The Cadillac CTS began life in 2002, taking the “CTS” name from the vehicle it replaced in the line-up, -- the Catera -- CTS meant: “Catera Touring Sedan”. The CTS-V derivative was launched in 2009 as a 4-door luxury mid-size sports sedan with real power. What the “V” stands for is a matter of conjecture. Cadillac owners group lore has it that the V stands for: victory, velocity, voracious, or Vette-derivative, and some swear it is because it has a 0-60 time of under 5 seconds, thus making the V represent the Roman numeral for 5 and not an actual word. GM has been non-committal and it might just be a marketing letter, but it is on the record that the Cadillac V-Series is a line of high-performance vehicles, and CTS-V is equipped with a V-8 engine shared with Corvette: the 640hp, 630 lbs.-ft. of torque LT4 engine. And that makes the muscular luxury sedan earn its “V” for Vroooom.

The 2017 CTS-V follows its sold-out 2016 model year as the most capable V-series ever from the factory. In the second year of its third generation, CTS-V adds a Carbon Black sport package, available high-def Rear Camera Mirror, and upgrades and enhancements for the Cadillac CUE infotainment system that include “Teen Driver,” that can track a driver’s speed, distance traveled and whether any safety systems were activated.

Constructed with a unitized welded steel body with direct-mounted front cradle and rubber-isolated, multi-link independent rear suspension, the CTS-V design is functional in form and avant-garde in design philosophy. Almost every exterior panel on the Cadillac CTS-V super sedan is unique, 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. With its athletic stance, wide body and low height, the CTS-V’s shape is both aggressive and intelligent. Weighing in at a robust and stable 4141 lbs., with 52.7 percent of its weight distribution up front, CTS-V stands 197.6 inches long, 57.2 inches high and 72.2 inches wide on a 114.6-inch wheelbase.

What sets Cadillac CTS-V apart from other mid-size luxury sedans is its muscle. Powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine that thrusts out a Corvette-capable 640 horses and 630 lbs.-ft. of torque, the direct-injection fuel delivery system is EPA rated at 14mpg/city and 21mpg/highway. Coupled with a paddle-shift eight-speed, electronically controlled, automatic overdrive transmission with a torque converter clutch, power is immediate. I smoked tires whenever possible and still averaged 20.0mpg in my mixed-use tests.

For me the “V” in CTS-V stood for velocity. I experienced no supercharger lag, and while the rear swayed a bit at times, there was no apparent torque steer. While I never quite reached the manufacturer’s touted 3.6-second time for a zero-to-60mph sprint, I did break 4 seconds at 3.89 seconds during a smooth 11.99-second quarter-mile (hand-timed).

Responsive steering kept understeer to a minimum, and the rear-wheel drive CTS-V’s MacPherson-type front suspension with dual lower ball joints and direct-acting stabilizer bar, and Magnetic Ride Control with monotube inverted struts, worked well with an independent five-link rear with Magnetic Ride Control for a good combination of road feel and passenger pampering.

Inside, a performance-focused cabin with handcrafted refinements was filled with high tech, infotainment and luxurious 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 the rear. Legroom is 45.7 inches in row one 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 2017 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan starts at $86,990. Crystal White Tricoat premium exterior paint added $600 and was mated to a Light Platinum interior with Jet Black accents. The Luxury Package added $2075 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. The all-weather mat protection package added $225 for premium all-weather floor mats and cargo mat.

OK, now for the coolest option package – the $1600 Performance Data And Video Recorder allows the driver to capture performance metrics. High-definition video and in-cabin audio in real time includes four overlays - Sport, Track, Performance or no Overlay. Its front-view camera captures each curve and straightaway, and when parked, lets you watch and analyze your driving performance on the Cadillac CUE®1 screen, and recordings can be downloaded to a personal computer to evaluate driver and vehicle performance, make comparisons to improve driver performance and share recordings with friends. This is a performance and video game enthusiast’s “must’ buy”.

The UltraView® power sunroof added $1450; a cargo net in the trunk added $55; destination and freight charges were $995 and the gas guzzler tax added $1000 for a sticker as tested of $94,540.

> 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.

Carlisle Events is no stranger to the national spotlight. With 12 automotive events and four collector car auctions annually, major TV networks are common at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds. Programs showcase some of the largest automotive events in the world as well as the international base of enthusiasts who come to Carlisle to participate, either as spectators or showfield participants. While that trend will continue at this year’s Corvettes at Carlisle weekend (August 24-27), something even more special will happen the day before on August 23.

