Cadillac’s V-One Hints At Track-Focused Hypercar That Won’t Step On The Corvette

Cadillac fans have been clamoring for a Corvette-based sports car for years, but they’ve apparently set their sights too low. That’s clear today as the company is hinting at a hypercar inspired by their V-Series.R race car.

Looking fresh off the track, the V-One is the “ultimate manifestation of a customer performance concept and is a clear sign of our ambition for the Cadillac V-Series brand in the future.”

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While most high-performance models simply borrow cues from race cars, the concept was jointly created by Cadillac Design, Cadillac Racing, and Dallara. This means it has racecar DNA in its blood and shares its “foundations” with the model that competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship as well as the IMSA WeatherTech Championship.

Power comes from a hybridized V8 powertrain that echoes the V-Series.R. Cadillac didn’t say much about it, but it presumably consists of a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V8, a 1.35 kWh battery pack, a seven-speed sequential transmission, and an electric motor.

Specifics are hazy, but the company confirmed a combined output of 830 hp (619 kW / 842 PS). That’s actually more than the race car, which is limited to 670 hp (500 kW / 679 PS).

The similarities to the V-Series.R don’t stop there, as a number of components are shared with the race car. This includes the double wishbone suspension as well as “pushrod-actuated coil and torsion spring elements with lateral and heave dampers.”

While the model borrows heavily from the race car, your typical tech bro doesn’t have the same skill set as driver Jack Aitken. As a result, the V-One is “intended to be easier to operate,” while still maintaining a similar level of performance to the V-Series.R.

On the styling front, the body carries over from the racer to give the concept an “authentic foundation.” It looks wild and features a custom paint job, which smoothly transitions from silver to deep navy.

Elsewhere, there are unique wheels that are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tires and backed up by a high-performance Brembo braking system. The model also features “dark-persona” V-Series badging as well as plenty of carbon fiber.

The interior has a clear link to motorsports, but the cabin is more welcoming and luxurious. There’s a single seat, which uses recycled fabrics and can be customized to fit the driver. To their right is an exposed carbon fiber shelf, which can hold a helmet.

While race cars typically have a bewildering number of controls, Cadillac seems to have found a nice middle ground. Drivers sit behind a yoke-style steering wheel with an integrated display. The latter is flanked by shifter lights, dials for the hybrid system and brakes, as well as a number of buttons.

Cadillac didn’t say much about the interior, but the steering wheel display has an “intuitive, race-inspired interface.” It also “gives drivers clear feedback and coaching as they explore the car’s full capability.”

While the V-One is clearly a concept, it’s exciting to see Cadillac exploring the possibility of a track-focused hypercar.