Where Eagles Dare: Cadillac CTS-V Coupe vs Audi RS 5 vs BMW

We parachute Cadillac's new CTS-V Coupe deep into German territory to battle it out with two of Germany's finest performance coupes, the Audi RS 5 and BMW M3.
Read the full story here: www.motortrend.com/roadtests/c...
Shot by: Duane Sempson
Edited by: Duane Sempson

[@REMIREZZ]

he made amazingly exciting cars unbelievably boring

[@cadrolls]

I have driven all three (Cadillac, Mercedes and BMW), when it comes to performance and quality, Cadillac is for me! I am on my 7th. Cadillac. I'm buying a new one soon!

[@zzzhuh]

Complaining about the transmission makes it last place? Get the fucking manual version than. Jesus it seems like "If the car doesn't have flappy paddles than it's not good, it's behind, it's old technology." I like manuals better! There is a feeling that makes it feel like YOU are in control. Not some technology robot saying "O K You Are Switching Gears."

[@sterl529]

um you do know that f1 racing which is the highest level of racing on earth uses paddle/electronic shifting. just saying

[@zzzhuh]

sterling stegall You are correct, but what is your point? F1 car's are in a completely different league than any road car. I stick by my word, A manual gives an enjoyable feeling that you ARE the car, paddles don't have that effect.

[@sterl529]

Agreed. Every car I have ever owned is manual. I do believe that paddle shifting if the future. You get the same effect at a cheaper cost

[@xsnownedx]

By far the best review you guys have ever produced. Have this guy do the rest of your reviews please :)

[@joecliman2183]

CTS-V comes in wagon form and with a manual transmission. What more needs to be said?

[@SIMcityplayer2002]

So does the M3 and RS4.

[@vernonprice5986]

SIMcityplayer2002 Not in the US they don't. But I think what he was referring to was the fact that the CTS-V outperformed both the other two cars here, but then came in last for one reason - the reviewer didn't like the transmission. So the point is that you can get it with a manual.

[@SIMcityplayer2002]

Okay, thanks. In Europe they do and it's hard to find an American website in Europe for some reason.

[@mattbrattensborg7785]

I'd take the V all day.

[@liljim4645]

CTS-V Coupe is by far my favorite dream car, I saw one at the GM show case in Detroit and I just fell in love with it, truly amazing.

[@shawnthegreat4281]

thank you great review this is what I was looking for why can't people make review like this. Normal no test tracks or power slides all through the video and bad music in the background. Just basic review of all three cars and pros and cons of each and done.

[@doubletapproductions]

I had a feeling the European would but the Caddie Last!

[@harrymc523]

he's Australian...

[@bighands69]

Harry Mac Glorified European then.

[@harrymc523]

Just like you then...

[@georgeabounassar664]

doubletapproductions yeah but motor trend in American if you watch their other videos you see they always pick the American car over the gtr

[@smithjoe5179]

Why do you think bmw is now focusing on torque and low end power copying the american stradegy.... because atleast 95% of bmw owners have never tracked a car. In everyday driving you want to sacrafice some overall performance to have some effortless low rpm power. This is what you want if you arent a real racer. Trust me..

[@bighands69]

Joe Smith BMW M cars are not that good on the track anyway. The RS5 is a far better track car.

[@hlaulis]

Agreed

[@3XICS]

@cadrolls1 If you don't mind which Ferrari did that Vette (ZR1 i'm guessing) "dust"?

[@Salomondrin]

@brentsrx7 sure....

[@collincastleberry3277]

In a race Cadillac cts-v coupe would win! I like all of these cars but Cadillac for me :)

[@JaMeSThEGeNeRaL]

lets see the cadillac is faster, bigger, and less money than both but loses because its transmission is inferior. doesnt matter to me when im driving passed both on the highway looking better and with extra 20 grand in my pocket

[@BornToBeFamed]

Maintenance is cheaper to

[@CpKreFLeX]

haha on the Highway :D Good joke :D While in Germany i drive my Polo with 90 HP with 120 miles per hour.Well at least , you can dream about it :-*

[@nateonfireball]

GM’s auto will completely ruin a great car. It’s really a fun killer. As a fan of GM and great cars, their slush boxes really do ruin an amazing car. No contest compared to the DCT in the other cars.

