Cadillac (Photo : Reuters)
When Cadillac announced its flagship luxury sedan, the 2016 CTS-V, it was meet with high praises with some analysts saying that it will take the luxury sedan market by storm thanks to its modest price and top of the line engine. On the other hand, many claim that the 2017 BMW M5 is also modest and powerful enough to give the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V a run for its money.
The luxury sedan market is one of the most highly contested segment of the car industry. Big brand names like Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and even Tesla all vied to take the top spot. However, two of the most interesting new cars in the market is the 2016 CTS-V from Cadillac and the 2017 M5 from BMW.
2016 Cadillac CTS-V
The new model of the CTS-V follows a long history of comfort, style and luxury. It was first produced in 2004 and the 2016 model is part of its second generation of cars.
The new Cadillac CTS-V boasts an impressive supercharged V8 6.2-liter engine that packs 640 horsepower and 630 pounds-to-foot torque, according to The Standard Daily. The luxury sedan has a six-piston Brembo front brakes and a four-piston rear brake also from Brembo. It also has Michelin Pilot Super Sports tires embedded with Magnetic Ride Control shocks which promises top-most comfort.
The car has four driving modes; Race, Touring, Snow and Sport. Each of these driving modes have their own set of configuration for traction control, transmission, ride control and throttle.
Despite its impressive specs, the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V has its own set of drawbacks as well. The cars CUE infotaiment system if complicated and cumbersome. It also has a smaller interior room compared to the 2017 BMW M5.
The 2016 Cadillac CTS-V base model is expected to fetch a price of $84,990 when released.
2016 BMW M5
The 2016 BMW M5 is a sixth generation car following an impressive line of high-performance luxury sedan. The car is based on the stock 5-Series and has a dimension of 193.3 inches long, 57.1 inches tall and 74.4 inches wide. This makes the car almost identical to the Mercedes-Benz E63 in terms of dimension.
Under the car's hood lurks the V8 twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter engine capable of outputting 650 horsepower and 502 pounds-per-foot torque at 6,000 to 7,000 rpms. BMW was able to squeeze the twin-scroll turbocharges between the two cylinder banks making the engine more compact.
The car has a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Additionally, a six-speed manual drivetrain model is also available. When equipped with dual-clutch, the car can reach 62MPH in 4.4 seconds and can reach top speeds of up to 155MPH. The top speed is limited electronically.
Pricing for the 2016 BMW M5 starts at $95,095, according to Car and Driver.
