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Gently prodding the gas pedal with a foot evokes a muted growl similar to a jungle cat, sonorous and sinister at the same time. Give the pedal a good poke and Cadillac´s CTS springs to life, devouring asphalt at a rate of zero-to-60 in just 5.9 seconds.

That is satisfyingly quick by most consumers´ standards, particularly for a 4,000-pound vehicle that can carry five passengers in reasonable comfort.

But it´s not quick enough for me.

Not when I know there´s another version of Cadillac´s midsize sport touring sedan that is even quicker.

That would be the Cadillac CTS-V, an ultra-high performance version that recently reigned supreme over BMW´s awesome M5 in a Motor Trend magazine comparison test.

It is a model I´ve read about and lusted after but have never had the privilege of testing.

Instead, I´m evaluating a 2009 Cadillac CTS V6 DI AWD, a perfectly fine vehicle on nearly all automotive levels that matter.

But I crave more.

"You´re a greedy pig," booms a voice from the front passenger seat.

The voice belongs to my wife -- make that co-pilot and conscience -- Ronda. She is tired of hearing me gripe about how much faster, better-handling and more lust-worthy the CTS-V is compared to the version we´re driving.

I protest that I´m not greedy, pointing out that the CTS-V´s engine is a 6.2-liter version of the vaunted Chevy Corvette V8, producing 556 horsepower.

That´s five hundred and 56!

And it has a supercharger!

Ronda is not swayed.

"Like I said, you´re greedy. And you´re a whiner.

"What´s wrong with 304 horsepower? The standard CTS engine has only 263 horsepower. When we tested that model you said you wished you had the DI version. Now you have it and you´re still complaining!"

I object that I´m not really complaining, merely making an observation.

The 3.6-liter DI engine, which uses a direct fuel injection system to muster 41 more horsepower and 20 more pounds/feet of torque than the 3.6-liter V6 used in the standard CTS, is impressive. It is smooth, quiet and responds like a snake sensing nearby footsteps.

But as good as this engine is, it´s not a supercharged V8. That power plant is potent enough to propel the CTS-V from zero to 60 mph in just four seconds flat, according to Motor Trend.

"You´re unbelievable!" is Ronda´s retort. "This CTS DI is plenty quick enough for most people, and it costs $20,000 less than the CTS-V. That´s one-third less, since I know you can´t do the math yourself!"

I can do the math. I realize the test car is not only significantly less expensive than the CTS-V, but its 40-grand starting price includes all-wheel drive compared with the V´s rear-wheel drive.

It also gets significantly better fuel economy, particularly on the highway. The test car´s EPA rating of 17 city miles per gallon won´t win any awards from environmentalists, but it´s pretty good considering the vehicle´s strong engine performance. And its 26 mpg highway rating is even more impressive.

Both numbers trounce the CTS-V´s EPA rating of 14 city/19 highway mpg. And the V calls for premium fuel, whereas the test car runs on regular.

But folks who buy cars such as the CTS-V generally don´t care about getting to the mall as cheaply as possible.

They care about how quickly they can weave through a set of fluorescent orange cones placed strategically by auto club members in the mall´s parking lot long after the shoppers are gone.

Again, that´s where the CTS-V becomes a source of rampant automotive desire. Motor Trend says it is the fastest production sedan on stock tires it has ever driven around Germany´s famed Nurburgring race course. The magazine also measured its lateral acceleration at a racecar-like 0.92 g.

I´m not aware of anyone having tested the CTS DI at Nurburgring, but its grip has been measured at 0.85 g. That´s more than respectable, but the difference between that number and the CTS-V´s specs are the difference between a ripping roller coaster and one designed for kiddies.

"Who are you kidding?" Ronda demands. "The test car´s handling, its cornering grip, steering response and road feel and body control are about as good as you´re going to get in most five-passenger sedans.

"And don´t you dare try to tell me that it´s not super quiet and comfortable, or that you didn´t appreciate its all-wheel drive when we got caught in that incredible downpour!"

She´s right, I guess. The CTS V6 DI AWD is, overall, a great car with distinctive styling. And, despite having a typical General Motors appetite for pricey option packages that contain items consumers want and others they don´t, it´s also a very good value.

But, darn it, it´s just not a CTS-V!

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