Cadillac’s legacy of building luxury cars goes to 1902, and by the time General Motors purchased the automaker in 1909, it was already heralded as “Standard of the World.” Over more than a century, Cadillac has been arguably America’s premier luxury car maker. So, what happens when you take that luxury and couple it with Corvette-like power in the form of a 6.2-liter Supercharged V8 that thunders out 640 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque? The answer is: the 2019 CTS-V, a luxury sedan with an uncompromising driving experience.

Built for performance while pampering with elegant lines, a luxurious interior and state-of-the-art tech and safety, the CTS was named for the vehicle it replaced in the 2002 line-up – Catera -- with the all-initial CTS standing for: Catera Touring Sedan. The “V” in CTS-V is speculated to stand for victory, velocity, or Vette-derivative, but no definitive word on that has come from Cadillac. It could all be moot, however, as next year, CTS will begin its next generation (its fourth) renamed CT5.

New for the third-gen 2019 CTS-V are packaging and cosmetic tweaks such as the debut of the CTS-V Pedestal Edition, a limited-edition model painted Bronze Sand Metallic. This model is distinguished by black exterior trim and wheels, a performance data recorder, and Recaro seats covered in black semi-aniline leather with micro-suede inserts in a Light Wheat color. Additionally, two new colors (Velocity Red and Wave Metallic) are introduced to the CTS-V palette, while Phantom Gray Metallic and Vector Blue Metallic are discontinued. And the Champion Edition carbon fiber and luxury packages have been discontinued. 

The CTS-V represents a modified CTS that comes in only one trim, but promotes supercharged power at the center of its being, along with an 8-speed automatic transmission with magnesium paddle shifters Brembo® performance brakes; Magnetic Ride Control; 19-inch forged premium painted alloy wheels paired with 19-inch Michelin® Pilot®Super Sport summer-only, low-profile tires, and premium infotainment system interface.

The single-trim CTS-V offers numerous packages to uptweak its customization possibilities, and comes loaded with a carbon fiber hood, Launch Control enabling full-throttle acceleration from a stop for maximum performance, driver-focused interface, and driver-selectable driving modes for touring, sport, snow and track.

Constructed with a unitized welded steel body, nearly every exterior panel on the CTS-V is specific to its badge, from the fascias and fenders, to the hood, rear spoiler and rocker moldings – and each was designed to support the car’s capability, contributing to lift reduction, enhanced cooling and improved aero management. The lavishly sculpted CTS-V stands bold and artistic at every angle from its wide fenders, big tires and vented hood to its angled rear, raked rear window and prominent spoiler. Weight-saving construction puts CTS-V at 4141 lbs., while measuring 197.6 inches long, 57.2 inches high and 72.2 inches wide on a 114.6-inch wheelbase.

As for the Corvette-like power, CTS-V’s 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine provides a throaty exhaust note, and the direct-injection fuel delivery system that discloses those 640 horses is EPA rated at 14mpg/city and 21mpg/highway. I drove my test CTS-V without sparing the horses, and managed to hit an average of 15.0mpg. A manual is not offered, but the paddle-shift eight-speed, electronically controlled, automatic overdrive transmission with a torque converter clutch doesn’t miss a beat. I experience minimal supercharger lag, and on the track, we blew away a zero-60mph dash in 3.9 seconds, and conquered a quarter-mile in 12-flat (hand-timed). In Sport mode the suspension tightened up as the gauges changed to black-on-white, but in Track mode, there was less on-rail tightness, and much more extreme driving fun. 

The performance-focused cabin, imbued with leather, microfiber and carbon-fiber accouterments, was filled with high tech, infotainment, a 12.3-inch instrument panel, and plush comfort. With seating capacity for five, interior accommodations are roomy up front and tight in row two with 40.4 inches of front headroom and 37.5 inches in row two. Legroom is 45.7 inches up front and 35.4 inches behind, and shoulder room is 56.9 and 53.3.

