American Dream Come True; Performance STS-V may be Cadillac's best yet.

Byline: BOB GRITZINGER

General Motors Performance Division engineers will be the first to tell you that their pride and joy, the 2006 Cadillac STS-V, is more of an autobahn rocket than a hyperactive track star.

Unlike its race-bred sibling, the CTS-V, this latest model in Cadillac's performance lineup is not intended for hard cornering, hard braking, hard accelerating or hard anything. That's not to say the car can't handle hard charging, or that it won't match up well against the luxury performance competition; it's just not going to beat anyone up, including, most importantly, the person behind the wheel or the passengers.

Performance Division resident hotshoe engineer John Heinricy, who has turned many a lap in pursuit of performance handling in everything from the Corvette Z06 to Chevy's racing Cobalt, compares the STS-V's performance to a base C6 Corvette. For those looking for a BMW M5 in Cadillac clothing, that might not be enough. But for those seeking Corvette performance in a well-mannered, full-size rear-wheel-drive American luxury sedan, STS-V is a dream come true.

Our drives support Heinricy's assertion-the car proved virtually as quick as a C6 on GM's Milford test track, with little body roll, solid consistent braking and enough wiggle room in competitive driving mode (same as that found on the C6) to allow you to steer the tail by flexing your right ankle.

Cadillac general manager Jim Taylor is quick to give props to the first hot rod Caddy from the Performance Division, the 2004 CTS-V, which established GM's formerly ponderous and pompous division as a player in the performance ranks-and made a name for Cadillac on the racing circuit.

Next out of the gate is this STS-V, based on the highly touted, well-received new rear-wheel-drive STS. The V arrives at dealers this month, followed early next year by the 2006 XLR-V roadster, completing Cadillac's performance portfolio.