2006 Cadillac STS-V and XLR-V arrive in Europe
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- European debut at the 2005 Frankfurt Auto Show
- Supercharged 4.4 liter Northstar V8 engine delivers 350 kW (469 hp*) in STS-V and 330 kW (443 hp*) in XLR-V
- Handcrafted leather wrapped interior
- Cadillac Vs provide alternatives to high-end performance variants of European manufacturers
DETROIT, MI – Cadillac will host the European debut of the STS-V and XLR-V next month at the Frankfurt Auto Show (IAA) in Germany. These high-performance additions to the Cadillac portfolio have completed testing and the numbers certified by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) are official. The STS-V delivers 350 kW (469 hp) and the XLR-V is certified at 330 kW (443 hp).
"Cadillac's V-Series is founded on the idea of taking the strong performance and luxury attributes of our core vehicles and extending them even higher," said Jim Taylor, Cadillac General Manager. "As a result, Cadillac's V-Series – CTS-V and STS-V sedans and XLR-V hard-top convertible roadster – are serious performers that compete with the high-end performance variants of any manufacturer and now provide European customers with new alternatives.”
Like their mainstream siblings, the STS-V and XLR-V combine distinctively bold styling with contemporary luxury and superior rear-wheel drive performance. Cadillac's V-Series strategy represents limited production series in which the performance and luxury of the brand's vehicles are taken to their full extent. The "V" designation is a tribute to classic Cadillac nameplates of decades past. The contemporary V-Series era began with the introduction of the 298 kW (400 hp) CTS-V in 2004 in North America.
Development and performance testing of both, the STS-V and XLR-V was done at the Nordschleife circuit of Germany 's famed N ü rburgring, widely recognized as one of the world's most demanding tracks. The 4.4 liter Northstar V-8 supercharged DOHC engine features variable valve timing and represents the most output ever for a production Cadillac. The official SAE ratings for the 2006 STS-V are 350 kW (469 hp) at 6,400 rpm and 595 Nm of torque at 3900 rpm. The XLR-V is rated at 330 kW (443 hp) at 6,400 rpm and 561 Nm of torque at 3900 rpm. The supercharged 4.4 liter Northstar engine generates more peak power in the STS-V than in the XLR-V, due to the larger engine compartment that allows more induction and exhaust capacity. On the other hand, the XLR-V benefits from its superior power-to-weight ratio. Both vehicles feature GM's new Hydra-matic six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode and accelerate from 0 – 60 mph (96 km/h) in less than 5 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h for both vehicles.
With sales in Europe scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2006, pricing for the STS-V and XLR-V will be announced at a later stage.
General Motors Corp. , the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, employs about 323,000 people globally. Founded in 1908, GM has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. GM today has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 192 countries. In 2004, GM sold nearly 9 million cars and trucks, up 4 percent and the second-highest total in the company's history. GM's global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM, the STS-V and XLR-V can be found at www.gm.com.
*European horsepower ratings are 476 hp (PS) for STS-V and 448 hp (PS) for XLR-V