CTS-V safety features include dual-stage driver front air bag, driver and front passenger frontal front seat thorax and pelvic, rear thorax protection for outboard seating positions, side-curtain and driver and front passenger knee airbag and an airbag passenger sensing system.

The 2019 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan starts at $87,990. Crystal White Tricoat premium exterior paint is pictured, and would have added $600, but my test ride was in Velocity Red (a standard color), mated to a Jet Black interior with Jet Black accents. The Luxury Package added $2500 for a rear camera mirror, tri-zone climate control, heated rear outboard seating positions, power rear-window sunshade, manual rear side window sunshades and more.

The $600 Advanced Security Package added a shielded theft-deterrent alarm system with dedicated power source; inclination sensor that activates an alarm during unauthorized jacking and/or towing; steering column lock that prevents steering without the appropriate fob or key; locking wheel lugs to help prevent wheel theft and laminated glass rear door windows to help absorb impact without shattering. A Black Chrome V-Series grille added $495; destination charges added $995 and the Gas Guzzler tax added $1300, for a sticker-as-tested of $92,885, but a cash allowance of $3500 may be available in your area, so check with your dealer.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

Auction season concludes for Carlisle Auctions October 3-4 as America’s Automotive Hometown auction company hosts over a thousand guests, hundreds of bidders and over 500 consignments as part of its Fall Carlisle auction. The auction, powered by Carlisle Auctions popular FREE UNLESS SOLD guarantee (on consignments 25 years or older), runs in conjunction with Fall Carlisle (October 2-6), and takes place on Thursday and Friday (October 3-4) at the spacious Carlisle Expo Center (2 blocks west of the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds).

Annually this auction sees great success for buyers, sellers and the Carlisle Auctions team. This year expects to be no different with two full days filled with investments that accelerate! Carlisle Auctions anticipates 500+ consignments with a trio of star cars destined to steal the show. Via the Gary Gregory collection, buyers and sellers alike will be in awe of these rides, a 1951 Buick Roadmaster, a 1956 Ford F100 Restomod and a 1962 Ford Galaxie Restomod. These stunning pieces of work will be offered with reserve on Friday evening, October 4th, running consecutively starting at approximately 6 p.m.  

Gregory, a collector and long-time friend of Carlisle Events was eager to team up with Carlisle Auctions.  

“I’ve never met finer people than the staff at Carlisle Auctions,” noted Gregory.  “I have done business at Carlisle for years and that trust and their internationally recognized brand is why I’m happy to work with Carlisle Auctions to sell my three Resto Mods.  They’ll give you one on one service and get the job done,” concluded Gregory.

In addition to the three cars from Gregory, many more consignments come Carlisle Auctions way, including memorabilia and collectibles. Preview day for the auction is Wednesday throughout the day and Thursday morning leading up to the 12 p.m. start time.  Bidder registration is ongoing with consignments being taken daily.

With Carlisle Auctions, you never know what you’ll find crossing the block.  Much like its neighboring automotive flea market event, expect the unexpected with Carlisle Auctions.  The full lot of cars contain many hidden gems and are available at affordable price points.  Sales range from four figures to six and include decades of classics, select charity offerings and even themed blocks of cars.  For Fall 2019, the theme is an all ‘60s era hour.  That theme takes center stage on the 4th as well and its 5 p.m. lead-in is THE perfect appetizer for the Gary Gregory cars entrée.  

The fall auction will be here in no time!  Complete details about this auction, including the run list when available, details on committed consignments, a video link for the live stream and more is available online at www.CarlisleAuctions.com or by calling 717-960-6400.  

About Corvette … OK, the C8 (Eighth-generation) Corvette Stingray is due out in 2020, and it is arguably as exciting a vehicle as America has seen … maybe ever. From its mid-engine 495 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque setup to its vanguard sculpting, driver-centric cockpit, luxury and power … 2020 will be an exciting year for Corvette. And the rumor is, it is nearly sold out in presale.

