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Meet Cadillac's 600bhp V8-powered IMSA racer

First Mazda, now Caddy: 2017 IMSA SportsCar series is shaping up nicely already

Published: 01 Dec 2016

Mazda may have thrown the first haymaker with its rather gorgeous IMSA prototype, but Cadillac has thrown one back: meet the DPI-V.R racer. Weird name, sure, but who cares because V8 and 600bhp.

That's right. Where the Mazda prototype utilises the 2.0-litre four-pot from this year's IMSA racer to produce 600bhp, Caddy does it the old-fashioned way, with a massive naturally-aspirated 6.2-litre V8 that "shares inherent architecture" with the unit you'll find in the CTS-V (and Escalade). Though it makes 640bhp in the CTS-V, the IMSA restrictors means its pegged back for the racer. Though it still boasts 630lb ft of torque, redlines at 7,600rpm and delivers what we imagine to be a rather splendid soundtrack to the rear wheels via an X-Trac paddle-shift transmission.

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With help from chassis wizards Dallara (it weighs just 930kg), the Caddy IMSA prototype gets a rather arresting design itself too; we're told it represents "distinctive" Caddy elements such as light signature, "bold bodyside", performance wheels, Brembo brakes, and a canopy graphic inspired by the daylight opening. The cooling vents and air intake were designed in the studio (the intake is shaped like the Cadillac crest). It even gets the rear camera mirror that appears on the CT6 saloon. 

"Cadillac is proud to return to the pinnacle of prototype racing in North America after a 14-year absence,” said Johan de Nysschen, Cadillac boss. “The Cadillac DPi-V.R further strengthens our V-Performance portfolio, placing Cadillac into the highest series of sports car racing in North America.”

Wayne Taylor Racing and Action Express Racing are the two teams fielding the 2017 Cadillac prototype at next year's IMSA opener, the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Have a click through the pics and let us know which you'd stake your money on - this, or the Mazda?

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