2011 Cadillac CTS coupe starts at $38,990; fire-breathing CTS-V coupe joins at $62,990

The captivating Cadillac enthusiasts have been waiting for, the 2011 CTS coupe, will start at $38,990 when it goes on sale in August. The coupe will be joined by a high-performance V-series version, which starts at $62,990. Prices include destination charges.

Pricing was announced on Thursday afternoon, and it is one of the final mile markers as the athletic two-door downshifts toward production.

The car was first shown as a concept at the 2008 Detroit auto show, where AutoWeek gave it our Best Concept Editors' Choice Award.

The coupe draws power from General Motors' 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 making 304 hp, and it can be paired with six-speed automatic or manual transmissions. It comes in two suspension levels: Performance wears 18-inch wheels and all-season tires; summer performance is shod in 19-inchers and, as the name implies, summer tires.

The fire-breathing V-series pumps out 556 hp from a 6.2-liter supercharged V8. It also gets magnetic ride control, Brembo brakes and 19-inch wheels with performance tires.

Cadillac
The 2011 Cadillac CTS coupe will start at $38,990.

Cadillac execs have long pointed to the CTS-V coupe as one of the halos--if not the halo--for the brand--and its arrival means the brand's revival is close to complete. The coupe is the latest evolution of the CTS, which has been a bit of a subbrand for Cadillac since it launched. The edgier styling marked a departure from traditional designs at the time, and it helped spur new momentum for Cadillac. A CTS SportWagon has also joined the line.

Clay Dean, head of GM's design studio, told AW that the design is a separating factor in modern luxury, and he pointed to the CTS line as evidence.

“It's important--it's almost the price of entry,” he said.

More pricing details:

-- All-wheel drive bumps the price to $40,890.

-- The performance collection is $43,430 for RWD and $45,330 for AWD. This trim level adds xenon headlamps, adaptive forward lighting, 10-way power leather seats, Bose 5.1 surround sound, USB integration and a 40-gig hard drive.

-- The premium collection is $47,835 for RWD and $49,735 for AWD. This version has interior ambient lighting, a rearview camera, heated/vented front seats, a heated steering wheel, wood trim, Bose 5.1 surround sound with navigation and a sunroof.

By Greg Migliore