Earlier this year we drove Cadillac's steroidal CTS-V sedan and concluded it was a very decent bit of kit.

US performance junkies now have even more reason to salivate as Cadillac has just released the first official images of the showroom-ready CTS Coupe -- a svelte two-door derivative that goes on sale in the States in the second quarter of next year.

The coupe was revealed in concept form at the 2008 Detroit motor show, and these images show little has changed in the transition to production form. The only key alteration is the addition of a (blacked-out) B-pillar to enable the car to meet stringent side-impact requirements.

The newcomer is a significant entrant as it's Cadillac's first coupe since the Eldorado, which was discontinued in 2002. It will slot into the premium American brand's range alongside the existing CTS sedan and Sport Wagon.

Caddy aficionados will notice the coupe shares little in terms of bodywork with the sedan. Among the few carryover parts are the headlights, front guards and grille.

The wheelbase is shared with the sedan, but it has shorter overhangs, and it sits about 50mm lower, contributing to its hunkered-down stance. Also unique to the coupe is an ultra-raked windscreen (laid back at 62.3 degrees)

Among the coupe's trick design elements are semi-concealed door handles and the dual central exhausts, which are nicely integrated into the rear bumper diffuser.

Initially, the CTS Coupe will be offered with a 3.6-litre direct-injection V6 with 227kW and 370Nm, but Cadillac says a 'V' version -- with the same 6.2-litre supercharged V8 as the CTS-V sedan (it pumps out 415kW and 747Nm) -- will join the range in the second half of 2010.

The V6 version will be offered in rear-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations and customers will be able to specify 18- or 19-inch rims. The coupe will also be available with a rear-view camera system and a pop-up navigation system.

"Cadillac has always been an emotional brand -- it's about delivering art regardless of body style," said Cadillac's director of exterior design, Australian Max Wolff (who was formerly at Holden and GM Daewoo). "With the CTS Coupe, it was about taking something very strong -- the CTS Sport Sedan -- and extending its potential."

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at www.carsales.mobi