US Secret Service gets Corvettes, Cadillacs to help train agents
The US Secret Service is best known for its work protecting the president and other high-ranking politicians and their families, and its agents need to be ready for anything – and that includes vehicles outside of its traditional fleet.
General Motors this week sent 10 vehicles to the federal law enforcement agency's James J Rowley Training Center (RTC) in Laurel, Maryland in order for the company to not only get feedback from agents, but also to give them experience driving different vehicles.
The fleet of 10 vehicles is diverse. It includes three SUVs (a Cadillac Escalade, a Chevrolet Suburban, and a Chevrolet Tahoe with a police package), as well as two Chevrolet Corvettes.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
GM also sent the Secret Service four Cadillac CT4 and CT5 sedans, two of which have manual transmissions. That would make them hot twin-turbocharged V6-powered CT4-V Blackwing and supercharged V8-powered CT5-V Blackwing models.
You might think it's pointless for a government agency to be driving supercars and manual sports sedans, but the Secret Service has explained the rationale.
'Not everyone is able to operate a manual shift,' said Mark Armstrong, a driving instructor at the RTC for 10 years. 'Having that platform here will enable us to give instruction on how to drive manual vehicles for overseas trips.' Supplied Credit: CarExpert
These overseas trips can include visits to foreign field offices or protective duties, so agents need proficiency in a range of driving skills and vehicle types.
'Experience with different types of vehicles can help instructors teach students how to adapt their driving techniques based on the vehicle they are operating,' added Scott Simons, the special agent in charge of the RTC.
'Because each vehicle handles differently in any given situation, exposure to new cars will challenge instructors and give them an opportunity to develop more realistic training scenarios.' Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Having vehicles outside the norm also provides an element of surprise for students, who might be expecting a black Tahoe only to find a Corvette blast into the training area.
Ultimately, special agents in the field and uniformed division officers are more likely to end up behind the wheel of something like a Tahoe in their daily duties but, sorry agents, we don't think a supercharged V8-powered, manual CT5-V Blackwing will end up in your motor pool.
GM already supplies vehicles to the Secret Service, including presidential parade limousines and armoured SUVs for use in motorcades.
Initially established to investigate the counterfeiting of US currency, the Secret Service these days provides more than just protective services. It also conducts financial and cybercrime investigations.
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Cadillac's first V-Series model was the 2004 CTS-V sedan, which featured an overhead-valve 5.7-litre V8 (later a 6.0-litre) shared with the Chevrolet Corvette, mated with a six-speed manual transmission. It was soon joined by the STS-V sedan and XLR-V convertible (pictured below with the first CTS-V), which used a supercharged version of Cadillac's Northstar overhead-cam V8, mated with a six-speed automatic. These lasted a single generation, but the CTS-V went for two more generations, both with supercharged V8 power. V-Series models were later joined by tamer VSport models, which swapped V8 power for twin-turbo V6s. That said, not every hardcore V-Series model has packed a bent-eight, with the BMW M3-rivalling ATS-V for example being the first V with a twin-turbo V6. In recent years, Cadillac revised its V-Series strategy, rolling out models like the CT4-V and CT5-V that are less powerful than previous Vs (the CT4-V even comes with a four-cylinder engine, a first for a V-Series), but replacing the full-fat ATS-V and CTS-V models with new CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing models. It also introduced the first ever Escalade-V, marking the first time the V-Series name has been used on an SUV. We've missed out on all of these hot combustion-powered Caddys, and will continue to do so as GM ANZ has confirmed the luxury American brand will be EV-only in Australia. Content originally sourced from: The 2026 Cadillac Optiq-V is the second high-performance electric SUV to appear from General Motors' luxury brand, though it's not quite as powerful as the first. It incorporates a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain producing 387kW of power and 880Nm of torque, up 163kW and 400Nm on the regular Optiq. Cadillac claims this 2470kg battery-powered SUV can complete the 0-60mph (0-96km/h) sprint in 3.5 seconds with launch control activated. