Cadillac is answering a question not many in the US are asking with its latest model – the CTS-V Sport Wagon. Most who want BMW M5 beating output with Caddy style luxury will opt for the CTS-V saloon, and those who need to haul more have plenty of SUV and crossover options available. Europeans love fast estates but GM’s luxury arm would have to tempt them out of the Audi RS6 Avant, Mercedes E63 AMG Wagon and BMW M5 Touring – no easy task.
Anyhow, the CTS-V Sport Wagon has seen the green light and production starts later this year. It will be powered by the same potent engine as the saloon – a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 with 556 bhp and massive torque of 747 Nm. That “Boeing figure” is more than what German rivals from quattro, AMG and M produce. Drive is channeled through six-speed transmissions (choose between manual or auto) to a rear axle that features a limited-slip differential within a cast iron housing for greater thermal management and “asymmetrical half-shafts” to smoothly manage the big torque.
Cadillac’s Magnetic Ride Control is also standard. Claimed to be the “world’s fastest-reacting suspension technology” MRC uses shocks controlled by advanced magneto-rheological technology (rather than mechanical valves) to accelerate response time and precision. Electronic sensors at all four wheels “read the road” every millisecond, making constant adjustments to damping. Brembo brakes are at all four corners and include powerful, six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the rear.
The Brembo brake rotors use “dual-cast” technology (cast iron and aluminium) for weight reduction and better performance. The CTS-V rides on specially tailored Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tyres.
More images after the jump.
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