Many of us – and you – have posited that much like 1972, the time we're in now is the peak of the neo-muscle car era. Vehicles like the Camaro, Challenger, Charger, and Mustang are the best they've ever been. And yet, it seems like the writing is on the wall that they're going to enjoy short lived success – at best. But what about the luxury muscle cars: the AMG cars, the M cars, the Audi RS series. And now the Cadillac CTS-V has just been tested by Edmunds and yields astonishing performance numbers. Every iteration of these vehicles get more insane. In 1999, the M3 had 240 horsepower. Then 333. Then 414. The CTS-V went from 405 to 556. Are we really going to reach the point of 1000 horsepower family cars? Yes, there are more rich people than ever, and many of them just don't care about gas being $4, or $6, or even $8 per gallon. At some point, the bubble is going to burst.
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556 HP? That’s insane! So when can we expect to see the M3, RS4, CTS-V comparo?
This might be the sport sedan that ends the HP war.
sound great today Justin! Levels are perfect.
Somebody forget to REMIND GM that they’re supposed to be curled up in the fetal position and sucking their thumb??!
Haven’t they read the papers??!?!?
Actions like this are NOT the actions of a maker on the brink of worldly demise.
556 HP Sport Sedan. That’s truly a high bar…
Of course those nuveau rich don’t care. Many of them live in countries with gas that are a tenth of those prices and cars are disposable toys.
monkeyboy : Very true. Don’t forget the ZR1 as well. If they survive long enough they might even try to put that motor into a CTS.
“If they survive long enough they might even try to put that motor into a CTS.”
You are awake, this is not a dream. That is a slightly detuned version of the ZR1 engine in the CTS-V.
I really, really, really want this car. It’s the P-51D Mustang of our era.
The LSA V8 is very close to the LS9. The block and heads are the same, the difference is in the supercharger and internals.
I subdivide automobile power into five categories – inadequate, adequate, excessive, grossly excessive, the amount I want.
Front wheel drive can cope with the bottom two, whereas you need rear wheel drive for the next pair. For the top category, only all wheel drive can get the power to the pavement where it does some good.
The CTS is so hot, I wouldn’t care if it had only 50 HP. I’d still want it!!!
I have to admit, even as someone that tries to be green, I’d go for it if I had the money and smile every damn time I drove it.
I finally got to see one of these cars (a CTS, not a CTS-V) in the flesh. It’s an absolute stunner, and I nearly rear-ended the guy in front of me when it passed from the opposite direction. Can’t even imagine this V.
Somebody forget to REMIND GM that they’re supposed to be curled up in the fetal position and sucking their thumb??!
Haven’t they read the papers??!?!?
Actions like this are NOT the actions of a maker on the brink of worldly demise.
556 HP Sport Sedan. That’s truly a high bar…
Well, if GM is going under, at least they’re going out in a blaze of glory.
monkeyboy,
No major automaker ever went under because it failed to develop a great flagship.
The capability and profitability of the Cruze and whatever succeeds the current Malibu will be much more important.
GM’s survival may well depend on the product development skill of Daewoo…
What irritates me the most is that it shows that GM can make a world class car when it puts it’s mind to it. This is the same GM that brought us the Aveo and the G5? Why can’t they put that level of attention to detail into the bread and butter stuff?
I’m not saying that a $20k car should have the same stuff that a $80-100k car has, but it should at least be class competitive.
If GM put this level of attention into the Cobalt, the company would be in a lot better shape.
Wait…
The SLR quicker than the Carrera GT on a track? Which track was that then?
Monza?
An oval?
No way the SLR is faster than a Carrera GT on almost any proper race track with a decent amount of corners in its layout.
Justin,
The V6 Genny is only $2k less than the V8. Screw the 0-60 numbers…the V8 is a far more satisfying ride. Classic V8 lazy torque and better interior upholstery. The V6 does nothing to distinguish itself from a G35 or GS350…..the V8 does! Maybe you’re not a V8 guy…in which case, I understand you not liking the Genesis that much. I think the Koreans have built a great moderately priced American car….the only thing close in 2009 is the (Australian) G8.
And Jonny,
The main advantage the ACR has over the Z06 comes down to one word……TIRES! Throw a set of R compunds on the Z, and it’s quite the track terror in its own right.
Kendahl – there’s a whole army of drag racers that would tell you otherwise about how many drive wheels you need to get the power down.
You guys totally got my number. But you forgot how smelly the V6’s leather is compared to the delicious stuff in the V8.
The Genesis is rounded and cheap: $42,000 is for all options. And yeah, I was suckered by the V8 and RWD, because its the only thing in its class.
because its the only thing in its class.
Cough….G8…cough….