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. For context, a similarly sized Porsche Macan 4S has 380kW of power and a 0-60mph claim of 3.9 seconds with launch control, though the Macan Turbo shades the Optiq-V with up to 470kW and a 3.1-second claim. Cadillac's own Lyriq-V produces 459kW/880Nm, giving it a 0-60mph time of just 3.3 seconds using launch control. While the Lyriq-V has been confirmed for an Australian launch in 2026, along with the regular Optiq and larger three-row Vistiq, GM Australia and New Zealand has previously indicated the Optiq-V isn't on the cards for local release. "No, [Optiq-V isn't] coming here. We'll have a Lyriq-V," GM ANZ managing director Jess Bala told CarExpert in May. "We haven't done a V-Series here before, so we want to assess that one first and then we have to look at different regulations within battery architectures and things like that. "So we'll start with Lyriq-V, and we'll continue to assess if there are opportunities that arise." A GM ANZ spokesperson had no further comment when asked today about the Optiq-V's chances, and the official press release notes availability only in North America, the Middle East and Israel. The Optiq-V features the same 85kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NCM) battery as the regular Optiq, though range under the stricter US EPA test cycle drops to 443km, down from 486km. It'll be GM's first EV with a native North American Charging Standard inlet, allowing it to be compatible with Tesla's Supercharger network in North America. On a DC fast-charger, GM says the Optiq-V can gain 113km of range in 10 minutes. Cadillac has followed largely the same formula with the Optiq-V as with the Lyriq-V. To that end, both have five-link rear suspension with Continuous Damping Control adaptive dampers, as well as Brembo front brake calipers. The luxury brand says it prioritised a "harmonious balance of aerodynamics, weight distribution, agility and safety", and in addition to the suspension upgrades it says the Optiq-V has "tighter steering". A V-Mode, activated by pressing the V button on the steering wheel, allows drivers to save performance-focused settings including a Competitive Mode that "enables a suite of traction management features", plus unique propulsion sounds. The Optiq-V is distinguished from the regular Optiq by unique front-end styling, with the trademark V-Series grille mesh pattern found in the lower grille. There's also a revised upper grille area, a high-gloss black front splitter, and body-coloured lower trim, while down back there's a gloss black diffuser. A carbon-fibre front splitter, rear diffuser, and rear mid-spoiler are available in a special carbon package. The Optiq-V rides on 21-inch satin graphite alloy wheels with low-profile tyres and a laser-etched V-Series badge; 21-inch wheels with a "dark sport finish" are optional. A fixed panoramic glass roof with a black surround is standard, while Magnus Metal Frost metallic matte grey exterior paint – as seen on the Lyriq-V – is optional along with the featured Deep Ocean Tintcoat. Indeed, Cadillac has taken the blue of the V-Series logo and gone to town with it. Those Brembo front brake calipers can be had in blue or red, blue accents can be found within the rear quarter windows, and prominent blue accents can be found inside the cabin. You can have the Optiq-V with either a Noir (black) interior or two-tone Noir and Sky Cool Grey, but both come standard with Santorini Blue accents. There's blue trim across the front of the dash, on the doors, and even the seats feature blue piping. The front seatbacks are also finished almost entirely in blue. The Optiq-V gets a unique darker patterned accent fabric woven from yarn made from 100 per cent recycled materials, while the centre console has genuine woven carbon-fibre trim. V-Series logos can be found embroidered on the seats, etched on the sill plates, and dotted elsewhere in the cabin. Otherwise, the basic layout of the Optiq's interior carries over, including a 33-inch curved display incorporating the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen. The infotainment system features Google built-in, with embedded Google apps such as Google Maps and more available to download through the Google Play Store. There's also a standard 19-speaker AKG sound system with Dolby Atmos. Like almost every Cadillac, Super Cruise hands-free highway driving is standard. This Level 2+ autonomous driving technology is yet to be offered in any Australian-market GM vehicle. The Optiq-V is priced from US$68,795 (~A$105,000), while the core Optiq lineup is priced from US$54,390 to $57,090 (~A$83,000 to $87,500). Production starts in the autumn (our spring) of 2025. "V-Series continues to help forge Cadillac's performance legacy by providing customers an exhilarating driving experience," said John Roth, vice president of global Cadillac. "Optiq-V will be a significant addition to the V-Series portfolio bringing in new customers to the brand and emphasizing Cadillac's global impact." It's just a tenth of a second slower to 60mph than the supercharged V8-powered CT5-V Blackwing sedan when equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Though the Optiq-V and Lyriq-V (pictured above) are quick, they're quite different from the traditionally V8-powered models that have worn the V-Series nameplate over the years. Cadillac's first V-Series model was the 2004 CTS-V sedan, which featured an overhead-valve 5.7-litre V8 (later a 6.0-litre) shared with the Chevrolet Corvette, mated with a six-speed manual transmission. It was soon joined by the STS-V sedan and XLR-V convertible (pictured below with the first CTS-V), which used a supercharged version of Cadillac's Northstar overhead-cam V8, mated with a six-speed automatic. These lasted a single