The Cadillac CTS-V Coupé Black Diamond Edition, to all intents and purposes, has the same mechanicals as the standard 556bhp two-door. The difference is in the new paint option called — surprise, surprise — Black Diamond.
Usually a metallic finish is achieved by using what can accurately be described as paint with, well, bits of metal swimming in it. That won't do. So Cadillac called upon JDSU, a California-based optical technology company that "specialises in cutting-edge colour solutions".
The tri-coat paint on this CTS-V uses aluminium flakes covered in magnesium fluoride, a glass-like substance, for what, according to the press bumf is, "a diamond-like finish". And it does look good. Still it's a fantastically complex answer to a question nobody is asking. But underneath all the glitter and marketing hyperbole, the good news is that this is still a great car. If a bit unhinged at times.
The 6.2-litre V8 is supercharged to give 556bhp and 747Nm of torque, but the delivery isn't quite linear if you leave the six-speed transmission to its own devices. Take over from the software that's designed to conserve fuel and it's a different ball game altogether. Hit the right gear, keep the revs up and the surge doesn't feel dissimilar to a full-blown supercar. It packs supercar tech too.
Like Ferrari, Cadillac uses a magneto-rheological suspension system that reads the surface of the road 1,000 times in a second. So it can do corners.
The Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tyres, the rubber of choice for many an exotica, sticks to its guns, with characteristic Italian obstinacy. It's only when it's pummelled into submission by the American V8 firepower, that it raises the white flag and begins the entertaining process of vaporising itself in a cloud of smoke. Which happens quite often.
It's a big, heavy muscle car so it feels slightly out of its comfort zone dealing with the twisties. It's not awkward, but it's not darty like a Lotus either.
Straight-line performance is a separate matter, though. The anger with which it charges forward gives you the impression that it's trying to punch a hole through the horizon. Cadillac claims 0-100kph in 4.0 seconds and a limited top speed of 280kph and I'm not about to question those figures.
Downsides? It's thirsty and the ride isn't Cadillac floaty. But it costs just Dh295K. There's nothing currently on the market that, for so little money, delivers that sort of horsepower. Or that paint. Sorted.
