The Cadillac XTS V-Sport Is The 410-Turbo-Charged Grandfather You Forgot About.

Whoosh. While you’re driving down the block listening to your favorite podcast, an old Cadillac flies by you doing the Mach Jesus. What kind of Cadillac is it? Most likely, it is CTS-V, ATS-V, or even STS-V or XLR-V. However, those aren’t the only powerful old Cadillacs out there. The Cadillac XTS V-Sport is the twin-turbocharged highway machine that everyone forgot about, and because it flies under the radar, used models are more expensive than you might think.

Back in the late 2010s, Cadillac was working to replace the STS and DTS sedans with one new model. Why one car? Well, cost aside, the traditional big buyers of the Cadillac sedan were, um, dwindling in number. Also, since GM was just out of warranty, something that could be done with a higher volume model and share parts with that higher volume model probably wasn’t a bad idea. So, Cadillac took the bones of the Chevrolet Impala, put the tools inside the Canadian Oshawa Assembly plant, and began to produce models of the new sedan – the XTS.

For many long-time Cadillac sedan customers, this was enough. But what about the few customers who have a desire to go fast but want something nicer than the CTS-V? They are known Mr. and Mrs. Leadfoot, proud grandfather and ninth. What would they buy? Well, starting with the 2014 model year, Cadillac thought of them with the XTS V-Sport. At the heart of this trim, Cadillac took the concept behind its standard 3.6-liter quad-cam V6 and went to town, with a new block, new heads, new connecting rods, forged steel crankshaft, sodium-filled exhaust valves, special. pistons, and last but not least, two turbochargers. The result? In the XTS V-Sport, 410 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft. of torque – specifically the torque rating of the then-new 6T80 six-speed transaxle.

Obviously, channeling 404 horsepower through the car’s front tires is like stuffing a Carolina Reaper full of cheese and serving it as an additive. Some people can handle it, but it’s a bad idea to release the mix to the public. So, Cadillac pulled the Saab 9-5’s all-wheel-drive system out of the parts bin, complete with a torque-vectoring rear differential, in hopes of getting the two-ton flat-engined sedan around the corner. The result? A large, smooth coach that can glide down the quarter mile in 13.6 seconds at 105 mph according to Car and Driver instrument test. However, while the magazine liked the engine, it found that the rest of the car lacked performance.

The new engine delivers smooth, effortless power befitting a larger Cadillac. It doesn’t pack the soul-stirring roar of an eight-cylinder, but the V-6 outdoes the old DTS’s Northstar V-8 in almost everything else. With 369 lb-ft of torque from 1900 rpm, the turbocharged XTS makes passing other cars a breeze and has the fearsome ability to accidentally hit triple-digit speeds. The six-speed automatic uses the same gear ratios as in the naturally aspirated XTS but with a shorter final drive ratio. Shifts are quick and logical, although the manual shift mode is slow to respond. Most of all, we want the transmission and engine to work together to accelerate the sound response from the line.

See, the XTS V-Sport wasn’t a sports sedan, and that was its biggest problem. Sure, it was comfortable and roomy, but most people didn’t really understand that it was a highway vehicle in the first place. Not only does the torque steer report around the world, the CTS V-Sport sat directly in the showroom from this turbocharged yacht, and thanks to the longitudinal platform, eight-speed automatic transmission, and the same turbocharged V6 V6 in top form. tune, it was faster, handled better, and had a much lower starting price. Sure, it didn’t have the big back seat of the XTS, but for the driving enthusiast, the CTS V-Sport would have it.

All this means that the XTS V-Sport is cheap on the used market. Here is a 2014 model with 64,000 miles on the clock for sale in Pennsylvania for $21,900. Not only is it finished in a shade of red, it has a clean Carfax and an airy interior. If you want to crush the big middle miles, this is a great way to do it.

That plain red car is nice, but what if you want to play with all the luxury you can think of? Well, here’s a 2016 V-Sport platinum for sale in Massachusetts for $25,995 with 72,051 miles on the clock. When new, this item retailed for $73,565, but you won’t have to pay half that for this ode to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s highway system.

Oh, and did I mention the large number of dolls inside? Even the base V-Sport Premium trim got magnetorheological dampers, automatic HID headlights, 14-speaker Bose sound system, three-zone climate control, household power socket, adjustable steering column , heated and ventilated adjustable leather front seats. thigh support, heated rear seats, and heated steering wheel. Jump up to the V-Sport Platinum, and you get semi-aniline leather seats, additional leather on the dashboard, console, and door cards, a sueded headliner, electric blinds for the rear side windows and rear window. , back. armrest-mounted audio controls, thick floor mats, and custom-painted brake calipers. We are talking about real luxury car services here

Plus, if you want to light a wick, there is an option. Michigan filters Livernois Motorsports has a simple remap that promises a dyno-verified 96 horsepower and 104 lb.-ft. torque on the wheels. Does this put the infection at risk? True, but if you’re looking for a party, you probably don’t really care.

So, if you’re a serious cruiser looking for an affordable, powerful bargain, why not rock the Cadillac XTS V-Sport? Sure, there’s no sports sedan around the corner, but it’s an affordable high-speed cruiser that offers decent comfort and speed. It’s the kind of car that will make I-95 from New York to Atlanta feel like an easy day trip, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

(Photo credit: Cadillac, Autotrader Dealers)

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