For the second time in two years, Carlisle Events will travel to New York City to be featured on Fox News and its flagship morning news show, Fox & Friends. In 2015, ownership from Carlisle Events along with a handful of cars representative of all events promoted at Carlisle helped tell the story of the company and its history. Fast forward two years, almost to the day, and Carlisle Events is back, this time to showcase the Corvette and Corvettes at Carlisle.

Corvettes representing all seven generations will be parked on the plaza at the Fox News studios and serve as a back drop to the morning news program, which airs from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. E.S.T. Carlisle Events will be represented by Lance Miller and has been tapped for the 7:50 a.m. live hit. Once live, Miller will have 3-5 minutes for a back and forth session with the show hosts to not only discuss why the Corvette is America’s Sports Car, but what’s happening just 3 hours southwest of New York City in Carlisle with Corvettes at Carlisle, presented by Corvette America.

“What better way to kick off Corvettes at Carlisle than a live nationally televised visit to Fox & Friends in New York City? Well, I can't think of anything,” quipped Lance Miller. “We're extremely excited to be a part of Fox & Friends as they showcase the Corvette brand along with our fun filled event, Corvettes at Carlisle,” continued Miller. “This year promises to be bigger and better than ever. We're excited to see everyone shortly after the airing! It won't be long now, so get ready, because you’ll see us on Fox & Friends and we’ll see you in Carlisle for this fun-filled all-Corvette weekend.”

Fox & Friends, the weekday edition, is co-hosted by Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade and is broadcast on Fox News across the country via most, if not all cable and satellite providers. Complete details on Corvettes at Carlisle, including links to buy tickets and more, can be found at www.CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855.

The term “street-legal race car” may be overused today, but it certainly is accurate when describing the new 2017 Corvette Grand Sport, which builds on the legacy established in 1963, when five Grand Sport race cars were built under the direction of the Corvette’s first chief engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov.

The historic Corvette Grand Sport was conceived as a light-weight, factory-built speed machine built to compete on domestic and foreign race tracks. Only five hand-assembled cars were built, and they were all driven by racing Hall of Famers including A.J. Foyt, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Bob Bondurant, Dick Guldstrand and Dick Thompson, who won the Watkins Glen Sports Car Club of America race in a Grand Sport in August, 1963.

The light track cars, manufactured with thinner-than-normal fiberglass body panels and a light steel-tube frame, raced with various engines, but the most common among the plants used was the uncommon GS engine, an all-aluminum 377ci small-block V-8 with four Weber side-draft carburetors, combining to stampede out 550 horses.

Brought back in limited edition in 1996, with 1000 vehicles all wearing Admiral Blue paint with a white center stripe and red “hash mark” graphics on the left front wheel arch, to pay homage to the look of some of the original race cars, 1996 GS was offered with a 330hp LT4 V-8 engine that produced 340 lb-ft of torque.

Reborn again in 2010, Grand Sport evolves in 2017 to a C7 derivative, making it an on-point expression of the car’s motorsports-bred pedigree. Both the Coupe and Convertible versions combine a lightweight architecture, track-honed aerodynamics package, and a naturally aspirated engine. Architecturally, Grand Sport employs heritage-inspired design cues and exclusive features to acknowledge its historic legacy. Unique exterior elements include specific front fender inserts and Z06-style grille.

Built in Bowling Green, KY, the Grand Sport borrows from Stingray design cues with a touch of Z06, including the front grille and wider rear fenders, which give it a more aggressive stance and a wider track. The front and rear wheels are offset, measuring 19 by 10 inches up front with bigger and wider 20-by-12-inch wheels in the rear, covered in Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires for solid traction. Grand Sport offers several exterior customization options to enhance its look, including the Heritage Package that adds hash-mark fender graphics in your choice of six colors with matching details on the brushed-aluminum trim in the cabin. The GS measures a sculpted 176.9 inches long, a wide-body road-hugging 77.4 inches wide and stable 48.7 inches high on a 106.7-inch wheelbase; from every angle, it screams Corvette.

Grand Sport performance is legendary, and the 2017 version lives up to the legacy. Weighing in at 3487 lbs. for the Convertible, GS has power to launch with its cast aluminum LT1 6.2-liter V-8 VVT with direct injection and Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation). The powerplant thunders out 460hp and 465 lb-ft of torque and can be mated to either a 7-speed manual with Active Rev Match or an 8-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission. The automatic is heavy and adds $1725 to the cost and the manual is so much more fun, so we went with the stick.

My test GS blazed as advertised, smoking tires in a 3.8-second hand-timed zero-to-60mph sprint and a sonic 12.3-second quarter-mile. Can you say "street-legal race car"?

The GS hugs the pavement with a Short/long arm double wishbone front and rear suspension, cast aluminum upper and lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite spring and Magnetic Selective Ride Control – with Grand Sport-specific spring rate and stabilizer bar size.

