The Cadillac V-series Challenge

[Mr Robert]

Bob Lutz challenged anyone who felt up to it to take on the CTS-V on track, claiming no one could beat the Caddy on track with a four door sedan.

And he was right!

The results from Monticello Motor Club in New York:

John Heinricy in CTS-V: 2:46:560

Aaron Link in CTS-V: 2:48:902

Brian Redman in CTS-V: 2:49:596

Michael Cooper in BMW M3: 2:50:424

Jack Baruth in CTS-V: 2:51:153

Lawrence Ulrich in CTS-V: 2:53:157

Bob Lutz in CTS-V: 2:56:321

Michael Mainwald in BMW M5: 3:05:398

Wes Siler in Mitsubishi EVO: 3:08:126

Chris Fairman in CTS-V: 3:14:292

Archan Basu in Jaguar XF: 3:15:670

Tom Loder in Audi RS4: 3:15:702

GM brought Heinricy to ensure the victory over the privateers (Baruth and Siler are magazine editors), Lutz got beaten, however

 

[bmwblog]

Bob Lutz challenged anyone who felt up to it to take on the CTS-V on track, claiming no one could beat the Caddy on track with a four door sedan.

And he was right!

The results from Monticello Motor Club in New York:

John Heinricy in CTS-V: 2:46:560

Aaron Link in CTS-V: 2:48:902

Brian Redman in CTS-V: 2:49:596

Michael Cooper in BMW M3: 2:50:424

Jack Baruth in CTS-V: 2:51:153

Lawrence Ulrich in CTS-V: 2:53:157

Bob Lutz in CTS-V: 2:56:321

Michael Mainwald in BMW M5: 3:05:398

Wes Siler in Mitsubishi EVO: 3:08:126

Chris Fairman in CTS-V: 3:14:292

Archan Basu in Jaguar XF: 3:15:670

Tom Loder in Audi RS4: 3:15:702

GM brought Heinricy to ensure the victory over the privateers (Baruth and Siler are magazine editors), Lutz got beaten, however

Well, the M3 sedan beat the CTS-V driven by Lutz. The other CTS-Vs were driven by professional race drivers.

 

[Sunny]

Yea they should have put the same driver in the cars, if they really wanted a challenge. Wasn't new E63 faster than the CTS-V in some test. Also no Panamera turbo in the test.

 

[Mr Robert]

Yea they should have put the same driver in the cars, if they really wanted a challenge. Wasn't new E63 faster than the CTS-V in some test. Also no Panamera turbo in the test.

But, as I understand, this was more of a marketing stunt than anything else. I mean, here, driver skill obviously was the single most deciding factor.

 

[EnI]

It's even possible that a smart beats Zonda, Veyron etc ... when smart driven by pro driver, and supercar driven by my granny.

 

[mentir]

A few thoughts on this, but first, I don't want to take anything away from the CTS-V, because my opinion of the car remains the same; I think it's a world class sports sedan that meets or exceeds other sport sedans in virtually every measureable way.

That said...
The CTS-V failed this challenge, which was clearly a PR stunt by GM. Lutz claimed the CTS-V could beat anybody, in any sport sedan. The only catches were that the sport sedan had to be comparable, and that the challenger could not be a professional driver.

GM chose the track, which I assume played to the CTS-V's strengths and, presumably, its competitors' weaknesses.

When all was said and done, the M3 sedan was the fastest around the track, being bested only by professional drivers.

I respect the V, but do find it funny that GM failed its own PR stunt.

 

[Zafiro]

Of the actual contests:

1. BMW M3 sedan by Michael Cooper 2:50.424
2. CTS-V driven by Jack Baruth of "The Truth About Cars" 2:51.153
3. CTS-V driven by Lawrence Ulrich, a freelance journalist 2:53.157
4. CTS-V driven by Bob Lutz 2:56.321
5. BMW M5 3:05.398
6. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo MR Touring 3:08.126
7. CTS-V 3:14.292
8. Jaguar XF Supercharged 3:15.670
9. Audi RS4 3:15.670

Meet the drivers

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[ateekt]

I'll zip my lip up till the next M5 is unleashed! Right after the new ///M sedan is out on the tracks... hasta la vista baby to Cts-V & company!