CTS-V sets the fastest Ring time for a production sedan (interview with the driver)

[toffytofik]

^
Nothing strange. Going at those speeds on the Nordschleife is dangerous. Manufacturers should always ensure driver's safety. Full harness racing seats, fire suspension system etc.

Good time btw, but lapping with full-auto box = fail.

[styla21]

I'm liking the purpose-designed interior. Looks great.
Impressive time - raises questions over what constitutes a "stock" car though..

[graywolf624]

Good time btw, but lapping with full-auto box = fail.

If you read the article youd see they are pretty sure it was the 6 speed manual version.

[nthfinity]

Originally Posted by graywolf624 If you read the article youd see they are pretty sure it was the 6 speed manual version.

the video shows the 6 speed automatic, with paddle shifters... no traditional gear box hand movements... which IMO, the proper 6 speed will go faster around the Ring...

[SinRS]

Originally Posted by RC45 Hehe... And John Heinricy is the one who set the C5 Z06 time - its great when the program chief, engineer and driver are all the same person That's also why the C5 Z is so good for a "cheap 2001 desgin year Chevy" - it was the car he raced on a personal level, so he made sure it could deliver or at least had factory backed mod parts available. The new CTS-V is simply this philosophy carried to the next elvel, wearing a tuxedo

I suppose CTS-V is without any electronic gadgets that you dislike? There's no traction or stability control to assist the impressive lap time?

[HeilSvenska]

^Just standard stability and traction controls. It is a Cadillac afterall.
(Electronic stability controls are mandatory on all US cars.)

[SinRS]

Originally Posted by HeilSvenska ^Just standard stability and traction controls. It is a Cadillac afterall. (Electronic stability controls are mandatory on all US cars.)

So it isn't all driver's car in the end
Do you know is there any relation to other GM's brands or models with this car, or is it purely Cadillac?

[RC45]

Originally Posted by SinRS I suppose CTS-V is without any electronic gadgets that you dislike? There's no traction or stability control to assist the impressive lap time?

Just like with the last CTS-V, you can turn the aids off.

The aids are there as "safety nets" not power distribution aids... big difference. The GT-R needs its techno wizardy to get out of its own way, the CTS-V, Z06, 911TT, Viper etc only have techno aids as a safety net and actually work better and are faster with them all turned off.

[HeilSvenska]

Originally Posted by SinRS So it isn't all driver's car in the end

Yeah. In the same way Ferrari and Porsches aren't driver's cars. Read mandatory.

[dutchmasterflex]

Originally Posted by nthfinity the video shows the 6 speed automatic, with paddle shifters... no traditional gear box hand movements... which IMO, the proper 6 speed will go faster around the Ring...

Do you really think so? On a demanding track like the 'Ring keeping your hands on the wheel at all times and not having the extra clutch work would significantly improve your lap time.

And without the TC/Stability aids, do you guys really think this driver would be able to do the same speeds?

If you claim the GT-R is different in this aspect, then you clearly are biased. Sure this car publicly has more power, but it is also heavy like the GT-R and without computer aids, any driver would end up in the trees or without rubber if they tried to go all out.

[nthfinity]

Originally Posted by dutchmasterflex Do you really think so? On a demanding track like the 'Ring keeping your hands on the wheel at all times and not having the extra clutch work would significantly improve your lap time. And without the TC/Stability aids, do you guys really think this driver would be able to do the same speeds? If you claim the GT-R is different in this aspect, then you clearly are biased. Sure this car publicly has more power, but it is also heavy like the GT-R and without computer aids, any driver would end up in the trees or without rubber if they tried to go all out.

stability control in cadillac's aren't like the e-dif in the Ferrari, or in the Evo's, STi's, and GTR's. Applying the brakes to maintain longitudinal control is very different then applying the torque to do the same thing...

and, yes.... I really think so.

GM have officially said that this isn't their "official lap" with the car. The "official GM" lap will be with Jan Magnusen at the helm, and a 6 speed.... coming from the GM press office.

so if it isn't faster, why would they say this?

EDIT

By Ed We just came back from Germany. As promised, here's the video of John Heinricy's sub-8 minute lap of the Nurburgring's Nordschleife. To clarify, the car had no performance or operational modifications outside of what we intend to offer in production. We did have a couple of customary safety precautions, as the first goal of our testing is always to keep drivers like John safe. The car had a harness bar upon which a 6-way racing safety belt system was mounted. We also had a fire supression unit on board. These things add a little bit of weight to the car, certainly not helping performance any. Stock tires, too. GM is still in the testing phase and so have not yet set their actual fast time........they would be using one of the faster C6R drivers like Jan M. So expect a better time.

