Cadillac reveals V-ONE concept based on its IMSA/WEC V-Series.R prototype

Cadillac has unveiled a single-seater concept study derived from the Cadillac V-Series.R prototype which has competed in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. 

Co-developed by Cadillac Design, Cadillac Racing and chassis supplier Dallara, the "V-ONE" is a first-of-its-kind concept from the luxury brand, billed as an attempt to translate its competitive race car “into a driver-focused experience, while reinforcing Cadillac’s broader race-winning story across design, performance, and technology,” the company says.

“The Cadillac V-ONE Concept 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,” said Dominic Najafi, Executive Design Director, Global Cadillac. “Even though it’s a race car, even though it’s raw and very functional, we’ve actually surfaced every single part of it by hand. That gets us the most perfect reflections, highlights, surface integrations, and surface flow. We’ve uplifted some details as well to make it feel more advanced and high tech.” 

The V-ONE is powered by the V-Series.R’s 5.5-liter V8-hybrid powertrain, though it has been simplified for ease of use, and produces a combined 830hp – beyond the upper limit of its racing counterpart. Its body, proportions, and aerodynamics are inspired by the V-Series.R, and it shares suspension components with the car that has won races in both WEC and IMSA, and captured the inaugural IMSA GTP championship in 2023. 

“It’s about as close to the race car as you can get,” says Sean O’Shea, Cadillac LMDh propulsion manager. “It takes 160 hours of build time just to assemble the engine. It’s all done in Pontiac, Michigan by people that have built race engines their whole careers. They’re hand-picked for the job.

“You get on the straightaway, hit a button and get an extra 134 horsepower. I couldn’t even imagine that. These things are already so fast, adding a bunch more power with the press of a button is incredible.”

Exterior components of the V-ONE also include new V-Series bespoke wheel design, updated V-Series badging, and the car is painted in a silver to navy blue gradient which “reflects the journey from day to night during an endurance race.”

Inside, the V-ONE’s interior has a racing-inspired steering wheel design, components are made of Cadillac Collection recycled fabrics, each car has a serialized plaque on the door, and a left-hand mounted, GT3-style racing seat tailored to its driver. It also incorporates all applicable FIA safety requirements from the V-Series.R, including its FIA-approved survival cell.

“The interior of the car is one of the main selling points with the car," O’Shea says. “You open the doors and you look inside and it's a clean, purpose-built race car with a bespoke Cadillac interior.”

“It’s a serious machine, but it’s amazing how we’ve been able to bring this curated design element to it to make it feel like a very special car,” adds Nafaji. “The CELESTIQ (electric sedan) represents ultimate luxury, the V-ONE represents ultimate performance. Both show the scope of Cadillac, the scope of what we can achieve, our ambition, and the excitement around the brand.”

The V-ONE Concept, which will be on display at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in Carmel, Calif., as part of Monterey Car Week, follows similar Hypercar-derived customer cars such as the Ferrari 499P Modificata, the upcoming McLaren MCL-HY GTR, and the one-off Porsche 963 RSP. However, it will not be made available for sale, according to Cadillac.