Cadillac launches CTS-V Black Diamond Edition

Cadillac will offer this spring a Black Diamond Edition of the high-performance CTS-V that comes with a host of popular performance options and exclusive tri-coat paint, called “Black Diamond.”

The Black Diamond Edition, available in the CTS-V Sedan and CTS-V Coupe models, will be the first use by an automaker of JDSU’s proprietary SpectraFlair pigment in North America. JDSU, a Milipitas, Calif.,-based optical technology firm, specializes in cutting-edge color solutions for a wide range of markets. Its pigments are used in certain DuPont paints supplied to Cadillac.

The CTS-V Black Diamond will arrive in local dealerships in the second quarter of 2011, and customers can pre-book the vehicle at any Cadillac dealer.

In the CTS-V Black Diamond, a dark tri-coat paint is embedded with SpectraFlair Bright Silver pigment. While other luxury makers offer metallic paints, Black Diamond is created through a meticulous process that gives the paint added dimension.

Instead of simply containing small bits of metal, the SpectraFlair pigment in Black Diamond uses aluminum flakes encapsulated in a glass-like substance called magnesium fluoride. The result is a paint that has a diamond-like sparkle as light hits the surface from different angles.

“The CTS-V Black Diamond Edition is like a finely crafted, tailored tuxedo,” said Michelle Killen, Cadillac exterior paint designer. “The base color may be a simple black, but the details and richness of the material set it apart.”

Black Diamond helps Cadillac meet growing demand by luxury buyers for paints that are set apart not just by their color but also by their special effects.

“Auto makers and consumers are looking to differentiate the color black, an ubiquitous color in automotive,” said John Book, Custom Color Solutions product manager at JDSU. “Black Diamond offers the discerning Cadillac customer a special option color that stands out and remains true to their sense of luxury and style.”

In addition to the unique paint, CTS-V Black Diamond comes standard with content that complements its look and feel. The special edition has:

Satin Graphite 19-inch wheels with yellow Brembo brake calipers. These six-piston front, four-piston back brake calipers provide exceptional stopping capabilities.

Recaro seats that feature 14 adjustable elements, French-stitched leather and microfiber suede inserts in the center sections of the cushions and seatbacks.

Midnight Sapele wood trim known for its durability and distinctive grain.

“We’ve already established V-Series as a serious sub-brand for Cadillac,” said Rich Pinto, Cadillac creative designer. “Black Diamond further establishes V-Series in the market as a performance-minded line of vehicles with a luxury twist.”  

The CTS-V Black Diamond Edition joins Cadillac’s award-winning V-Series line of performance luxury vehicles. The CTS-V was launched in the region in 2009 followed by the 2011 CTS Coupe and CTS-V Coupe, for which sales are exceeding forecasts, in September 2010. The CTS-V Sedan and Coupe feature a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine with 556-horspower, Magnetic Ride Control suspension that reads and reacts to the road 1,000 times a second and Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tire.