The Rarest Luxury Car To Ever Be Produced In America
- Cadillac’s V-Series engineering has led to high-performance luxury models like the CT4-V and CT5-V, renowned for power and class.
- The 2011 CTS-V Wagon blended utility with power, offering luxury comforts and spacious cargo capacity in a rare model.
- The CTS-V Wagon featured cutting-edge tech, a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine, manual transmission option, and premium driving experience.
In 2003, Cadillac began integrating their high-performance V-Series engineering into their mainstream models, 20 years later, the name is synonymous with high-performance. This effort birthed many juiced-up luxury vehicles, including the CT4-V and CT5-V. These models are renowned for their classy sporting nature and the legendary supercharged powertrain.
In 2011, Cadillac decided to blend the utility of their big CTS wagon with their ever-powerful V-Series machinery. This resulted in a spacious family hauler that could also haul the proverbial bottom. The CTS-V Wagon was a niche model that increased the versatility of the supercharged CTS-V sedan, as it exhibited all the qualities of a performance model with all the comfort, utility, and amenities of a modern station wagon.
Less than 2,000 examples of the 2011 supercharged wagon were produced, making it one of Cadillac’s rarest production modern models. Low-mileage used models can sell for as much as $100,000 in good condition, which is comparable with today’s most opulent luxury vehicles. Let’s crack this wagon open!
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including General Motors, Cadillac, Car Gurus, and J.D. Power.
Silver Cadillac V Gen-1 Family
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Cadillac CTS-V Wagon Stressed Modern Luxury Inside And Out
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To start, the 2011 CTS-V Wagon isn’t Cadillac’s rarest model, as the iconic brand has dabbled with numerous ventures that range from motorsport hypercars, concepts, and limited collector’s models. The CTS-V wagon came about during the V-Series’ second production year and was just a preview of what the iconic line would eventually go on to perfect.
The CTS-V wagon is jam-packed with luxury comforts, including leather seating surfaces, a heated steering wheel, advanced navigation, a Bose surround system, and a deployable infotainment screen, among other posh touches. All the upscale touches are surrounded by V-Series character flair, like perforated sport seating with pneumatic bolster controls, a thick steering wheel, and easy-to-read gauges that provide performance info on the fly.
Cadillac’s V-Series Models Featured Premium Personal Touches
The interior of the CTS-V wagon is everything one would expect from a Cadillac of any era: clean, sophisticated styling and premium materials. These elements combine in the CTS-V wagon in a delicious blend of contemporary class with an air of sport. Just like its CTS-V sedan sibling, the V-Wagon sports a hand-stitched instrument panel, door trim, and center console. All of which serve to elevate the buyer’s experience.
Available heated and ventilated seats incorporate innovative “thin-seat” technology for maximum occupant comfort and enhanced rear-seat leg, knee, and foot room. Occupant and cargo volume are a bigger focus for the wagon, as expected, though Cadillac made sure to retain a high level of utility while providing passengers with ample stretching room. The rear cargo area contains an integrated cargo management system that stows neatly under the floor when not in use, making the CTS-V wagon a competitive alternative to an SUV or crossover.
French stitching is used throughout the interior, including the upper instrument panel, door inserts, seats, and the shifter boot, providing more of those “personal touches” we mentioned earlier, which add a greater sense of quality and dedication to each model.
The 2011 CTS-V Wagon Incorporated Up-To-Date Tech
Inside the classy behemoth wasn’t just leather and stitch, the 2011 CTS-V wagon included enough tech to cater to even the most savvy buyers of the time. This standard equipment included a new rear-vision camera system, a hard drive-based audio system with 40 GB of storage, and integrated MP3 and iPod capability, to name a few.
2011 CTS-V Wagon Notable Tech Features
- Rear-vision camera system
- Hard drive-based audio system
- Advanced navigation system
- Keyless access
- Smart remote start
- Bose 5.1 cabin surround audio system
Front 3/4 view of the 2004 CTS-V.R race car.