generation, but the CTS-V went for two more generations, both with supercharged V8 power. V-Series models were later joined by tamer VSport models, which swapped V8 power for twin-turbo V6s. That said, not every hardcore V-Series model has packed a bent-eight, with the BMW M3-rivalling ATS-V for example being the first V with a twin-turbo V6. In recent years, Cadillac revised its V-Series strategy, rolling out models like the CT4-V and CT5-V that are less powerful than previous Vs (the CT4-V even comes with a four-cylinder engine, a first for a V-Series), but replacing the full-fat ATS-V and CTS-V models with new CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing models. It also introduced the first ever Escalade-V, marking the first time the V-Series name has been used on an SUV. We've missed out on all of these hot combustion-powered Caddys, and will continue to do so as GM ANZ has confirmed the luxury American brand will be EV-only in Australia. Content originally sourced from: The 2026 Cadillac Optiq-V is the second high-performance electric SUV to appear from General Motors' luxury brand, though it's not quite as powerful as the first. It incorporates a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain producing 387kW of power and 880Nm of torque, up 163kW and 400Nm on the regular Optiq. Cadillac claims this 2470kg battery-powered SUV can complete the 0-60mph (0-96km/h) sprint in 3.5 seconds with launch control activated. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. For context, a similarly sized Porsche Macan 4S has 380kW of power and a 0-60mph claim of 3.9 seconds with launch control, though the Macan Turbo shades the Optiq-V with up to 470kW and a 3.1-second claim. Cadillac's own Lyriq-V produces 459kW/880Nm, giving it a 0-60mph time of just 3.3 seconds using launch control. While the Lyriq-V has been confirmed for an Australian launch in 2026, along with the regular Optiq and larger three-row Vistiq, GM Australia and New Zealand has previously indicated the Optiq-V isn't on the cards for local release. "No, [Optiq-V isn't] coming here. We'll have a Lyriq-V," GM ANZ managing director Jess Bala told CarExpert in May. "We haven't done a V-Series here before, so we want to assess that one first and then we have to look at different regulations within battery architectures and things like that. "So we'll start with Lyriq-V, and we'll continue to assess if there are opportunities that arise." A GM ANZ spokesperson had no further comment when asked today about the Optiq-V's chances, and the official press release notes availability only in North America, the Middle East and Israel. The Optiq-V features the same 85kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NCM) battery as the regular Optiq, though range under the stricter US EPA test cycle drops to 443km, down from 486km. It'll be GM's first EV with a native North American Charging Standard inlet, allowing it to be compatible with Tesla's Supercharger network in North America. On a DC fast-charger, GM says the Optiq-V can gain 113km of range in 10 minutes. Cadillac has followed largely the same formula with the Optiq-V as with the Lyriq-V. To that end, both have five-link rear suspension with Continuous Damping Control adaptive dampers, as well as Brembo front brake calipers. The luxury brand says it prioritised a "harmonious balance of aerodynamics, weight distribution, agility and safety", and in addition to the suspension upgrades it says the Optiq-V has "tighter steering". A V-Mode, activated by pressing the V button on the steering wheel, allows drivers to save performance-focused settings including a Competitive Mode that "enables a suite of traction management features", plus unique propulsion sounds. The Optiq-V is distinguished from the regular Optiq by unique front-end styling, with the trademark V-Series grille mesh pattern found in the lower grille. There's also a revised upper grille area, a high-gloss black front splitter, and body-coloured lower trim, while down back there's a gloss black diffuser. A carbon-fibre front splitter, rear diffuser, and rear mid-spoiler are available in a special carbon package. The Optiq-V rides on 21-inch satin graphite alloy wheels with low-profile tyres and a laser-etched V-Series badge; 21-inch wheels with a "dark sport finish" are optional. A fixed panoramic glass roof with a black surround is standard, while Magnus Metal Frost metallic matte grey exterior paint – as seen on the Lyriq-V – is optional along with the featured Deep Ocean Tintcoat. Indeed, Cadillac has taken the blue of the V-Series logo and gone to town with it. Those Brembo front brake calipers can be had in blue or red, blue accents can be found within the rear quarter windows, and prominent blue accents can be found inside the cabin. You can have the Optiq-V with either a Noir (black) interior or two-tone Noir and Sky Cool Grey, but both come standard with Santorini Blue accents. There's blue trim across the front of the dash, on the doors, and even the seats feature blue piping. The front seatbacks are also finished almost entirely in blue. The Optiq-V gets a unique darker patterned accent fabric woven from yarn made from 100 per cent recycled materials, while the centre console has genuine woven carbon-fibre trim. V-Series logos can be found