[@TopSpeed232]

3:05 can't wait to try that revolutionary 7-speed dual clutch manual transmission.

[@k0000baib]

It is really an amazing review... I love motortrend... I love The Ultimate Driving Monster M3.....

[@NikoBell12]

The RS5 is nice but I prefer the newer one. And the new M3 Lime Rock Edition is something I would pick over the RS5. The CTS V Coupe... WTF? Should've compared a C63 AMG Coupe in its place.

[@vernonprice5986]

Uh, the CTS-V kicks the RS5's ass. And the M3. And the C63. In fact the CTS-V would have won this comparison if they had gotten a manual one instead of an automatic, because if you were paying attention to the video you would have noticed that the CTS-V did everything better than both the other cars, but they didn't like the automatic transmission.

[@NikoBell12]

Clearly you're a CTS fan. Seriously, get your facts right and stop bullshitting or just shut dafuq up and leave.

[@vernonprice5986]

ORLY? Tell me what facts I got wrong. You've never driven a CTS-V, have you? If you had, we wouldn't be having this discussion. The CTS-V runs 11s stock, what does the RS5 run again? I mean you understand that the CTS-V has almost 250 lb-ft more torque than the RS5, right? I've had some putz in an RS5 try to run me, it was fucking pathetic. Those cars are not fast.

[@vernonprice5986]

NikoBell12 Right, I'm the blind one here. So tell me how I'm wrong, exactly. This is about you hating the CTS-V, not me hating anything. haven't you been paying attention? Oh and about my horrible typing skills, did I make any grammatical errors or spelling mistakes? Please do point them out to me. If you're going to call me retarded regarding the CTS-V's steering feel, then I can only assume once again that you haven't actually watched this video. Or any other review of the CTS-V. Or the head 2 head against the E63. I'm not even the one saying the CTS-V has the best steering feel. Once again, feel free to watch this video again, but maybe pay attention this time. And if the RS5 is fast, what does that make the CTS-V? Super fast? Monstrously fast? Ridiculously fast? Unbelievably fast? I don't know, you tell me. It's substantially faster than the RS5, so you tell me what you call that. Speaking of pissy, have you looked in a mirror lately? Oh, and as he pointed out in the video, the reason the CTS-V got last place was because of the automatic transmission. I don't like autos, and my CTS-V has a manual. And Iv'e used it to utterly humiliate people in RS5s and M3s, it's hilarious how butthurt they get. And to add insult to injury, mine is a WAGON. I'm guessing you have just absolutely zero clue how much faster the CTS-V is than the M3 and the RS5. Like absolutely no idea at all. Audi and BMW drivers tend to be the most obnoxiously stuck up about their cars (like you, for example) so they're the most fun to destroy. I mean your comments here are evidence of that, you think the RS5 is actually competitive with the CTS-V. Let me know when you come back to reality.

[@NikoBell12]

Wow, pathetic. I'm not responding you to you anymore. I got enough laughs for the night.

[@franpancho1000]

To be honest Bmw is not all that good it's just all hype. Of course that's my opinion and the Cts v looks way better.

[@bighands69]

Eratic Demon BMW are a very good brand but they are over hyped especially the M cars that are not even that good on a track.

[@uberdude117]

@Jamzkangster all three are v8's and your saying when buying a sports car you want less HP and more MPG?

[@CJAEY]

@Flabernat No 4 door has come close? The latest Subaru STi got 7:55 on Nurburgring.

[@pontiacGXPfan]

I would NEVER spend the money on the Caddy coupe. It's hideous. Even more so than the SRX.

[@boosiebadazz4680]

what year is the bmw M3?

[@Vladmir917]

money is just a factor here mates. i dont know about you guys but i feel goose bumps whenever i her them say " there's a funny little button here that says 'm' " then makes that beautiful V8 engine noise.

[@voodoodiecast]

Wow, this video was uploaded during my 17th birthday, yey me.

[@GODs_Son777]

@sspope What proof do you have of that?