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The CTS-V Wagon’s Performance Was Out Of This World
The standard CTS wagon featured the choice of some well-performing engine options that focused on efficiency and power. These include a 270 horsepower 3.0-liter direct injection V-6 and a 3.6-liter DI V-6 that produced a respectable 304 horses. While decent options for the era, both V-6 mills were overshadowed by a much, much more dominant force: Cadillac’s legendary supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, the LSA.
2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon Specs
(Source: Cadillac)
The burly 556 horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 was a beauty to behold and even more glorious under the hood of the CTS-V wagon, as it granted the wagon official “sleeper” status. Able to accelerate in under 4.5 seconds, the Cadi wagon could easily compete with the sports cars of the time, which included the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang. The later CTS-V wagons would eventually snag a sub-4-second 0-60 sprint.
The engine features an intercooled Eaton TVS supercharger whose unique design employs twin four-lobe rotors, twisted 160 degrees. Typical superchargers feature three lobes twisted 60 degrees, so the CTS-V had a particularly intriguing set-up. The enhanced blower, when combined with unique air inlet and outlet ports, creates smoother, more efficient airflow into the engine. In addition to improved overall efficiency, this supercharger has superior noise and vibration characteristics compared to more ordinary designs, making it quieter and less disruptive.
Manual Transmission Made It A “Driver’s” Vehicle
A pair of six-speed transmissions were offered on the CTS-V Wagon: a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual with a dual-disc clutch and a Hydra-Matic 6L90 six-speed automatic with steering wheel-mounted shift controls. The steering wheel-mounted controls require no shift lever movement and allow immediate tap up/tap down gear selection. Today, the manual transmission is a highly sought-after inclusion for buyers who enjoy absolute control of their vehicle.
Performance Algorithm Shifting provides the automatic transmission with a performance-oriented shift pattern during sustained, high-performance driving. Sliding the shifter into the manual “gate” puts the Cadi in performance mode, allowing drivers of the automatic CTS-V wagon full access to the heart-pounding force of the supercharged powertrain. No matter which transmission option you choose, Cadillac made sure to integrate the proper equipment to allow top-tier performance and ability without sacrificing enjoyment.
Many Of Cadillac’s Performance Models Are Religiously RWD
Torque is channeled through the six-speed transmissions to a high-performance rear axle that features a limited-slip rear differential within a cast iron housing for greater thermal management. Also aiding in regulating power demands are the asymmetrical half-shafts, which smoothly manage the supercharged engine’s incredible torque so that no power is wasted or misplaced. The unique design includes alternately sized half-shafts that also help dynamically balance the oscillation of torque from side to side, effectively eliminating “power hop” and greatly increasing overall grip. Suffice to say, the CTS-V wagon was made to run fast.
If you thought Cadillac called it “good enough” after all that, you’d be wrong. The suspension set up included advanced damping ability thanks to Cadillac’s landmark Magnetic Ride Control as well as superb dual-mode driving characteristics. The dual-mode road manners are attributed to the wagon’s advanced magnetorheological technology, which controls the shocks with much more accurate, and quicker, responses.
The 2011 CTS-V wagons also utilized large Brembo brakes, considering the supercharged engine is expected to come to a stop at some point. The four-wheel vented disc set-up features six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the rear. Making sure everything stays planted are the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires, which were specifically engineered for the CTS-V line. Thanks, Michelin!
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How Rare Is The CTS-V Wagon?
Over its four years of production, the CTS-V wagon only saw 1,767 units roll off the line, with just 514 of them equipped with the manual transmission. An even more rare nugget is the manual CTS-V wagon with the sleek Opulent Blue metallic paint coat, of which only 42 were produced.
Today, the spicy V-Wagon can be bought on auction sites, including Bring a Trailer and Mecum. However, don’t get your hopes up unless your pockets are deep, as these supercharged family haulers usually go for upwards of $40,000 to $100,000. If you are able to get your hands on a V-Wagon, consider yourself lucky, as a lot of enthusiasts are still kicking themselves for not hoping on the V-Wagon 14 years ago.