Cadillac once stood atop the throne of the American automotive landscape with its stylish luxury barges that were the envy of those who saw them pass by and the pride and joy of those who could put one in their driveway. While Cadillac’s badge remains sought-after by many, it doesn’t hold the same weight as it once did, say, 60 years ago, as increasingly more upmarket buyers are turning to non-domestic luxury models from BMW or Mercedes-Benz. And part of the equation was those automakers could not only offer seriously upscale models, BMW’s M division and Mercedes-AMG also provided luxury cars with legitimate performance.
Looking to reclaim its glory — and show that its brand was still a leader in engineering, design, and performance — Cadillac launched its V Series two decades ago back in 2003. And since then, the brand’s performance division has developed the kind of models that could get the heart racing when pushed and coddle passengers in everyday driving situations, the bread-and-butter of AMG and BMW M. As Cadillac’s performance division celebrates its 20th anniversary, here are the top 10 cars, it has produced to showcase that Cadillac can still be heralded by enthusiasts and remain on the cutting edge of luxury performance.
10 Cadillac CTS-V
The CTS-V ushered in the “V” era at Cadillac, and to show the sub-brand was all about performance, the first model to be introduced was the CTS-V.R race car which debuted in the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge GT. The production CTS-V hit the road in 2004 and provided a promising start for the performance division. Slotted underneath the sedan’s hood was a 5.7-liter V-8 engine delivering 400 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque, the same LS6 engine from the Corvette Z06 of the time.
The CTS-V offered 180 more horsepower than the V-6 CTS, and its burly V-8 shot the sedan from 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds and onto the quarter-mile in 13.7 seconds at 108 mph. And it was no slouch in the corners with Brembo brakes, larger tires, the same manual transmission and transaxle as the Z06, stiffer springs, and refined steering. With the CTS-V’s notable performance, the V brand got off to an extremely promising start. That continued with the second-generation CTS-V once holding the Nurburgring lap record for the fastest production sedan.
9 Cadillac XLR-V
The Cadillac XLR may look as if it were designed using only an Etch-A-Sketch with its squared-off styling across the exterior, but underneath its boxy body was the heart of a Corvette with the convenience of open-air cruising thanks to its uniquely folding hard top. Making its debut in 2005, the XLR-V upped the performance of the luxury roadster.
The XLR-V was fitted with the intercooler and supercharged Northstar V-8 that offered 440 horsepower and 425 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 120 horsepower and 115 torques over the naturally aspirated Northstar V-8 in the standard XLR.
With other upgrades like larger wheels, tires, and brakes, a larger front anti-roll bar, and Cadillac’s innovative Magnetic Ride Control, the XLR-V had much of the performance kit as the Z51 Corvette and directly competed, both in performance and with its six-figure price, with the Mercedes-AMG SL55. The XLR-V could shoot from 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds, a time that is still impressive nearly 20 years after it was introduced.
8 Cadillac STS-V
The Cadillac STS was introduced in 2005 as the new flagship sedan of Cadillac’s lineup, and that same year, the STS was given the V treatment to usher in the new model. The STS-V, which was produced from 2005-09, employed the same 4.4-liter V-8 as the XLR-V, but oomph was upped slightly to provide a total output of 469 horsepower and 439 pound-feet of torque — 26 more ponies and 14 more torques.
Like the CTS-V, the STS-V wore a slightly more aggressive outward appearance and plenty of performance upgrades like Brembo brakes, a sporty suspension, Pirelli tires, and a faster steering ratio. Despite its size, the STS-V could scoot from a stop to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and had just slightly less road-holding power than the BMW M5 of the time.
7 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon
With the introduction of the second-gen CTS-V in 2009, Cadillac ensured that its V cars could still be extremely practical while providing eye-watering performance with the introduction of the CTS-V Wagon in 2010. Like the sedan version of the second-gen CTS-V, the Wagon’s bodywork concealed a hulking 6.2-liter LSA supercharged V-8 engine capable of producing a staggering 556 horsepower, which was at the time the most powerful engine ever offered by Cadillac.
The CTS-V Wagon had all the same underpinning as the CTS-V, including Magnetic Ride Control, either a six-speed Tremec manual transmission with a dual-disc clutch or a six-speed auto with paddle shifters, Brembo brakes all around, and Michelin Pilot Sport 2 summer tires on 19-inch wheels. With these specs, the CTS-V Wagon was a family hauler that could haul ass.
