It all began when GM's Bob Lutz challenged some automotive journalists owners (later on the invitation was extended to private owners) to find a stock production sports sedan that could outperform the CTS-V (yes, that's the one with the 556HP supercharged V8) on the track. In other words, Lutz and consequently GM, put their 'car' where their mouth is.The date and the place for the contest was set for Thursday, October 29 at the Monticello Motor Club race track in New York.
One of the automakers that initially accepted Lutz's challenge was Jaguar which was supposed to supply Jalopnik's Wes Siler with an XFR. However, the Indian-owned British automaker had a last-minute change of heart, or as Ray Wert craftily put it, they totally 'pussed out'...
Here's what Stuart Schorr, Jaguar and Land Rover's U.S, PR man told Jalopnik on Tuesday:
"... I was concerned that five hot laps without added brake cooling system could compromise the stopping power and thus create a safety concern for your driver. The car can handle it. The CTS-V is probably the fastest car of the class on the track, whether it's the best car of its class is a different matter. I wonder if your readers think the fastest on track car is the best car?"
Later in the evening, the folks over at 'The GM Source' website which is not affiliated with the American automaker, asked Luts "what his reaction was to Jag pulling out of the race" and "what this says to solidify the true "awesomeness" of the CTS-V". Here's Lutz's response:
"I think it means that the European high-performance sedans are excellent, even superb cars, but quite possibly not ready for racing laps right out of the show-room. The CTS-V is not only quicker, but will, in totally untweaked, stock form, run hot laps at any race track until it runs out of fuel."
"Transmission oil and diff oil temps are stable, engine oil temp doesn't go up, brakes get a bit more pedal travel, but don't fade. The street tires get a tad greasy, but handling and control remain excellent. "May the best car win"! (It wins automatically if the competitors won't show up!)"
Of course nothing is as simple as it seems - for example, knock on wood, but can you imagine the PR disaster if Jalop's driver has a misfortunate exit with the car?
Then again, besides the fact that this goes both ways, Jaguar's PR department should have taken all these factors in consideration before saying yes.
We'll just hold tight and see if Lutz's 'bet' turns out to be a great publicity boost for Cadillac, or not. But for the time being, GM has Jaguar as well as the other German premium automakers (Audi, BMW and Mercedes) that haven't accepted Lutz's challenge totally pwned in the eyes of readers / consumers.
Sources: Jalopnik , TheGMsource and CTS-V Challenge