[@kempowarrior]

@cadrolls wow...I didn't his this part of history. Can you give me a link to check it out myself. Thanks

[@Reiberle]

@audioxxx It's the Rossfeldstraße. This is in Bavaria.

[@master9716]

HOLY FUCK!!!! THE COUPE!!!!! i wasnt expecting it . where have i been

[@salzero1]

@freakerss You hit the nail on the head freakerss, it's truly an obsession.

[@WBHARR1]

I wanna see some actual racing between the three!

[@xxMafia101]

@philyfree I wonder where you got that quote from? Jeremy Clarkson perhaps?

[@djscootersmooth9467]

That Cadillac would be my pick. Looks awesome then and looks awesome now.

[@tozmeister]

I've lied? where? Tell me this, have you ever brought a Varta brand battery?

[@matzklim]

The three of them are beautiful cars, and the engineering is just amazing, how can you be against one of these cars ? they're so complex yet we never think about that.

[@KennyLarson]

Agreed. While automatics and Dual-clutches might be faster in a straight line nowadays, a manual gives you so much more road-feel. It connects you and makes you a part of the vehicle.

[@TheMegaCONARTIST]

I want to see track time, 0-60 time, interior exterior etc.

[@gweggorz]

The Caddy looks like something I stick under the door to keep it from closing.

[@dlb18]

you have to appreciate the fender work on the caddy.. you can fit some nice wide wheels and rubber to make it look awesome

[@EvoPower2010]

@BeemerKid760 So if you drove it, tell me what's the minuses and pluses of both cars. :)

[@Flamoi]

Very True, although when something does go wrong in BMWs they are fairly costly to repair if not under warranty.

[@bimmerroxx]

cant wait to take delivery of my brand new M3 coupe. Only 2 more weeks

[@salzero1]

In a separate notice Thursday, GM said it was recalling more than 1,200 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche and Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles for 2011 model year. In these vehicles, the rear axle cross pin might fracture or shift out of position. This might cause the rear axle to lock and the driver might lose control of the car.

[@nukeonator]

@gilbertfg wel there not entirely handmade but the engine is hand assembled

[@uberdude117]

@Jamzkangster i would too but i still like the brute force HP behind the CTS V just makes you smile rather than the perfectly tuned M3

[@sjpb1982]

@SweetCash33 By what?

[@salzero1]

General Motors this morning, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that GM failed to meet crash test requirements Resulting in poor occupant protection that do not meet U.S. requirements. GM to recall two million Cadillac CTS and CTS-V sports sedans from 2009-2010 including Cadillac CTS sedan (all-wheel drive type). Under certain circumstances, knee or leg decapitations can occur due to the passenger glove compartment. Any Response???

[@bluebearbank247]

@UFCextra Engine block in CTS-V is made in Mexico. Google or Wikipedia it.

[@VertigoAK47]

@Pube83 Its also 20k more which puts it in a different class

[@master9716]

BTW where is the c63 amg?

[@Osmosium2507]

@UFCextra if you want a competitor for the CTS-V you should go for the newBMW M5

[@adman240]

The Ultimate driving machine FTW! I am eyeing the CTS V but until I can afford to step into one of those dealerships I'm going to continue to drool over the M :)

[@blackbird1448]

The CTS-V will blow the other two away no matter the transmission which btw is available in M6 if the auto was too lazy for your liking. It also already out handled the BMW at Nurburgring for a new record. The Cadillac is a beast and should have ranked 1st :)

[@DyeTyme]

manual or automatic

[@xxMafia101]

@BodybuilderTP Anyone who knows anything about cars? That's the GT 5.0 came within .01seconds of the M3's time. Right? Tweaks to the 2011's suspension also make it understeer less.

[@macktheknife3]

According to the video the reason the CTS-v got last was the Trans. I wonder how the test would have lined up if the cars all had manuals?

[@NikoBell12]

What about the M4?

[@76carmel]

@cadrolls I'm with you. Cadillac's 6-speed auto (with paddle shifters), also avail in 6-speed manual; is more designed for fuel efficiency. Well, the CTS-V isn't as such (if you get one please be cozy with your local gas station (EPA 12 city/18 hwy.)). The Audi and BMW's autos are dual-clutch autos. The ones who will drive the RS-5 and M3 will use the paddle shifters more often for driving experience.

