Apparently, we were looking the other way when Cadillac recently unveiled the 2020 versions of the CT4-V and CT5-V. We were expecting Cadillac to ditch their entire sedan lineup to focus on building luxury SUVs, but we were wrong.
In fact, from the looks of it alone, it seems Cadillac is not giving up the fight in the realm of fast sedans.
With that in mind, here are the top reasons why we think the Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V are proof that American sports sedans are still very much alive.
The high-performance CT4-V is debuting before the base CT4 sedan
And that’s saying a lot, right? When was the last time a carmaker launched the high-performance version before the base sedan model? Indeed, you can get your hands on the 2020 Cadillac CT4-V ahead of the ordinary CT4, and we think that’s a good thing.
On the other hand, the Cadillac CT5-V is the high-performance version of the new CT-5 introduced this year. And since this a sportier version, Cadillac is kind enough to swap the turbocharged four-cylinder motor with a burlier twin-turbocharged V6 motor.
But if you were expecting the histrionics of the 640-horsepower V8 motor in the older CTS-V, prepare to be disappointed. The new V6 motor in the CT5-V is down by 300-horsepower compared to previous V-model Cadillacs.
Think about it this way: it’s not about how much power you have, but rather how you harness the power in your everyday drive. And besides, it theoretically means better reliability and durability in the long run.
Both the Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V are equipped with turbocharged motors
Let’s start with the all-new Cadillac CT4-V. It comes with a turbocharged 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 320-horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The good news is the torquey nature of the motor. Cadillac claims this engine produces peak torque from 1,800 rpm. This means you can escape with a drop of the right foot without pinning the pedal to the chassis. The engine is bolted to a 10-speed automatic, which is the same unit in the Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette.
Interestingly enough, it’s also the same 10-speed transmission in the Chevy Suburban and Silverado. And here’s another juicy fact: the CT4-V’s engine is the same motor in the Chevy Silverado. However, Cadillac tuned the motor to produce 10 more horsepower (and 21 pound-feet more torque) than in the Silverado.
The CT4-V comes standard in rear-wheel drive (RWD) with all-wheel-drive as an option. The RWD car gets a mechanical limited-slip differential (LSD) and magnetic suspension. The AWD model gets ZF MVS passive Dampers.
In the meantime, the 2020 Cadillac CT5-V gets a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 motor with 355-horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. Cadillac says 90-percent of peak torque is achieved from 1,800 rpm, which makes the new CT5-V a rather nippy sport-luxury sedan.
The engine is bolted to a 10-speed automatic with standard rear-wheel-drive or an optional AWD system. Both options include an electronic limited slip differential (eLSD). This system can infinitely adjust the clutch engagement between the rear wheels in 0.15-seconds. This basically means you can have some tail-happy action in the new CT5-V!
Performance kit are standard in the Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V
Not much is known yet about Cadillac’s newest CT4-V. But what we do know is it comes with a plethora of high-performance kit. Besides the magnetic/ passive dampers, the CT4-V also gets Brembo brakes (for stronger and fade-free stopping power) and 18-inch wheels. This makes it a direct competitor to the Genesis G70 and Mercedes AMG A35.
Meanwhile, the CT5-V also gets performance Brembo brakes, 19-inch wheels, and magnetic-adaptive suspension as standard.
Super Cruise is optional in the 2020 Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V
As we said, Cadillac is intent in making their new sports sedans stand out from the rest. Both the 2020 CT4-V and CT5-V will be offered with Cadillac’s optional Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system. It performs very much like Tesla’s autopilot system. Super Cruise utilizes precise lane-keeping technology with adaptive cruise control and hands-off driver monitoring.
In the past, Super Cruise was only available on top-spec models of the Cadillac CT6. But now, Super Cruise can be yours in the new CT4-V and CT5-V.
Cadillac has yet to announce the pricing and trim levels for both the 2020 CT4-V and CT5-V. But for now, we can speculate the CT4-V to start at less than $65,000 to $70,000. Also, we suspect the CT-5 to start in the $80,000 range.
