New Caddy sports car has more giddy-up

DETROIT, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- General Motors packed a 550-horsepower V8 engine under the hood of the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V, the Detroit automaker's most popular car in years.

Adding more giddy-up in the form of a supercharged version of GM's V8 engine is an attempt to oust BMW's M3 as the top sports sedan in the world, the Detroit Free Press reported Monday.

The CTS-V has the most powerful production engine in Cadillac history, offering a six-speed manual or automatic transmission for the 2009 version. The first-generation CTS-V came only as a manual, hampering sales appeal.

The 2009 model gets a mechanical upgrade to match its engine upgrade, and a bulging hood to accommodate the taller engine.

The 2009 CTS-V goes on sale late this year.