The current Cadillac CTS-V fleet has just lost that sparkle to your discriminating eye? How about a look at one of the Black Diamond Limited Editions?
Available in coupe, sedan, or wagon form, these special CTS-Vs earn the Black Diamond Edition designation by using a special paint pigment called SpectraFlair Bright Silver pigment. Designed by JDSU, the pigment is mixed with the dark tri-coat Dupont paint to enhance the shine of one of the most popular automotive paint colors in the industry. Cadillac will be using the first application of this JDSU pigment.
JDSU, which is not an acronym for a state university but an optical technology firm based in Milpitas, California, uses magnesium fluoride (MgF(subscript 2) to the aspiring chemists out there) to suspend aluminum flakes. The resulting SpectraFlair compound helps give the blended black paint a diamond-like sparkle, hence the name “Black Diamond.” Magnesium fluoride is commonly employed in the optics field.
“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.”
Shiny paint isn’t the lone distinguishing mark on the Black Diamond Edition. The CTS-V’s Brembo brake calipers are painted yellow and sit behind Satin Graphite 19-inch wheels to give these Caddies an entirely sinister appearance. Inside, the 14-way adjustable Recaro seats incorporate French-stitched leather and microfiber suede inserts, while Midnight Sapele wood trim lines adds darker visual elements to the cabin.
The special paint will be at dealers in March. All three CTS-V models start with the same MSRP of $64,340, including the $875 destination charge. The Black Diamond Edition commands an extra $4850 premium, putting the manual-equipped versions at $69,190 and automatic model at $70,490.
Full press release can be found below. If you’ve been trying to build your own CTS-V and notice there’s a mandatory $1300 charged in options, it’s because there’s a gas-guzzler tax. Hey, that’s the price of 556 supercharged horsepowers with a thirst for fuel.
Cadillac launches CTS-V Black Diamond Edition
Exclusive paint process enhances richness of CTS-V surface
DETROIT – 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 an exclusive tri-coat paint, also called “Black Diamond.”
The Black Diamond Edition, available in the CTS-V Sedan, Coupe and Wagon 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.
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 comes with a suggested retail price, including destination charges, of $69,190 for the manual or $70,490 for the automatic, a $4,850 premium over the CTS-V base price. The CTS-V Black Diamond will be available at U.S. dealerships in March.
The CTS-V Black Diamond Edition joins Cadillac’s award-winning V-Series line of performance luxury vehicles. The CTS-V Sedan, Coupe and Wagon all 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.
About Cadillac
Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent years, Cadillac has engineered a historic renaissance led by artful engineering and advanced technology.
via General MOtors / Cadillac courtesy of Automobile Magazine Staff
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