There’s no place like the Nürburgring Nordschleife when it comes to testing and honing the handling dynamics of a vehicle, something that even General Motors has long accepted.

And now, with Cadillac having turned most of its guns directly towards BMW, the wreath and crest brand is increasing its presence on the fabled circuit, which recently made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Spied in this video is the next generation of the Cadillac CTS that was captured on film being thrashed around the ‘Ring.

Due to arrive in the second half of 2013 as a 2014 model, the third generation of the CTS sedan will utilize a longer version of GM’s rear-drive Alpha platform, which also underpins the all-new 2013 ATS compact sedan.

Recent scoop pictures suggest that the new CTS will grow in size to better-compete against the Audi A6, BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class executive saloons.

It is understood that the powertrain lineup will include Cadillac’s new 270hp 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four as a base engine replacing the current model’s 3.0-liter V6, along with a 3.6-liter V6 and possibly a 6.2-liter V8 for the CTS-V performance model that will follow later on.

Expect to see the new CTS in showrooms in late 2013.

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