2006 STS-V Test Drive - STS-V Bumped to 469 HP

[joe1280]

I'm assuming the XLR-V will also now be 469 HP.

http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives...high.html#more

By John Heinricy
Director, GM High Performance Vehicle Operations

It’s just after sunrise in Germany’s Eifel region of dense forests and mountains. Myself, and a small crew of fellow engineers and technicians, are getting ready for a day on the Nordscliefe – the “North Course” of the famed Nurburgring track.

I settle inside the 2006 STS-V, a pre-production example of the model Cadillac will start selling later this fall. I tighten my helmet and belts, secure the HANS device, and make a last check of the radio and the track’s safety lights. A push of the ignition button brings the 4.4-liter Supercharged Northstar to life.

We recently learned that additional development from the engineering team has resulted in a final number of 469 horsepower, making STS-V the most powerful production Cadillac ever. From the moment the first test lap starts, the Northstar’s power and refinement is apparent.

We’ve been coming to the ’Ring regularly for a few years. Testing at the ‘Ring is special. I’ve had a lot of experience racing and testing cars, including more than 250 professional races. But there is nothing else like this place. The Nordschliefe spans 13 miles. The course includes more than 170 turns and more than 1000 feet of elevation change. This, combined with high speeds, places huge energy into the chassis. That’s why we’re here. There is very little room for error.

To perform well at speed, the dynamic behavior of the vehicle needs to be impeccable. Predictability, precision, response, balance, control . . . as well as confidence and even comfort. These are attributes we’re looking for to describe the experience of driving a well integrated car on the ‘Ring. All the vehicle systems must be engineered to work together in harmony. Driving quickly – safely -- shouldn’t be a stressful experience. It’s an experience to savor. When it’s right you’ll know it. It’s our job to make it right and we take it very seriously. While we do time some of our laps, this is not about racing. Lap times are just one of the huge files of data collected each lap, all used to develop this Cadillac to be the best it can be.

The first couple of minutes on the track include many cornering transitions in which hard braking and accelerating occur in quick succession. The STS-V steering is precise and predictable. Brakes are responsive and very powerful, inspiring a lot of confidence, which is important given that the fastest portions of the circuit are imminent. The first of many long, undulating and sweeping turns calls for prolonged acceleration. The Supercharged Northstar provides constant hard pulling, with a strong-sounding intake and exhaust with a hint of supercharger whine. This is punctuated by smooth transmission upshifts taking us well into triple digit speeds (mph, not kilometers!) Braking for the upcoming sharper turn is a non-event. The huge Brembos grip with quiet efficiency.

Huge elevation changes start coming at me in the next few minutes of the Nordschliefe. These are fast descending and ascending sections with swells that get the Cadillac nearly airborne. The control engineered into the shock, spring and stabilizer bars can really be appreciated as the car swallows up the worst conditions the Ring can throw at it. The engine and transmission must work together with the chassis so that shifts and power delivery are seamless during these periods in which the chassis is being heavily loaded and unloaded repeatedly. The STS-V handles this with balance and control. This is exactly what we’re looking for – systems in the powertrain and chassis working together.

At the conclusion of the lap, I know it’s a success before the team looks at our data. I’ve made it through safely, for one. Secondly, the STS-V was smooth and well composed. This speaks to integration. We’re pleased that we turn laps in roughly 8 min., 30 seconds. But, STS-V is not a race car or an exotic sports car like the Corvette Z06 we’ll drive later in the day. STS-V is a tremendously powerful and refined luxury sedan.

Taken nearly to its limits, we have verified that the car maintains its composure under extreme conditions. That translates to outstanding driving dynamics for the customer. Being engineers, we of course find some things we want to tweak when we get back home. But our clear conclusion is that our STS-V development has taken the already-excellent performance and luxury of this sedan to its full extent – which is exactly our mission with Cadillac’s V-Series.

View a video of the test drive
here (wmv file, less than 1 MB). Non-IE users can right-click and save the video.

[01cavalier]

Actually, the XLR-V has been certified at 443 horsepower and 414 lbs-ft, due to less room for intake and exhaust

[CRBoyd91]

Now that's giving some competition to the likes of Mercedes and Lexus

[JVal14]

But, STS-V is not a race car or an exotic sports car like the Corvette Z06 we’ll drive later in the day.

I'd just like to state the obvious: This guy has the best job EVER.

[2000GTPBROTHER]

Originally Posted by 01cavalier

Actually, the XLR-V has been certified at 443 horsepower and 414 lbs-ft, due to less room for intake and exhaust

You are right, here is a press release from today that confirms.


2006 STS-V Reaches New Performance Level

Supercharged Northstar boosted to 469-hp


DETROIT, MI - Cadillac's upcoming 2006 STS-V not only enhances the performance of the current STS sedan, it also has eclipsed the goals set during its development. With testing now complete, the STS-V is certified at 469 horsepower, significantly more than the 440 estimated at the car's world debut earlier this year.

