There are no doubts to be had about the 2013 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe and its awesome capabilities, which rival those of most any supercar. So, if you’re a muscle Mary when it comes to car performance, we assure you that a CTS-V will cater to your every sinewy whim and desire. The biggest surprise about all its power is that the CTS-V puts it down on the pavement with grace and elegance instead of like some testosterone fueled, steroid enhanced meathead.

Although the supercharged 6.1 liter V8 — with 556 horsepower and 551 ft-lbs of torque — is a monster of a motor for a luxury coupe of this size, it never overwhelms the capabilities of the car to steer, handle, and corner like a gazelle. That’s due to the magic of Caddy’s magnetic ride control system, which keeps the car flat as a pancake no matter how many g’s you’re pulling.

It can, however, overwhelm your good judgment when you find yourself pulled over by a State Highway Patrol Officer for going 120 in a 55 zone. It’s just far too easy to drive insanely fast in this car. Perfect if you have a thing for cops, not so good if you value your driver’s license.

Style Inside and Out
While some might call the 2013 Cadillac CTS-V coupe stylish, we would call it S-E-X on a stick. Truly, the CTS-V will make you better looking when you’re sitting behind the wheel — that’s how handsome and striking the lines of this coupe are. It is may be the sexiest design ever to come from GM, even outshining many Corvettes.

Yes, the back seat might be best left to kids or adults you really don’t like, but the cabin of the CTS-V is a very cozy place to get on with the business of driving this “sports car” slayer that can also appear posh enough for an evening out to the opera. The interior comes with handsome leather sport seats and suede inserts, navigation, Bose audio, dual zone climate, and even an automatic cabin odor filter if the guy you put in the back seat winds up smelling up your car.

Our tester came with the special $3,400 Recaro sport seats, which are definitely worth it if you ever plan on ever taking this car to the track. These seats are also heated and ventilated, so they’ll keep your butt the proper temperature as you power slide around a blind race track sweeping curve at a speed no cop would approve of.

The base price for the 2013 Cadillac CTS-V coupe is $63,215, to which there is added a gas guzzler tax of $2,600, $995 for the crystal red tintcoat paint, $800 for 19-inch satin graphite wheels, $595 for red brake calipers (really, just to paint them red?), as well as Midnight Sapele Wood Trim in the interior for $600, and suede covering for the steering wheel and shifter for $300. Ah well, you only live once. All that brings the total to $73,440 — not bad for a car with this much sex appeal and performance. What more do you really want anyway?

Driving Experience
It’s good to know that the 2013 Cadillac CTS has been named an IIHS (insurance Institute for Highway Safety) “Top Safety Pick”, because we’re sure some fools will drive the car faster than they’ve ever driven and will no doubt get in trouble. But a safe car isn’t a cheap-to-run car, as the 14 city/18 highway fuel economy numbers attest. We averaged 15.4 miles per gallon after a week of constantly flooring the throttle — right up to the speed limit then slowing down, of course. Yes officer, that’s what we did.

When driving the car on freeways and city streets, we were totally relaxed and comfortable but felt like we were holding the car back — almost as if this car were King Kong and we were keeping him locked in a cage. As the 6.1 liter motor wailed like an archangel en route to its redline crescendo, we felt guilty preventing the motor from putting down all of its power. When driven slowly, it felt as though we stood between this CTS-V coupe and its ultimate destiny to travel over tarmac at levels of speed and grace rarely experienced by mere mortals. Well, apart from rap stars. And Justin Bieber.

Rear wheel drive ensures a true purist’s driving experience with a little bit of practice, allowing you to break out the tail around the aforementioned corners. That is, unless you have any semblance of willpower which sadly, we don’t. The CTS-V might be too much car for us to wisely live with, but it doesn’t mean our heart doesn’t ache with the desire to own one each and every day.