2015 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Ends Run as World Challenge Champ

Dealers will offer just 500 units of the 2015 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe as part of the current generation's final production run, and you can be sure that enthusiasts will be sad to see it go. The car's racing rivals, on the other hand, probably couldn't be happier.

That's because while the 2015 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe was heading to dealerships, the CTS-V.R racecar was heading to the winner's circle to claim its third straight GT manufacturer's title in the Pirelli World Challenge series. Complementing that effort, Johnny O'Connell also captured his third driver's title in a row. The action took place earlier this month at Miller Motorsports Park in Toele, Utah, where O'Connell shared his victory with the entire Cadillac crew.

According to O'Connell: "I am just the quarterback. We have a whole team that makes this CTS.V.R go. If you don't have the whole package from the car to the crew to these great Pirelli tires you are just not going to win here. ... This [championship] is probably the most special of the three. We had to overcome a lot of obstacles this year and we did as a team. We did not make a mistake all season long."

All told, O'Connell ended the season with three wins, four pole positions and 11 podium finishes for Cadillac.

As for those special 2015 Cadillac CTS-V Coupes, they are priced from $72,195 and feature the full gamut of V Series performance enhancers, from a 556-hp supercharged V8 to a magnetic ride control suspension to a Brembo braking package. That setup is then complemented by special 2015 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe design cues like:

• High-performance Recaro performance seats
• An Ebony interior with red contrast stitching, Midnight Sapele real wood trim, microfiber suede wraps for the steering wheel and shift lever, and metal petals
• Exterior upgrades such as a dark-finished V-Series grille, satin graphite wheels and exposed red brake calipers
• Three exterior colors, including Crystal White and Phantom Gray, as well as a premium Black Diamond finish with an MSRP of $995

Per Cadillac, "The next-generation V-Series models are in development and will premiere next year."