But it is 2019, and if you are looking for a new Corvette now, the 2019 Corvette ZR1 is a supercar with futuristic sculpting, and is the fastest, most powerful production Corvette ever, at 755 hp, and it may even make next year’s C8 owners drool with envy.

I don’t often use the term “supercar”, as the expression is often over-used, misapplied or part of over-hype. But the 2019 Corvette ZR1 certainly enters the discussion for proper use. Supercars are generally thought of as high-end exotic automobiles that are fast, luxurious and handle like race cars, with extraordinarily stylish looks and price tags that are extraordinarily high. One car that certainly fits the definition in all areas but price, is built in Bowling Green, Kentucky -- the 2019 Corvette ZR1 – and is among the final C7 Corvettes to be built.

With a sticker less than one-third that of many supercars, the ZR1 has the horses, is built with exotic lines from exotic materials, and handles like a car destined for the track, but with street-luxury car smoothness for driver and passenger. 

ZR1 wields its Corvette-power record with a new hand-assembled 6.2L LT5 supercharged small-block V8 engine. A Corvette-touted top track speed of 212 mph makes the 2019 ZR1 the fastest production Corvette ever. Now, I didn’t bring my test vehicle to 212mph in my tests, and I didn’t finish off a zero-to-60mph run in the 2.85 seconds Corvette says it will run, but in a test car that wasn’t race-tuned, and on a surface that wasn’t optimal, I did blaze through a zero-to-60 sprint in 3.3 seconds for an 11.4-second quarter-mile, and I achieved a top track speed of 135mpg when I had to slow – there was MUCH more left in her.

More than just a speed car, the 2019 ZR1 advances Corvette’s performance legacy and also provides the most advanced technology in its production history. Offered in 1ZR and 3ZR trims in coupe and convertible body styles, ZR1’s aggressive appearance is driven by function, with a unique front fascia designed to channel air for propulsion-system and drivetrain cooling, including four new radiators bringing the heat-exchanger total to 13. A special carbon-fiber “halo” hood is open in the middle to clear the LT5 engine’s supercharger/intercooler assembly. Additional features, including aero packages with stanchion-mounted wings, help push the ZR1 harder onto the track for more confident handling and faster lap times

Techwise, the Chevrolet Infotainment system comes with an 8-inch-diagonal color touchscreen and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility with built-in Wi-Fi® Hotspot. The cockpit gets a standard leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, keyless open and start, standard head-up display, nine-speaker audio system, dual-zone automatic climate control, and such standard safety features as four air bags (including side-impact air bags), Rear Vision Camera, four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel ABS, Active Handling with electronic stability control, safety belt pretensioners and tire pressure monitoring with run-flat tires.

Looking sci-fi-future sharp and aerodynamically refined, the ZR1 measures a carved 179.8 inches long, a wide-body road-hugging 77.4 inches wide, and a stable 48.7 inches high (for the convertible) on a 106.7-inch wheelbase. And weighing only 3618 lbs for the Convertible, it proudly thunders out Corvette from every angle.

Inside, my ZR1 Convertible cockpit was cozy and secure. With the top down, wind-in-your hair excitement embodies Corvette, and with the top closed, the driver and passenger are surrounded by leather, electronics and comfortable seating, with headroom a comfy 38 inches, legroom a vast 43 inches and shoulder and hip room an indulgent 55 and 54 inches.

The 2019 ZR1 exceeds even supercar expectations and improves upon Corvette’s supercharging heritage as its dual-fuel-injection, LT5 6.2L V-8 engine rockets out 755 hp and 715 lb-ft of torque. Fuel figures are what you might expect from a 755hp racecar – 13/city and 19/highway for the manual. My tire-smoking tests and exhilarating highway cruises achieved an average of 13.9mpg

Racetrack low and stable, my ZR1 hugged the pavement during quick-maneuvers, and its short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone suspension with cast aluminum upper and lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite springs and Magnetic Selective Ride Control was at one with the surface; and the 15-inch Brembo Carbon-Ceramic brakes stuck and stopped like no other vehicle I have tested this year.

