Two doors, 'Art and Science' design language, a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 engine with 548bhp, trick dampers and Brembo brakes combine in Cadillac's new CTS-V Coupé. The two-door coupé follows the fearsomely fast CTS-V saloon onto Cadillac's showrooms, though without as much room in the back for passengers. The Coupé will no doubt follow its saloon sibling in a Nürburgring track outing too - the four-door CTS-V managing a sub-eight-minute lap time on Germany's famously testing track, on road tyres.

The loss of the rear doors has done little to improve the kerb weight though, the two-door only being around 8kg lighter. Unsurprisingly then the performance of the Coupé matches that of the saloon, with the 0-60mph sprint taking the same 3.9 seconds. Only marginally smaller dimensionally than the saloon, the Coupé is just 5cm lower and 5cm shorter, the wheelbases being identical. Cadillac boasts that the only shared panels are the front wings and the grille, while the pillar-less doors come with touch pad operation - removing the need for conventional door handles.

Despite the potential for right-hand drive it's unlikely that the CTS-V Coupé will reach the UK officially. Though if you really want a two-door rocket-ship that depreciates as quickly as it goes, then start lobbying a Cadillac dealer now - assuming you can find one, that is.

The CTS-V Coupé makes its world debut at the Detroit Auto Show.

Kyle Fortune - 5 Jan 2010