Cadillac - Corvette and GM strategy-what's in it for the vette?

[OLDGOAT]

Some VERY interesting things are happening in the GM world. Reading my feb Road and Track I see a XLR-V on the way with a 440hp supercharged Northstar. The same engine in the NEW STS-V will yield a est. 4.9 sec 0-60 and 13.0/110 quarter while the 400hp CTS-V is only a tiny fraction less.

It will be interesting to see if GM allows another car in its corporate stable to be faster than the base C6. Certainly the XLR-V will beat the base C6 and be closer to the C6 Z06 than the standard XLR is to the base vette.

GM is using the C5 Z06 engine in the CTS-V. Will it turn around and use the supercharger used on the Northstar on the LS-2 or Z06 engines? It boggles the mind to consider the power output of either the base C6 or Z06 with just mild supercharging.

It's becoming clear that , in my opinion, GM is following a VERY solid marketing plan aimed at making large dents in the performance end of sales for such cars as BMW and even Benz.

What potential surprises may be upcoming for the 06 C6? Meanwhile, you guys in the new C6's better look very carefully at that Caddy along side you at the next light. He may be faster than you are. Imagine that.

 

[Aurora40]

The caddy's are much heavier cars, though. The CTS-V is about 3850 lbs, and the STS-V will be about 4200 lbs. I do think the Caddy strategy is great, though. And I think it in no way takes away from the Corvettes. GM's been keeping the 'vette right up on the edge as well.

I kind of hope the Corvette stays naturally aspirated, though. A supercharged DOHC engine seems sweet, a supercharged pushrod motor makes me think of the 3800 S/C. It's ballsy but rough and gritty. The Corvette motor is a refined powerful exotic mill that just happens to have a pushrod layout. I guess a S/C doesn't have to change that, but for some reason the perception will change for me. I'd take the LS-6 over the 4.4L S/C. Something cool about a naturally aspirated smallblock revving to 6500 rpm... Though a silky twin-cam V8 making 440hp is pretty appealing too...

I have to say, listening to the Corsa exhaust clips of the C6 vs the CTS-V, the CTS-V sure sounds sexier! The Corvette sounds meaner, but more exotic. The V has a nice burbly musclecar sound to it that I find irresistable!