The 2019 Corvette lineup starts at $56,995 for the Stingray Coupe, $66,995 for the Grand Sport Coupe and $81,995 for the Z01 Coupe. The 2019 Corvette ZR1 starts at $121,995 for the Coupe and $126,485 for the Convertible. I prefer this baby in Black (at no extra cost), but my test ride in sharp Sebring Orange Tintcoat exterior paint added $995 and mated well with the Jet Black perforated Mulan leather seats. The Satin Black hood stinger stripe added $500. Performance packages could add $3000, but my test vehicle was fine as it was. Destination and freight charges added $1095 and the Gas Guzzler tax added $2100 for a price as tested of $130,090.

You can see the car-enthusiast show debut of the 2020 C8 Corvette, the 2019 Corvette ZR1 and more than 5,000 Corvettes that cross the 66-year history of America’s sports car, at the world’s largest Corvette event – 2019 Corvettes at Carlisle, August 22-25 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. The event represents all generations of “America’s Classic Sports Car,” and includes burnouts, autocross competition, a huge swap meet and a parade through downtown Carlisle. And there are fun events lined up for the entire family.


<I> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

Moms, dads and kids alike look forward to the first full weekend in August at Carlisle because they know a good time when they experience it! The Carlisle Truck Nationals presented by A&A Auto Stores ushered in the month with three days of cool displays, patriotic themes, family fun, live music and more.  Over 1,700 trucks adorned the showfield, each with their own unique look and style!  The 2019 total was also the highest since the 2003 event and ranks within the top 5 all-time turnouts for the event.  

It all started with load in on Thursday, August 1. That’s when everyone who arrived early had the chance to see and be seen.  It was also a great chance to take a first look at the trucks, rigs, vans and vendors without having to battle the bustling crowd that came to town for the weekend fun.  The snail’s pace of that day quickly gave way to a fast and furious weekend of all things truck.

Friday saw the first of many monster truck shows and rides, while the Showfield filled in with trucks of all shapes, sizes, styles and eras. Building Y welcomed the SyTys  (the 2019 Cool Club Challenge winners), the pavilion hosted Vanarama (the 2019 Large Club Challenge winners), Building T showcased some top of the line featured vehicles and the south side of the grounds from Gate 1 to Gate 7 anchored the Big Rig Show and Shine.

The red white and blue honors were also prevalent. Near the east side of Building T, Blackout, a military tribute rig drew onlookers, while trucks on the Showfield and indoors saluted both service members and first responders. One such truck, owned by Rick Beech of Florida, offered a canvass for military personnel to sign their names in remembrance of those who paid the ultimate price in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Within the Big Rig Show & Shine, the U.S. Express fleet also brought a half a dozen rigs adorned with a military theme, while new class members of the neighboring U.S. Army War College walked the grounds enjoying those themes as well as the rest of the amazing trucks on display.

Music was also a part of the weekend. Friday saw multiple sets from the country/rock band Old School, while Saturday welcomed back Nashville recording artist and American Idol contestant Payton Taylor.  Their music, combined with the sounds of the show helped to propel the excitement of the event, while also offering a groove of fun for all at Carlisle.

Other great aspects of the weekend included competitions like drop and drag, burnouts, beauty, high truck, a low truck limbo, and Carlisle Elite.  Those looking to shop not only had the automotive flea market as an option, they also enjoyed a bustling midway with great partners like A&A, Ranch Hand Bumpers, American Force Wheels, Skyjacker, Amsoil, Eastwood Company, 4 Wheel Parts, Extang and more.  What made their presence even more fun was the fact that A&A hosted on-site installs, offering guests a chance to have truck work done, all while enjoying the show.  Atturo Tires, new to the truck show, even stepped up, sponsoring the aforementioned burnout contest.  