EPA rated at 16/25, my test Grand Sport averaged 18mpg in mixed-use tests and a ton of fun pedal mashing.

In the cockpit, Grand Sport fits like the proverbial racing glove. With the top down, experiencing open-air driving exhilaration, there is nothing like Corvette. With the compartment closed, the driver and passenger are surrounded by leather, electronics and comfortable seating, with headroom a cozy 38 inches, legroom a spacious 43 inches and shoulder and hip room a cavernous 55 and 54 inches.

The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport is offered in 1LT, 2LT and 3LT trims, with the Base Coupe (1LT) starting at $66,445 and the base Convertible starting at $70,445 (both including $995 in destination and freight charges). The Convertible is assembled in rear-wheel-drive with a 9-speaker Bose® audio system, three seat color options and two 8-inch HD color displays for the 1LT. The 2LT trim starts at $74,900 and adds console and door panels in interior color, lumbar/wing adjust, heated/vented seats, seat emblems and more. My test ride was the top trim 3LT. Priced at $80,190, my GS added a custom leather-wrapped interior, sueded microfiber upper interior trim, Performance Data Recorder (optional on 1LT/2LT) and Napa leather seating surfaces. Premium paint can cost $995, but my test ride was in Arctic White and a Blue Center Stripe (for an additional $995) and Volcano Orange hash marks and Black Convertible Top at no extra charge. The Premium floor mats with Grand Sport logo, and GS Heritage package added $1790. There are cosmetic packages galore, but as we already had stripes and Volcano Orange fender hashmarks, the GS was cool enough as it was and the net price-as-tested was $81,980.

You can see new, old and classic Corvette Grand Sports and more than 5,000 Corvettes representing all generations of America’s classic sports car at the 35th annual Corvettes at Carlisle, Aug 24-27 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. The largest and most fun-filled Corvette event in the world, Corvettes at Carlisle features a wide variety of vendors, an all-Corvette car corral, autocross, burnouts and the parade through historic downtown Carlisle.


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.

Nissan created a unique automotive nickname, designation, “the Z-Car,” when it became a member of the street sports car fraternity in 1969 by launching the Datsun 240Z. Originally called the Nissan Fairlady Z in Japan, after Nissan/Datsun executives became enamored with the Broadway play, “My Fair Lady,” the vehicle that is currently known in Japan as the “Fairlady Z34,” was given an alpha-numeric name (240Z) in North America for better marketability.

That first “Z” was powered by a 2.4-liter engine (hence the “240” portion of the name) that offered 151hp. Over the next 48 years, the “Z” has been upgraded and upnamed to a “260Z” (with a 2.6-liter engine), “280Z” and “280ZX” (with a 2.8-liter engine, “300ZX” (with a 3.0-liter engine), the 350Z (with a 3.5-liter engine), and the current alpha-numeric, “370Z” (with a 3.7-liter 332-hp engine).

Now in the ninth year of its sixth generation The Nissan 370Z has remained essentially the same since 2009, a vibrant and dynamic sports car that combines an exciting sporty demeanor with explosive power and track-worthy handling. It is offered in a choice of six trim models and there are no option packages available as each trim is packed with extras. One new exterior color is available for 2017, Chicane Yellow.

The 2017 370Z Coupe's aerodynamic exterior design incorporates intentional styling cues from the original and now classic 240Z – including a short wheelbase, wide track, low center of gravity and fluid silhouette. Utilizing unibody corrosion-resistant high-strength steel with an aluminum hood, doors and trunk lid, the 370Z offers what Nissan calls a "dynamic motion" feel with a dramatic cantilevered roof and a "low visual gravity." The sleek silhouette is defined by its upswept quarter window design that is echoed by the dynamic upward curvature in the lower rocker panel and the sense of the taut sheet metal molding itself around the wheels and frame. Another distinctive feature of the bold exterior design is the headlight/taillight treatment, which features a fierce boomerang shape.

The 370Z Coupe's platform provides a refined foundation for the well-proportioned body, with a 100.4-inch wheelbase, 167.5-inch overall length, 72.6-inch width and 51.8-inch height, giving it a classic sports car look and feel, weighing in at 3338 lbs. for the manual transmission Touring version.

Once again the 370Z Coupe pays off its iconic style and full-feature cockpit with power from an aluminum, 332-hp, 270 lbs-ft of torque, 3.7-liter longitudenal V-6 engine. Mated to a standard 6-speed manual transmission with upshift indicator and multi-port electronic fuel injection, a 7-speed automatic transmission is also offered. The manual system I tested is rated at 18/city, 26/highway and 21/combined, (automatic gains 1mpg/city) and a week of mixed-use driving hit the mark at an average of 20.4mpg on Premium unleaded fuel.