Performance testing for the STS-V has been completed at the Nordschliefe circuit of Germany's famed Nurburgring, widely recognized as one of the world's most demanding tracks. The STS-V clocked lap times of approximately 8:30, a blistering pace for most any production vehicle, let alone a luxury sedan.

With production scheduled to begin this fall, the STS-V is the latest edition of Cadillac's V-Series, the growing family of vehicles expressing the full extension of the brand's performance and luxury credentials. The STS-V features the new 4.4-liter Supercharged Northstar V-8 engine and GM's new Hydra-matic six-speed automatic transmission.

The official power ratings for the 2006 STS-V -- 469 hp at 6,400 rpm and 439 lbs.-ft. of torque at 3900 rpm - are certified by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE.) SAE's new voluntary power and torque certification procedure (J2723) ensures fair, accurate ratings by allowing manufacturers to certify their engines through third-party witness testing. GM was the first auto manufacturer to begin using this procedure to certify power for its new engines.

The Northstar V-8 supercharged engine represents the most output ever for a production Cadillac. In the final stages of development, GM Powertrain engineers found more opportunities to push the boundaries of the Supercharged Northstar engine.

"Cadillac's V-Series is founded on the idea of taking the strong performance and luxury of our core vehicles and reaching even higher," said Jim Taylor, Cadillac General Manager. "The result is that Cadillac's V-Series family will consist of three serious performers, all going zero-to-sixty in under five seconds."

The Supercharged Northstar V-8 will also power the upcoming V-Series edition of the XLR luxury roadster slated for production in early-2006. XLR-V is certified at 443 hp at 6,400 rpm and 414 lbs.-ft. of torque at 3900 rpm. The Supercharged Northstar generates more peak power for the STS-V, compared to the XLR-V, due largely to the greater underhood space of the STS that allows more induction and exhaust capacity. On the other hand, the XLR-V will be a quicker car than the STS-V, given its superior power-to-weight ratio.

Cadillac is a division of General Motors (NYSE: GM). General Motors, the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide, and has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. Cadillac products include CTS sport sedan, SRX luxury utility, STS performance luxury sedan, DTS, XLR luxury roadster, Escalade full-size SUVs and the high-performance V-Series (CTS-V, STS-V, XLR-V) three cars that go 0-60 in under 5 seconds.

[gmhashope]

Originally Posted by JVal14

I'd just like to state the obvious: This guy has the best job EVER.

I know, I'm jealous of this guy. It's funny though Cadillac has 3 cars that go 0-60 in under 5 seconds and Pontiac has one .... maybe Cadillac should be Driving Excitement.

[johnny smallblock]

The new Certified SAE numbers are interesting. Basically, companies could cheat the old system,with special parts or fluids, and make their cars appear to have more power than they really do. Under the new system, you can't get away with that. Though it's voluntary, GM has said they will offer all their cars to be tested under the new, more accurate system. So far both the Vette and now the STS-V have more power than originally believed. This means GM hasn't been playing any games with their numbers. If anything, they've been too honest. It will be interesting to see which companies don't offer at the new test because they know they've been cheating.

[DirtyMoney]

Cool

[stevecmh]

469 Holy Shi*

[camaro_freak]

will it be able to eat BMWs for breakfast at that much horsepower?

I sure hope so...

[ChevyLaxMan]

Originally Posted by johnny smallblock

The new Certified SAE numbers are interesting. Basically, companies could cheat the old system,with special parts or fluids, and make their cars appear to have more power than they really do. Under the new system, you can't get away with that. Though it's voluntary, GM has said they will offer all their cars to be tested under the new, more accurate system. So far both the Vette and now the STS-V have more power than originally believed. This means GM hasn't been playing any games with their numbers. If anything, they've been too honest. It will be interesting to see which companies don't offer at the new test because they know they've been cheating.

GM has been underestimating there engines for far to long. My caprice is rated at 260hp but i ran a 14.3 1/4mile with headers and exhaust. Online horsepower calculators make that out to be 360hp at the crank. Now 100xtra hp from exhaust? i dont think so. And what about all the Ls1 fbodies putting 310hp to the wheels in stock form when they are rated at 320 at the crank. more like 375 hp! chevy power!

[91fairladyZ]

Originally Posted by camaro_freak

will it be able to eat BMWs for breakfast at that much horsepower?

I sure hope so...

It'll be close, but what will seal the deal is that they get the inside of the car right. By all accounts, this has been taken care of. Should shut a lot of critics up.

[1BadPig]

Oh, Biff and Muffy at the country club won't be happy that their M5 have just met it match... if everything is true!

[Z28x]

XLR-V will have 443HP

The Supercharged Northstar V-8 will also power the upcoming V-Series edition of the XLR luxury roadster slated for production in early-2006. XLR-V is certified at 443 hp at 6,400 rpm and 414 lbs.-ft. of torque at 3900 rpm. The Supercharged Northstar generates more peak power for the STS-V, compared to the XLR-V, due largely to the greater underhood space of the STS that allows more induction and exhaust capacity. On the other hand, the XLR-V will be a quicker car than the STS-V, given its superior power-to-weight ratio.

[asim]

awesome