As the last of the vendors and trucks loaded out at Carlisle, everyone was making plans for 2020’s event.  Save the date, because the 2020 Carlisle Truck Nationals presented by A&A Auto Stores takes place August 7-9 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.  Registration is now open for that event and would be attendees are welcome to call 717-243-7855 or visit www.CarlisleEvents.com to learn more.  

Fall Carlisle is shopping made easy...and there’s no charge for shipping!  Roll into the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds October 2-6, 2019 and enjoy the show that started it all; Fall Carlisle!  Get the ultimate sensory and social experience at the event as you see, feel, smell and touch all the automotive pieces and parts that you’re looking for.  Better than that, you’re talking directly with the seller and interacting in real life AND in real time with 90,000+ people that share the same interests as you.

Skip the online traffic and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the event as well as the thrill of hunt. If you’re shopping online, especially for used parts, you need to know exactly what you’re looking for. Then, if you find it, you have to hope it’s for sale…and still available. At Fall Carlisle, you can find things that you weren’t necessarily looking for, forgot you needed or are for a future project but the price is so good that you might as well buy it now. 

At a show like Fall Carlisle, expect the unexcepted because you just might be surprised who is shopping the same aisles alongside you.  TV hosts like Andy Cohen of Junkyard Empire and Lou Santiago of Car Fix shop at Carlisle. Chuck Cantwell, labeled by many in Ford circles (or ovals) as the godfather of the GT350, shops at Carlisle.  Get the point?  If automotive experts and those who represent the hobby on TV look at the automotive flea market at Fall Carlisle as the place to find parts, you should too.

Some of the best deals are found at the most unsuspecting of times and that’s why everyone who comes to Carlisle is encouraged to do so early.  The early bird gets the worm, right?  Gates open at 7 a.m. daily, but if you register to be a VIP Power Picker, you gain on grounds access as early as Monday AND you get on grounds parking, too.  Registered vendors have the added perk of B2B commerce, given that they are generally on grounds the weekend before Fall Carlisle officially kicks off.  However you choose to be part of the fun, know that the options are nearly limitless.   

Unlike an online marketplace, you aren’t getting a “stock image” when shopping for the part or car you’re looking for.  You also aren’t trading emails and money with someone you’ve never met.  In person commerce at Fall Carlisle guarantees you’re buying the exact thing you’re looking at and holding.  It also offers peace of mind in knowing that if there is an issue, Carlisle Events knows (in nearly every instance) who the vendor was that was selling.  Just take note of the space number when making your purchase.

Some added perks to the weekend to make shopping that much easier – free taxi and parts hauling services.  See, we really don’t charge for shipping.  When you’re making a purchase within the automotive flea market or on the midway and the item you’ve bought is too cumbersome to carry, simply connect with a Carlisle Events staff member and a FREE shuttle will arrive to help you out.  While the service is offered at no charge, donations are graciously accepted with dollars benefiting the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation.

Other fun aspects of Fall Carlisle include trivia for everyone on-site Friday night as well as a FREE vendor appreciation dinner on Saturday evening.  Fall Carlisle also plays host to a two-day collector car auction powered by Carlisle Auctions.  The auction takes place at the neighboring Carlisle Expo Center on October 3rd and 4th and gives attendees the chance to experience live auction entertainment, while also offering a chance to pick up a first or next classic at affordable prices.  

With over 100 years of automotive history available in one place, there’s no reason to log on…well, maybe just a few reasons.  Save money today by buying single day admission tickets for Fall Carlisle online at www.CarlisleEvents.com.  The web page also offers an outlet to purchase weekend passes and details on how to become a vendor or be part of the auction as a buyer or seller.  All in on the no web mentality?  Call 717-243-7855 to learn more.