05 May 2009 - 10:00
Tyre fighter
It was never going to take long. With Cadillac finally getting round to making a proper muscle car – the M5-rivalling CTS-V – the tuning houses and their greasy spanners were sure to be close behind it.
Enter, then, Hennessey Performance, the Texas-based tuning firm responsible for the mad ZR1-engined Camaro.
Evidently deciding that the CTS-V’s 550bhp supercharged V8 was a bit, well, underpowered, they’ve treated the 6.2-litre unit to a brace of massive turbos, new camshafts, external wastegates and, er, lots of other big shiny things that make a sort of clanging noise when you hit them with a monkey wrench.
The result? An unhinged 800bhp and 780lb ft of torque, good for a 0-60mph time under three seconds (sweet lord) and a quarter-mile time under ten seconds. Sheesh.
Even better, the Hennessey CTS-V looks near-enough stock, save for a new set of 20-inch wheels.
OK, it’s still not much of a sleeper – the gaping front grille does for that – but it’s a hell of a lot subtler than, say, Satan’s own Cayenne…
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Good Lord. I get the feeling that breaking the rear wheels loose might cause accelerated continental drift... Also, I've always liked the look of the CTS-V, kudos to the tuners for leaving it well alone.
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A car for those who want to see every single thing worth seeing in the world. With that sort of speed, you could see everything and still be in time for bed.
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Sweet mother of Jesus. I'm guessing the rear tyres ain't going to last all that long.
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Sweet mother of Jesus. I'm guessing the rear tyres ain't going to last all that long.
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this is exactly what muscle cars are about. Lots of power but no way to put it to the floor. Great ill be sitting at the line burning my tires off like a moron.
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Top on my Christmas List.
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I wonder wether they are installing a Launch control system to tame all that power, specially if they claim a sub three seconds from 0 to 60.
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I WANT IT screw the M5
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Why? The Americans are just masters when it comes to ruining a car. Why? so much power in a Cadillac four seater - that's just dumb! A Cadillac is not meant to spin the world around everytime you hit the throttle. It is a subtle (american) gentlemans car. why? mess with that.
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I would go for the G power M6 better looking and a farr better car turns well and is also convertible so you look fly.
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It would be harder to control than the still-quite-mad VXR8 Bathurst S, which I prefer anyway. But Hennessey have always put preposterous amounts of power in big American stuff - 900bhp Viper anyone? There is such thing as too much power, especially as it has road-spec tyres - though not for long. _ Winther, the standard CTS-V spins the world around anyway, this car is just for people with no penis to finally have a bigger number than Brad next door.
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What an inspired car - perfect timing during these hard-up times to produce such a worthwhile addition the the dying Caddy-shack.
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want it now! Super saloons are back boys and girls, this is just the beginning. I want to see a 1000hp Audi RS4/6 or a C73 merc..... bring the noise!
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^How about a Twin Turbo V12 BMW M7? Or a Maserati Quattroporte racing ca- oh, wait a sec...
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this is extremely cool!
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But what is the sence in boosting the old CTS-V with a whopping 200 bhp? i just don't follow the happy tears splattering all over this car..
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I dont get what all the big deal is about power you can only go 70mph in UK and most countries so a 70mph nice looking car would be perfect for me.
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@ lambofanatic - you'll be wanting the Which Car Guide then, or perhaps Filth Gear...
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You can't even put the M5 in the same category as the stock CTS-V, never mind this new tuned version...the M5 is out-dated now & BMW need to step up their game QUICKLY in order to compete with it's rivals all of whom are completely shattering the 500bhp mark which the M5 set, the new E63, the Jag XF-R, the RS6. It looks like Hennessy are treading on Veyron's territory & more than likely, for only a tenth of the price. This puts the F in F****** Fast & Furious!!
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^ Yeah right. Veyron territory... It might accelerate like one to 60, but put them in a drag race and the 987bhp Bugatti would own it. I agree that the M5 is old now (it came out 4 years ago), but I'm pretty sure the new 5-Series is just round the corner. Not that that matters to me, I'm either having a VXR8 Bathurst S or a Jaguar XFR in racing green if I get money.
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I'll have mine in Black please. I'm sure that it'll be fine to drive.... apart from around corners
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Oh 800 horsepower is good and all, but, well there is this thing called a CORNER. The CTS-V could not go round one fast without to much horsepower so it will be worse when it has to much horsepower. E.G IT WILL BE CRAP!!!
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Its about time
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Another fantastic way to crash through the pearly gates in a flaming fireball, fantastic.
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AshHorne The cost of this car in Britain will just be the shipping over from Texas. Hennesey performance does not by the car. You buy a stock CTS-V and you send it to them. They retrofit it with the package that you would like and then send it to you. So lets sey $61k for the caddy in the US plus $70k package plus $10k delivery you are looking at $140k wich is roughly 90k in English currency.
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JohnAstonMartin the CTS-V in stock mod keeps the Nurburgring Record for the fastest lap on a 4 door sedan ever now I would like you to go to youtube check it out and reconsider the handling claim. This car can turn better than an M5 when it was tested by Motortrend in the US.
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I wish some European tuners did such subtle exterior changes, a few lip spoilers and side skirts would be more than enough to help aerodynamics.
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Its american which in my opinion is a bad place to start with a powerful car. but what do i know? i hope it corners better than i think it will because i really really like it.
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i'm not so sure about that big v8 i think this just won't drive properly and what about the exterior? missed chance in my eyes. but i would like to see a proper review, just to see if it works
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AshHorne commented on this article
05 May 2009
So the Veyron won't be getting away from this from the lights too quickly then! What's the cost? I'm just curious to know how much this monster would cost in Britain.
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