Lingenfelter Raises the Bar with 700HP+ Tuning Package for Cadillac CTS-V Models

If there's one company that knows a thing or two about tuning GM's products, it's Lingenfelter. The Indiana-based tuning firm has just announced its latest package for the Cadillac CTS-V series, which covers the sedan, station wagon and coupe models. In stock form, the CTS-V's 6.2-liter supercharged V8 churns out 556HP and 551 lb.-ft of torque.

Lingenfelter's engine tune includes a variety of mods such as ported LSA cylinder heads and the addition of LPE's GT9 ZR1 supercharger camshaft, which help push the V8's output to more than 700-horses at the crankshaft. The long-time GM tuner also tried out a CTS-V Coupe with a manual transmission on the dyno, with the test yielding 623HP and 617 lf-ft at the rear wheels. Follow the jumps for a video and detailed info on the tuning package.

Lingenfelter Cadillac CTS-V Turnkey Package:

- Engine removal and removal of supercharger assembly, cylinder heads and camshaft
- Lingenfelter CNC porting & polishing of LSA cylinder heads for optimal flow
- 2.165" diameter hollow stem intake valves
- 1.59" diameter high temperature inconnel exhaust valves
- Lingenfelter multi-angle valve job, cc chambers, surfacing and spring height adjustment
- Competition Cams valve springs, titanium retainers, 10 degree locks
- Lingenfelter GT9 camshaft
- GM Head gaskets & head bolts
- 2.55" diameter steel supercharger drive pulley - powder coated black - 8 rib
- 8 rib serpentine belt
- Lingenfelter LS9 solid supercharger isolator coupling
- Port and polish supercharger front cover
- Lingenfelter air intake duct
- K & N Air Filter
- Lingenfelter 10% overdrive harmonic balancer
- 63 lbs/hour fuel injectors
- Fuel injector connector change
- 160 degree thermostat
- Professional installation
- Engine testing and expert ECM tuning
- Chassis dyno testing before and after installation
- Excellent drivability, highway mileage not adversely affected
- Lingenfelter certificate of authenticity
- Lingenfelter 2 year/24,000 mile warranty

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Meet Louie Mattar and his Fabulous, Record-Setting 1947 Cadillac [with Video]

Some of you may have noticed a special, one-off car among the beauties showcased in our San Diego Automotive Museum gallery piece. It's Louie Mattar's $75,000 1947 custom Cadillac. In 1952, Mattar and two other men drove this one-of-a-kind Caddy from San Diego to New York and back, without a single stop. Their trip totaled 6,320 miles!

To be able to do this, Mr. Mattar worked 5 years on modifying his 1947 Cadillac, which, by the time it was completed, turned into quite a unique car. For examples, the Caddy automatically refills the radiator and changes the oil. Having drilled axles, the wheels could be inflated while turning and, also, hydraulic jacks could raise the car to allow the wheels to be changed while moving.

Driving more than 6,000 miles non-stop can take its toll on a car, so, for more complicated repairs and adjustments, the hood featured clear panels, which allowed the driver to keep on going, while the other two passengers fiddled under the bonnet, standing on movable platforms attached to the side of the car.

Aside from setting the aforementioned cross-country endurance record, Louie's Cadillac is considered to be the first motorhome ever built. The three men who completed the grueling journey had a rolling home at their disposal. The modified Cadillac featured many luxuries such as an electric stove, refrigerator, TV, washing machine, chemical toilet, shower, medicine cabinet and kitchen sink. They even had an ironing board, all integrated into the back seat.

Up front, the car had a nationwide mobile telephone, PA system, tape recorder and a Turkish pipe. Not many modern cars feature such a varied equipment list, let alone a complete bar for those moments when monotony and homesickness struck.

The shiny trailer held a 30-gallon reserve of water (50 gallons were in a tank mounted in the car), 230 gallons of gas and 15 gallons of oil, meaning that it needed refueling only three times during the week-long trip (September 20-27, 1952), done of course while moving, on airfields located in Kansas City, Camden and Omaha.

Two years later, the same car was also driven non-stop from Anchorage to Mexico City, over a distance of 7,482 miles.

Check the videos below for more information on this one-of-a-kind car and his creator.

By Csaba Daradics

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In Making the latest Cadillac Escalade More High-Tech, GM Actually Made it Easier to Steal...