Acceleration is smooth, attentive and predictable at all speeds, and my 370Z blazed through a zero-to-60mpg dash in 4.9 seconds, en route to a 13.7-second quarter-mile, though factory specs put it at 4.6 and 13.6.

The rear-wheel drive Coupe is responsive with a firm body, and is a ride to enjoy on the autocross, the interstate, in town and on country roads. The double wishbone aluminum front suspension, twin lube shocks and Independent multi-link aluminum suspension rear transmit road irregularities to the cabin, which gives the driver a solid feel for the road, but might be a bit rocky for street passengers used to pampering. Quick maneuvers are made effortlessly and with only minor understeer from power rack-and-pinion steering and there is very little yaw and virtually no wobble, even while attacking high-speed “S-curves”.

The driver-oriented cockpit continues the “Z” legacy of enhancing driving pleasure. The traditional 2-seat Coupe layout is built around a deeply scooped instrument panel with a full-length center console separating the driver and passenger's seat. The design focus incorporates an innovative, driver-centric "three-layer" design with information, operation and holding layers. The well-appointed and cozy cockpit provides 38.2 inches of headroom, 42.9 inches of legroom, 54.6 inches of hip room and 54.4 inches of shoulder room.

The seating position is high, and forward sight is excellent, though rear three-quarter blind spots make highway lane changes a challenge.

Safety items include Nissan Advanced Air Bag System Driver and front passenger air bags with dual-stage inflation, seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor.

Pricing for the 2017 Nissan Z starts at $29,990 for the base 370Z Coupe, and reaches $45,490 for the 370Z NISMO ® Tech version. My test Z in Touring trim – fourth of the six trim offerings -- started at $37,970 and gained leather-appointed seats, Nissan Hard Drive Navigation System, RearView Monitor, a Bose® Premium Audio System, limited slip differential, 19-inch RAYS® forged wheels, Nissan sport brakes. SynchroRev Match®, Nissan Hard Drive Navigation, and HomeLink® Universal Transceiver over the base trim. The Touring trim comes with a 6-speed manual transmission – much more fun than the 7-speed automatic that would have cost an additional $1300. In Pearl White exterior paint for $395, matched with a Gray leather interior, my test Z added a cool aerodynamic rear decklid spoiler for $610, illuminated kick plates for $225, splash guards for $245, carpeted “Z” floor mats for $130, carpeted “Z” trunk mat for $100 and destination and handling charges of $885 for a final sticker-as-tested of $49,165.

> 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.

Everything about the 2017 Carlisle Truck Nationals was perfect. The weather, perfect (some of Friday, all of Saturday and Sunday)! The trucks, perfect! The big rigs, perfect! The showfield laced with a century of truck history, perfect. These reasons and many more are THE reasons why this year’s Carlisle Truck Nationals tallied a top-5 all-time turnout. The event, which has been up and running since 1991 saw nearly 1,700 trucks, rigs and vans populating the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.

Trucks began loading in as early as Wednesday, with even more plus a very dedicated vendor base coming to Carlisle Thursday. As the gates opened Friday, it was a steady stream of trucks from sun up until mid-day Saturday. The turnout was made even more impressive with an increased turnout of truck clubs. Their involvement this year dramatically increased as word spread far and wide about the fun of the Carlisle Truck Nationals.

Three-day highlights included monster truck shows featuring Snakebite, Big Foot and rides from the Virginia Giant. In addition, the world-champion Disc-Connected K9 Frisbee dog team offered eight shows to standing room only crowds, while just across the way, Speranza Animal Rescue offered an adoption program and accepted donations with support from Pepsi and the thousands of guests on-site. In between, Phantom Entertainment erected their popular Phantom Fun Zone where guests of all ages jumped, hopped, climbed and slid!

As mentioned above, the turnout was near record-setting, meaning the showfield was laced with trucks spanning a century. With celebrations dedicated to 100 years of Ford trucks, 100 years of the RAM/Dodge truck brand and a little bit of everything in between, the weekend offered something for everyone.

The four-wheeled trucks weren’t the only truck themed draws for guests as the big rigs took center stage too on the southeast corner of the grounds. Hundreds of rigs, haulers, fleets and other heavy equipment (modern and classic) helped offering some unique fun throughout, including the always popular Saturday night glow show.

In all, the Carlisle Truck Nationals showed that truck passions run deep in central Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic region. All the truck fun and then some returns next year with the hopes of breaking the all-time truck show record of just over 2,100 trucks. Save the date, because 2018’s weekend happens August 3-5.