cadillac's ultimate expression of performance and technology.

Cadillac says more updates will be released as testing is finalised, including the car's certified SAE power ratings and acceleration figures.

The premium US marque is set to debut in Australia in the final quarter of this year, with the CTS sedan spearheading the launch. It will be followed next year by the CTS wagon and coupe. The BLS II (compact sedan), BRX (mid-size crossover) and STS (large sedan) arrive in 2010.

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