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Cadillac VSR concept--photos

General Motors had taken a lightweight and stripped-down aluminum hot rod chassis and slapped a thoroughly modern 6-liter, 400-horsepower Cadillac V-8 engine under its clamshell hood.

Antuan Goodwin
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Antuan Goodwin
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1 of 10 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

The Cadillac of hot rods

Take a large displacement, high powered engine, and drop that puppy under the hood of a stripped down chassis. That's the hot rod formula. That's also what makes the Cadillac VSR concept so interesting to a gearhead like me.
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2 of 10 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Lightweight chassis

The VSR starts with an aluminum and fiberglass chassis laid low to the ground.
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3 of 10 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Open wheel thrills

All four of the VSR's corners are independently suspended with air suspension. Up front, a pair of 20-inch wheels is connected to an electronic power steering system.
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4 of 10 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Meaty rear wheels

Out back, huge 22-inch wheels put the power to the road.
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5 of 10 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

6-liter Cadillac V-8

The huge engine in question is a 6-liter Cadillac V-8, outputting 400-horsepower.
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6 of 10 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Four wheel disc brakes

Look carefully and you'll see cooling ducts on the backside of the wheels that divert air over the 13-inch, six-piston disc brakes.
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7 of 10 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Single seat configuration

The VSR was displayed in a single-seat configuration, but the passenger-side tonneau cover can be removed to reveal a second seat.
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8 of 10 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Cabin technology

Behind the scissor doors, you'll find a pair of carbon fiber bucket seats and a digital instrument cluster. An iPhone compatible audio system and rearview camera round out the admittedly limited cabin tech package.
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9 of 10 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Heat shielding

GM really had to cram the V-8 into the narrow engine compartment along with the radiator, so gold foil heat shielding is used to protect the air suspension components.
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10 of 10 Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Clamshell hood

When can you expect to see the VSR concept on the road? Our CNET Magic 8-ball tells us "almost certainly never."

Stay tuned to our continuing coverage of the 2009 SEMA Show for more hot rods and concept cars.

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