6 Cadillac ATS-V
Launching the third generation of the V Series was the ATS-V, and the sport sedan/coupe introduced in the 2016 model year has often been heralded by enthusiasts for its seriously engaging performance. Its agility could be credited with Cadillac benchmarking the BMW E46 3 Series in the ATS’ development. The ATS-V didn’t have the same outright power as previous models with a 464-horsepower V-6 under the hood, but it was hardly a slouch.
The rear-wheel drive luxury sedan came with either an eight-speed automatic or a manual transmission, and with the auto, it would scream from 0-60 mph in just 3.9 seconds. Noted for its “stellar chassis…sublime steering” and “indefatigable brakes,” the ATS-V bested its German competitors — the BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C63 S — around a track during a head-to-head test conducted by MotorTrend when the ATS-V was introduced.
5 Cadillac ATS-V Coupe
For those who value style over pragmaticism, the ATS-V was also offered as a coupe. It featured the same engine, Tremec six-speed manual or Hydra-Matic eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters, electronic limited-slip differential, Magnetic Ride Control, Brembo six- and four-caliper brakes, Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires and other features are the sedan version minus two doors.
Though it had a smaller overall footprint, the ATS-V Coupe had only a minor advantage in weight savings, though it had slightly better road-holding. Like its four-door sibling, the ATS-V Coupe also put a premium on a supple ride, luxe appointments, and a surprisingly accommodating back seat that meant it could adeptly attack a twisty road when called upon with its stellar engagement or cruise in comfort on the highway.
4 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
Cadillac has produced just 13 “V” models over the last 20 years, and that means many of the sub-brand’s best offerings are still being produced, illustrated by the highly-regarded CT4-V Blackwing. Underneath the Blackwing’s sculpted hood is a 3.6-liter V-6 that pumps out 472 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque mated to either a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic that zips the compact sedan from 0-60 mph in just four seconds.
With features like adaptive dampers, an electronically-controlled limited-slip diff, Magnetic Ride Control, a Performance Traction Management system, and upgraded chassis and suspension, the CT4-V Blackwing has seriously impressive performance specs. It holds the road at up to 1.01 g’s and will come to a stop from 70 mph in 153 feet, putting it on par with the BMW M3 Competition. And like almost all V-Series models, it provides plenty of bang for the buck as it’s about $15,000 cheaper than the M3 Competition. Read more about the CT4-V Blackwing in our exclusive driven review.
3 Cadillac CT6-V
The Cadillac CT6-V was only produced for the 2019 and 2020 model years, but it helped to usher in the model era of the V Series, most notably with the introduction of the twin-turbo “Blackwing” V-8. The CT6-V’s Blackwing put out a notable 550 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque with forged steel connecting rods, a peak boost of 20 psi, an intercooler, and cylinder deactivation.
The all-wheel-drive Blackwing also featured rear-wheel steering, a limited-slip diff, an upgraded chassis, and sportier looks to provide the ultimate sizeable sedan with serious power. All V Series models have a limited production, and the CT6-V showcased this point with a run of just under 1,500 units, making it just about as rare as it is powerful.
2 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
Stepping up in power and size from the CT4-V is the CT5-V Blackwing, an American deftly competing with the likes of the BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG E63 — only it’s a lot cheaper. The latest CT5-V Blackwing puts out an eye-popping 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque from a supercharged and intercooled 6.2-liter V-8.
Its heft is not enough to slow the Caddy’s roll as the CT5-V Blackwing will still rocket from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and past the quarter-mile mark in 11.6 seconds at 125 mph. The V model has all the athletic kit one expects from the brand, but perhaps better still, this sizeable and ultra-powerful sport sedan can is still fitted with a six-speed manual transmission.
1 Cadillac Escalade-V
The Escalade-V has just hit the market for 2023, but it has already cemented itself as one of the best models to wear the V badge. The Escalade has long been the most popular Cadillac offering, and as such, it was only a matter of time before it was given the V treatment. Despite three rows of seats, supreme practicality, and a seemingly mile-long list of creature comforts and amenities, the Escalade-V will still charge from a stop to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds.
Employing a 6.2-liter, hand-built and supercharged V-8 the Escalade-V pumps out a whopping 682 horsepower and 653 pound-feet of torque to ensure the kids are never late to soccer practice again. The latest V model also features the newest Cadillac technology, like the Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving feature and a 38-inch curved OLED display that put it on the leading edge of both luxury and performance. Read more about the Escalade V in our exclusive review.