The Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V aren't as fast as we'd hoped

Cadillac’s V-series cars are normally pretty serious things. For example the CTS-V, America’s answer to the M5 and E63, has a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 with 640bhp and can do over 200mph. But alas, that car is going off sale, and these new Vs aren’t quite in the same league…

Caddy’s range of saloons – or ‘sedans’ – is confusing at best. For us Europeans, anyway. Americans – maybe you can enlighten us in the comments. But far as we can see, the new CT4, which replaces the ATS, will compete with the likes of the Mercedes A-Class Saloon and Audi A3 Saloon. Meanwhile the CT5, which replaces the CTS, is meant to rival the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class. Or possibly the 5 Series, A6 and E-Class. Maybe both.

Either way, V-versions of both were unveiled yesterday. The CT4-V (blue) gets a 2.7-litre four-cylinder engine with 320bhp, which powers just the rear or all-four wheels through a ten-speed automatic gearbox. The CT5-V (orange) has a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 with 355bhp, making it broadly comparable to the Audi S4 and Mercedes C43. It too uses a ten-speed auto and can be had with either rear- or all-wheel drive. Prices and performance figures haven’t yet been announced.

Both cars get Brembo brakes and the latest version of Caddy’s ‘Magnetic Ride Control’ adaptive damping (the all-wheel drive CT4-V gets passive dampers), plus a special ‘V-Mode’ driving mode. The company’s ‘Super Cruise’ semi-autonomous cruise control is available on both cars, too.

The ATS-V and CTS-V these cars replace are miles more powerful, more serious. But thankfully we’re promised “this is only the beginning of the V family” and that “Cadillac’s passion for performance shines on a racetrack”. So fingers crossed there will be more properly-quick Vs soon.

Both CT4 and 5 will go on sale in the US next year. Wish GM would send them to Europe?