According to the Highway Loss Data Institute, the Cadillac Escalade is numero uno when it comes to stolen car claims here in the US. The group says that for the first three years of the third-generation Escalade's production (2007-2009) there have been an average of 10.8 claims - from stealing the rims up to the entire car - for every 1000 insured Escalades. That's approximately five times more claims than the average car.

This surge in Escalade theft isn't just because Cadillac's big SUV is many celebrities' vehicle of choice, however. After 2006, the SUV was actually made easier to steal than most cars because GM did away with the simple yet effective steering wheel lock. Instead, it was replaced by some electronic nannies that were supposed to be "better". Don't worry, the lock's back for 2010, so all you up and coming pimps will have harder-to-jack rides. Watch the report in the video below.

By Phil Alex

Source: NYTimes & WXYS

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VIDEO: MT Pits Audi RS5 Against Cadillac CTS-V Coupe and BMW M3 Coupe [with Poll]

Audi may have confirmed the new RS5 for the States, but Americans won't be able to sample the scorching hot high-performance coupe until sometime in 2012. But when there's a will, there's a way, so the crew from Motor Trend headed to Germany to compare the two newest entries in the sports coupe segment, the Audi RS5 and Cadillac CST-V Coupe, with BMW's 'old-timer', the M3 Coupe.

We won't spoil the video for you by telling you won, so follow the jump to check it out along with the performance details on all cars and then don't forget to take our poll on which sport coupe would you be more likely to buy.

The upcoming Audi RS5 tips the scales at 1,800kg (3,968 lbs) and packs a naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 cranking out -in Euro spec- 450HP at 8,250 rpm and 430Nm (317.15 lb-ft) between 4,000 and 6,000rpm.

It also features a rear-biased quattro all-wheel drive system that splits torque 40:60 under normal conditions and a new seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission. Audi says the coupe completes the standard 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 4.6 seconds.

The recently introduced Cadillac CTS-V Coupe weighs in at 1922kg (4,237 lbs - Automatic) and makes use of a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine rated -in U.S. spec- at 556HP at 6,100 rpm and 747Nm (551 lb.-ft.) at 3,800 rpm.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. According to GM, the CTS-V goes from 0 to 60mph (96km/h) in 3.9 seconds.

Finally, the oldest model in the comparison is the BMW M3 Coupe. It weighs in at 1,675kg (3,692 lbs - DKG transmission) and sports a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V8 delivering -in Euro spec- 420HP at 8,300rpm and 400Nm (295 lb-ft) at 3,900rpm.

Buyers can opt for either a 6-speed manual (0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds) or a 7-speed dual clutch transmission (0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds). The car tested here by Motor Trend's Editor in Chief Angus MacKenzie, was fitted with BMW's $2,500 optional Competition Package that includes wider offset 19-inch alloy wheels, lowered ride height and recalibrated Electronic Damper Control and Dynamic Stability Control settings.

[Link to test: Motortrend]

Which One Would You be More Likely to Buy?

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VIDEOS: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Presentation and Action Shots

The new XTS Sedan Concept looks promising and all but the real star at Cadillac's 2010 NAIAS booth is the 2011 CTS-V Coupe. Basically, it's a slightly more compact, two-door version of the CTS-V sedan sharing the same 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine with 556HP and a whopping 551 lb.-ft. of torque (747 Nm).

Offered with a choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shift control that transfer power to the rear wheels through a limited slip differential, the CTS-V Coupe is propelled from 0 to 60mph (96km/h) in a mere 3.9 seconds.

Hit the jump to check out the live photos from the Detroit Show and of course, two videos that include the official presentation and a promo film with some power-sliding action.

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Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept: Videos and Live Shots from Detroit Show

Making its world premiere at the Detroit motor show alongside the 556HP Cadillac CST-V Coupe, is the XTS Platinum Concept. GM calls it a concept model, but the 203.5 inches (5,170mm) long XTS is expected to heavily influence Cadillac's upcoming flagship sedan that will replace the DTS, and quite possibly, the STS also.

The full-size sedan, which most likely shares the vehicle platform with the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, keeps all the usual styling cues of modern Cadillacs such as the sharp creases and vertical lights.

The concept's interior blends leather, wood and other high quality materials with modern technology like the Organic Light-Emitting Diode (O-LED) displays that replace the traditional gauges and screens.

Under the Caddy's bonnet is GM's 3.6-liter V6 engine with direct-injection plus a plug-in hybrid system that deliver a combined output of 350HP and 295 lb-ft of torque.

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