[toffytofik]

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=126303

Inside Line Insider: Details on the Cadillac CTS-V's Run Around the 'Ring Date posted: 05-15-2008 SANTA MONICA, California — Confidential sources within GM and its contractors has filled in many details about John Heinricy's epic 7-minute, 59.2-second lap of the Nürburgring's Nordschleife circuit in a production-spec 2009 Cadillac CTS-V. Yes, it's the automatic — Heinricy's run was made in a CTS-V equipped with the new six-speed automatic. More incredibly however, even though the new transmission is equipped with shift triggers on the steering wheel, Heinricy never once touches them during the run. "He's letting the computer do the shifting," one source told us. "It matches the right gears to the braking perfectly." The manual isn't as fast — "The reason you see John wave at the beginning of the video," another anonymous source told us, "is because (ride and drive engineer) Aaron Link is right behind him in a manual-transmission CTS-V." Link, an excellent driver in his own right, simply couldn't keep up with Heinricy and throughout testing, the automatic has proven to be the hot setup for this car. "There's video of Aaron's run, and he's incredibly busy" an insider told us. "Meanwhile, John barely moves." The run was made from a flying start — Heinricy began his lap three corners behind the start/finish line. So he was already up to speed by the time the clock started. The CTS-V is airborne at three points in the video — The 'Ring's notorious for flinging cars up in the air and it tried to send this Cadillac into orbit as well. However the active suspension incorporating the magnetic ride shocks has been tuned to deal with precisely such launches. Because he knew the car would leap flat, fly flat and land flat, Heinricy never had to lift once during the run. "Dave Mikels is the guy behind it," our source told us, "and he's done an absolutely amazing job." There was a roll cage in the car — For safety's sake, as well as for an anchor point for the six-point safety harnesses, there was a four-point roll cage bolted into the car. However the cage was "loose fit" and didn't add any structural heft to the car. "We didn't want to change the car's balance at all," said our hush-hush source. Stock tires — Heinricy's run was made on production-spec Michelin Pilot Sport 2s. However, the tires were heat-cycled and scrubbed the previous evening to ensure their performance the next day. Cool of the morning — The run was made between 7 and 8 a.m. when GM could rent the track before it was open to the public for that day's usual mix of romping and roiling. The cool of the morning may have made the track a bit quicker, but it also meant there was no chance Heinricy would come over a berm and find a stalled tour bus in front of him. Wet sump simplicity — While the CTS-V's engine is similar to the new Corvette ZR-1's in that it's a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, it's not the exact same engine. One of the big differences is that the ZR-1 runs a dry-sump oiling system, while the Cadillac uses a conventional wet-sump oiling system. "The CTS-V simply isn't capable of the lateral loads the Corvette can generate," the source explained. "It's heavier and has smaller tires." Burnouts 'R Us — Unrelated to the run around the 'Ring, but good to know is that epic burnouts have been part of the new CTS-V's engineering all along. In both manual or automatic transmission modes it will be possible, said our confidante, "to annihilate the tires like John Force if you want." Our source further reminds us that Heinricy's run was a nearly perfect one and it won't be easily duplicated simply because few people have Heinricy's talent or familiarity with the track. To those who were disappointed in the soundtrack accompanying the run, a source insists that these tapes are generated for engineering evaluation and not for marketing considerations. And, another of our sources promises, the new CTS-V sounds as awesome as it looks. What this means to you: This time next year, for the first time ever, the world's premier performance sedan could be a Cadillac. — Kelly Toepke, News Editor

[RC45]

Originally Posted by dutchmasterflex And without the TC/Stability aids, do you guys really think this driver would be able to do the same speeds?

Yes.

No doubt about it.. at this level the driver is not relying on the TC/AH/SC to go fast, as these features pull timing, cut throttle and / or apply the brakes thereby slowing you down.

Besides which, this driver is a naitonal champion competition driver, and would naturally be faster driving the car, not the other way round.

Originally Posted by dutchmasterflex If you claim the GT-R is different in this aspect, then you clearly are biased.

No - just being factual. One design philosophy relies one electronic ASSITANCE to overcome traditionl limitations and go faster. The other design philosophy has electornic nannies to keep the driver out of trouble and save the moment.

Originally Posted by dutchmasterflex Sure this car publicly has more power, but it is also heavy like the GT-R and without computer aids, any driver would end up in the trees or without rubber if they tried to go all out.

Nonsense.

I take it yo uhave never driven even the old CTS-V in anger then.

With that car you turn off the aids to go faster.

[RC45]

Originally Posted by toffytofik Yes, it's the automatic — Heinricy's run was made in a CTS-V equipped with the new six-speed automatic. More incredibly however, even though the new transmission is equipped with shift triggers on the steering wheel, Heinricy never once touches them during the run. "He's letting the computer do the shifting," one source told us. "It matches the right gears to the braking perfectly."

I am willing to put money on John being as fast or faster in the manual that he was in the automatic car.

They ar enot going short sell all the effort they have put into the slushbox - remember, this is also a mraketing excercise afterall

[dutchmasterflex]

OK, the manual transmission might be faster, with a competent driver. But we'll have to see if the fastest time will be set with all stability controls off.

Oh yea, the magnetic suspension is computer controlled which is never turned off, helping with the overall performance of the car.. mostly trying to hide its weight.