American tuning firm Hennessey Performance has been responsible for building some of the most terrifying performance machines and has just unveiled a new package for the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe.

Called the V1000, this hardcore version of the CTS-V looks the business with a full aerodynamic carbon fibre body kit with huge bonnet vents, a low front splitter, a rear diffuser and aggressive side skirts. Mechanical upgrades include lowered sport suspension and Brembo 15-inch carbon ceramic brakes. In the cockpit there’s a reworked interior with premium leather upholstery and an Alcantara headliner.

But its under the bonnet where the real magic happens, all to reach the 1,000 horsepower mark. Power comes from a twin-turbo 427 LS V8 which has been upgraded with high-flow cylinder heads, forged pistons, rods and crank, a new crankshaft, upgraded fuel injectors, an intercooler and a revised ECU. With these extensive tweaks the engine now pumps out 1,000 hp (746 kW) with 1,286 Nm of torque. Those figures are scary enough but this machine will apparently move from standing to 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds, run the quarter mile in 10.9 seconds and go on to reach a top speed of 370 km/h. (more…)

Cadillac is officially on the verge of returning to the world of motorsports with its new CTS-V Coupe race car. Following the track-spec Caddy’s world debut at the Detroit Motor Show last week, the race-ready CTS-V Coupe hit the track for the first time on Monday driven by Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim, for testing at Sebring International Raceway.

GM’s luxury car division had already pulled out of racing before the U.S. government bailed out the company in 2009. The last time Cadillac officially competed was in 2007 in the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT series. Now the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe race car will return to the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT series in 2011, with its first appearance taking place at the season-opening race in St. Petersburg, Florida on March 25-27.

The CTS-V Coupe race car was built as a collaboration between General Motors and Pratt and Miller. Their goal was to make the race car as close as possible to the production vehicle, but at the same time, make a racer compliant with the SCCA technical rules. Technical details of the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe race car have not been released yet. (more…)

It was around three years ago that GM ceased Cadillac’s involvement in motorsport, but the luxury carmaker is set for a big comeback. Over in the States it was announced yesterday that Cadillac will return to the track in 2011 with the CTS-V Coupe, which will compete in the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge [SCCA].

Cadillac knows what the SCCA is all about because it competed there from 2004 to 2007, taking the Manufacturer’s Championship in 2005 and 2007 and the Driver’s Championship in 2005.

Cadillac big man Don Butler, vice president for marketing, talked it up by saying “Returning to racing in the SCCA World Challenge is a great way to demonstrate the performance and capability of the CTS-V Coupe. The racecars in this series are production based, which allows us to validate our performance against the best of our competitors on the track, and not just the showroom.”

The Detroit-based company is busy getting two teams ready for the upcoming SCCA World Challenge GT Class with a track car based on the production CTS-V Coupe. The series is set to kick off on March 25-27, with the first event held in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Pro drivers Johnny O’Connell, a three-time GT1 champion in the America Le Mans Series, and Andy Pilgrim, who won the 2005 SCCA World Challenge GT class in a Cadillac, will be behind the wheel of the CTS-V racecars. (more…)

Drift with the Supercars at the Monticello Club – Preview Trailer

Cadillac have been busy shooting a TV commercial for its high-power CTS-V sedan on Germany’s famed Nürburgring. Now, after all of the editing and messing around has been completed, the end result is a brand new television ad spot simply named “The Competition,” showing viewers that one of the world’s fastest sport sedans will continue to match its european competitors. But how exactly can you improve on 0-100kph time of just 3.9 seconds and a ‘Ring run in just 7:59.32? It’s going to be tough.

Aside from seeing and hearing the CTS-V do what it does best out on an iconic testing ground, the video is bold enough to mention the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG — two vehicles that meant Cadillac would need to raise the bar for its own sport sedan.

Check out the new Cadillac ad below. (more…)

The team from Famous Pacific Shipping just sent through these pics of their latest arrivals. A 2008 Cadillac CTS-V, Roush Track Pack Mustang and an awesome Cuda convertible.

The new left hand drive laws (as profiled in NZV8 issues 62 & 63) will see the two late model cars registered without requiring conversion from left to right hand drive.

The Cadillac is a very tough car, and is set to become the daily driver for the wife of one of our recent feature car owners. The Mustang is also very tough and we cant wait to see the cars in person cruising the streets of Auckland.

Check out some pics of the American machinery in the gallery below.

Cadillac CTS-V Coupe takes on the Shelby GT500 in a straight up drag race

GM just can’t wait to get its new Cadillac CTS Coupe into showrooms across the States. The Detroit automaker has just announced that it has not just begun full production of the car but has also started shipping models to U.S. dealerships ahead of schedule. The company initially planned to get the 2011 CTS Coupe to showrooms by early August.

The good looking 2+2 Coupe will be offered in two strengths, a standard model powered by a 304HP 3.6-litre V6 engine with direct injection starting from $38,990 USD ($56,125 NZ), and the more exciting CTS-V Coupe that comes with a meaty 556HP 6.2-litre supercharged V8 and a starting price of $62,990($90,677 NZ) .