GM’S PARTING SHOTS FOR THE END OF THE ICE AGE.

Tuesday

Feb022021

Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 11:17AM

By Peter M. DeLorenzo

Detroit. The True Believers at GM are living in a strange Twilight Zone as you read this. They have one right foot pressing down hard on machines that will define the End of the ICE Age, while working feverishly on a dazzling array of new-generation products that will usher in the Dawn of the Electron Age.

We’ve already had a preview of some of these new battery-powered machines, such as the Cadillac Lyriq and the GMC HUMMER EV, but these vehicles are just the first volley in a product offensive the likes of which has never been seen before in the company’s history. GM is developing EVs for every product segment in their current portfolio, plus some for segments not even imagined yet.

When GM announced last week that it plans to become carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2040 and has committed to setting science-based targets to achieve carbon neutrality, there were plenty of skeptics. But GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra made it very clear: “General Motors is joining governments and companies around the globe working to establish a safer, greener and better world. We encourage others to follow suit and make a significant impact on our industry and on the economy as a whole.”

In a clear departure from its past, GM worked with the Environmental Defense Fund to develop a shared vision of an all-electric future and an aspiration to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new, light-duty vehicles by 2035. This is as real as it gets, and it's a serious, big-time commitment on GM's part.

Big, bold goals require real vision, and skeptics will always be part and parcel of the process. To be sure, a lot will have to happen between now and then, but 2035 is not that far away. We're heading for a different world, folks. And GM is all-in on redefining its - and the automobile’s - role in it.

But before we zoom off to a world of juiced electrons and Super Torque Monsters, the True Believers at GM are leaving us with some glorious parting ICE-powered shots. We already have the first mid-engined Corvette, which is simply the most seductive combination of design, performance and real-world value available in the world today. The new Corvette represents the culmination of years of intensive development and creative thinking by the best and brightest in GM Design, Engineering and Product Development, and it is, hands-down, the best car that the company has ever produced.

But thankfully, GM’s True Believers were also hard at work on machines for enthusiasts who need an extra two doors - the new 2022 Cadillac CT5-V and CT4-V – which were just revealed yesterday (Monday, Feb. 1). These machines inject the same spirit and creativity that went into the Corvette and translate it into four-door, rear-wheel-drive sedans. (That’s right, no AWD weight penalty for these machines; they are for pure driving pleasure and high-performance capability – a decision I applaud wholeheartedly.)

And the result is truly impressive, because these machines bristle with driver-oriented high-performance features.

The CT5-V Blackwing uses an upgraded 6.2L supercharged V8 that, thanks to a higher flow air-intake and revised exhaust system, is rated at 668HP (498 kW) and 659 lb-ft of torque (893 Nm), making it the most powerful production Cadillac ever. Each engine is hand-built at GM’s Bowling Green Assembly facility in Kentucky and features a signed engine builder’s plate. And the performance numbers? GM estimates 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds (equipped with the 10-speed automatic) with an estimated top speed of over 200 mph. And, in a nod to a rapidly fading skill, an upgraded TREMEC six-speed manual is the standard gearbox on both machines. (That is a very big deal, folks.)

The CT4-V isn’t exactly a slouch by comparison. It is equipped with an evolution of the Cadillac 3.6L Twin-Turbo V6 that features revised control system software and an improved air intake system to create 472HP (352 kW) and 445 lb-ft of torque (603 Nm). The turbos’ low-inertia (titanium-aluminide) turbine wheels enable more precise and responsive application of torque throughout the rev range. Translation? A GM estimated 0-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds (with the 10-speed automatic) and an estimated top speed of 189 mph.

These are serious performance numbers by any measure, but that’s only one aspect of the thorough, detailed engineering that went into these machines. More? The Electronic Limited Slip Rear Differential is enhanced to reduce mass and improve on-track reliability; Advanced suspension tuning refinements provide greater body control and a more agile feel; Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 is included, which is the world’s fastest reacting suspension technology, sharpening the balance between daily-driving comfort and high-performance track capability; Unique structural enhancements specifically designed to improve steering response and handling on the track are also part of the packages.

Both V-Series Blackwing models feature advanced high-performance braking systems that have been extensively track and road-tested; And the exclusive V-Series Blackwing wheel designs enable an even larger rotor over the previous CTS-V, making the CT5-V Blackwing braking system the largest factory-installed brakes in Cadillac history (15.67 x 1.42-inch (398 X 36 mm) front rotors and 14.7 x 1.1-inch (373.5 x 28 mm) rear rotors). Additionally, a carbon-ceramic brake package for the CT5-V Blackwing featuring cross-drilled rotors is available.

I am only mentioning the high hard ones here, because the level of detailed execution is impressive and extends to every inch of these machines, inside and out. (Even the customizable integrated digital gauge cluster has Custom Launch Control and Performance Traction Management settings.) And to make sure that all of this extensive engineering will work in the real world for real live customers, GM engineers validated the performance of these machines in 12-hour and 24-hour track testing.

The core group of True Believers who worked on all three of these fantastic machines have moved on and have been hard at work developing GM’s future EV product portfolio. This, as much as anything else, indicates GM’s commitment to the Electron Future, and leaves me optimistic about what’s to come.

These parting product shots represent the End of the ICE Age for GM, and they’re a fitting tribute to the men and women who are responsible for them.

Now, the only thing left is for enthusiasts to go big or go home and get their hands on them. How much? $59,990 for the CT4-V and $84,990 for the CT5-V (prices include a $995 destination charge). And they are limited to 250 units of each model. (UPDATE: The initial build is limited to 250 vehicles each; a regular production build will begin after that. -PMD)

And that’s the High-Electron Truth for this week.