embroidered on the seats, etched on the sill plates, and dotted elsewhere in the cabin. Otherwise, the basic layout of the Optiq's interior carries over, including a 33-inch curved display incorporating the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen. The infotainment system features Google built-in, with embedded Google apps such as Google Maps and more available to download through the Google Play Store. There's also a standard 19-speaker AKG sound system with Dolby Atmos. Like almost every Cadillac, Super Cruise hands-free highway driving is standard. This Level 2+ autonomous driving technology is yet to be offered in any Australian-market GM vehicle. The Optiq-V is priced from US$68,795 (~A$105,000), while the core Optiq lineup is priced from US$54,390 to $57,090 (~A$83,000 to $87,500). Production starts in the autumn (our spring) of 2025. "V-Series continues to help forge Cadillac's performance legacy by providing customers an exhilarating driving experience," said John Roth, vice president of global Cadillac. "Optiq-V will be a significant addition to the V-Series portfolio bringing in new customers to the brand and emphasizing Cadillac's global impact." It's just a tenth of a second slower to 60mph than the supercharged V8-powered CT5-V Blackwing sedan when equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Though the Optiq-V and Lyriq-V (pictured above) are quick, they're quite different from the traditionally V8-powered models that have worn the V-Series nameplate over the years. Cadillac's first V-Series model was the 2004 CTS-V sedan, which featured an overhead-valve 5.7-litre V8 (later a 6.0-litre) shared with the Chevrolet Corvette, mated with a six-speed manual transmission. It was soon joined by the STS-V sedan and XLR-V convertible (pictured below with the first CTS-V), which used a supercharged version of Cadillac's Northstar overhead-cam V8, mated with a six-speed automatic. These lasted a single generation, but the CTS-V went for two more generations, both with supercharged V8 power. V-Series models were later joined by tamer VSport models, which swapped V8 power for twin-turbo V6s. That said, not every hardcore V-Series model has packed a bent-eight, with the BMW M3-rivalling ATS-V for example being the first V with a twin-turbo V6. In recent years, Cadillac revised its V-Series strategy, rolling out models like the CT4-V and CT5-V that are less powerful than previous Vs (the CT4-V even comes with a four-cylinder engine, a first for a V-Series), but replacing the full-fat ATS-V and CTS-V models with new CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing models. It also introduced the first ever Escalade-V, marking the first time the V-Series name has been used on an SUV. We've missed out on all of these hot combustion-powered Caddys, and will continue to do so as GM ANZ has confirmed the luxury American brand will be EV-only in Australia. Content originally sourced from:
West Australian
7 hours ago
- West Australian
2025 Cupra Terramar: Spanish Tiguan twin here in July priced from under $54k
Cupra Australia has confirmed pricing and specifications for its all-new Terramar mid-size SUV, first customer deliveries of which will start in July, priced from $53,990 plus on-road costs or $58,490 drive-away. Four different variants have been confirmed for Australia, including a mix of turbo-petrol, mild-hybrid (MHEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrains. The base mild-hybrid and top-spec petrol variants will arrive first, with a lower-tuned petrol grade following in September and the PHEV slated for 2026. The Terramar introduces a new 'S mHEV' trim level for Cupra, with the entry-level mild-hybrid, while the V, VZ and VZe designations for the rest of the range correspond with existing model lines like the Leon and Formentor . Rivals for the Spanish brand's largest SUV include the related Volkswagen Tiguan , as well as the likes of the Toyota RAV4 , Mazda CX-5 , Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson . Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now . Cupra has confirmed both list pricing (excluding statutory on-road costs in each state or territory) and national drive-away pricing for all but the VZe PHEV. A total of four drivetrain variants will be available in Australia – including turbo-petrol, mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. Cupra Australia has only confirmed initial Terramar specifications at this stage, so we'll cover the missing information in a full price and equipment breakdown once full details are announced. The S mHEV and V variants get equivalent feature lists, while the VZ adds some extra goodies to go with its extra performance. 2025 Cupra Terramar S mHEV + V equipment highlights: Terramar VZ adds: Several packages and single-item options are offered depending on the variant. Leather & Sound Package: $1600 (S mHEV + V) Standalone options include: A total of seven exterior paint finishes are available for the Cupra Terramar, with two premium colours commanding price premiums. Standard: $NCO Premium paint: $620 Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest in the lead-up to the Cupra Terramar's arrival next month. MORE: 2025 Cupra Terramar review – International first drive MORE: Everything Cupra Terramar
