It's game time here. Cadillac has been waiting years for this very moment and it's almost here: sales of its all-new ATS-V and CTS-V will begin this spring and summer, respectively. The stakes are high for obvious reasons. In short: Germany, where the new V-Models will face their more fierce competition. Cadillac's high-performance reputation is somewhat on the line because it's anxious to prove that America can do this segment just as good if not outright better than Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.

Especially BMW, the typical benchmark brand. So how will Cadillac hopefully beat Germany at its own premium performance game? By going to the Nurburgring for final testing. According to AutoGuide, Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen stated at New York the other week that the V model development team is heading over to the Nurburgring at this very moment. Despite the likelihood of bad weather there this time of year, the team isn't so much as focused on a new 'Ring lap time, but on engineering refinement. However, if the weather cooperates and track conditions are optimal then, in the words of a Cadillac PR rep, "perhaps something will happen" in regards to a new lap record.

Back in 2009, the previous CTS-V set a Nurburgring lap record of 7:59, the first sedan to break the 8-minute time. BMW still hasn't released lap times for its current M cars, but if the weather cooperates for Cadillac, it may soon be forced to do so.