[@Greendude33]

Max respect to the resurgence of Cadillac and its image, the car of mobsters, businessmen, pimps, superstar athletes, rock and rapstars is back. Hell even the president rolls in a caddy that can stop a .50 cal round at point black range. It doesnt get much more badass than rolling in a Caddy. According to JD Power and Associates Caddy matches or beats the Germans in multiple quality tests and customer satifaction surveys. Give some credit where it's due people.

[@Osmosium2507]

@salzero1 1second is a lot in a drag race but not that much on the Nürburgring that we talked about, it is over 20 km long

[@rnwnsfla]

he missed one thing about transmission is that lot of perfomance car owner likes manual rather than automatic. Matching manual gear with cts-v is just perfect

[@salzero1]

@cadrolls I knew it would be a matter of time til you came back lol. It's in your nature. Ta ta.

[@matreyia]

"Cadillac doesn't just make great luxury cars... They make Cadillacs♥" they certainly do don't they?

[@Flabernat]

@jp30901 Well yeah in a straight line, I mean around a race track, like the Nurburgring where no 4Door has even come close to the Cadillac CTS-V 7:59 lap time.

[@cadrolls]

They always will too!

[@76carmel]

@Greendude33 MT compared the CTS-V automatic's with the Audi and BMW's dual-clutch automatics. Maybe, GM engineers will consider that for the CTS-V. But the CTS-V automatic does have paddle shifters, but not a true twin-clutch like the Audi and BMW M Series.

[@eriktheman585]

You sir are my new god

[@3XICS]

@UFCextra And by the way what the hell is so high tech in the CTS-V ? Just because a car doesn't have a shinny interior that doesn't mean it isn't high quality.

[@Flabernat]

@CJAEY ....The 2011 STI test with Tommi Mäkinen behind the wheel is what I'm assuming you're talking about. That doesn't count, it's not an official production model,...... yet. So it's not on any official records.

[@Waltazhaar]

@Flabernat In the future man, in the future. We'll both have one. =)

[@xxMafia101]

@zuuman1 Atleast they had the balls to put it into production. They are confident in their product.

[@salzero1]

@dwill8919 I agree, but just because a car has awd doesnt mean it handles better. handling has to do with suspension and breaking for the most part. On the traction side yes, awd is much better as well as a tire with a good foot print.

[@Stu282]

They use the part but the software and calibration is all new.

[@harireddyalla]

bench mark is always a bench mark, its an complete engineers perfection

[@salzero1]

It doesn't stop! More!!! --- In a separate notice Thursday, GM said it was recalling more than 1,200 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche and Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles for 2011 model year. In these vehicles, the rear axle cross pin might fracture or shift out of position. This might cause the rear axle to lock and the driver might lose control of the car.

[@stele22]

I am big M division fan. I own 2002 M5 (last good looking M5) and i love it but i must say CTS is hell of a car

[@PeterKim1230]

@mjdc2505 Did you not see that the CTS got 3rd...

[@bosedall]

the front tire of the cts looks bigger than the rear tire

[@JaredDiBartolo]

James May?

[@Greendude33]

Damn I can't wait for the 3 Series, C Class and A4 fighting Caddy ATS and the S Class fighting XTS, I'm glad to see Cadillac is putting its attention back to the Germans like it did from 1903 to 1950 after that they got to big and soft. Oh and the Rumored Halo car... Either a variant of the Cien or Sixteen.

[@sirlonghair]

@overdrive90 thear are no clutch disk in an auto it's fluid so NO you will not have problems with a clutch disk

[@NorthernSkiAndCycle]

@UFCextra Btw, I'm checking out some comparisons right now and the Audi S5 has ALL the same standard equipment as the CTS-V coupe. The cts v coupe gives better warranty for powertrain, but the european cars give better warranty's on everything else.

[@willylebg]

the CTS V is the most amazing for me... i see BM and Audi all day long in France so i cant see any more deutsch cars :)

[@heartboy86]

@UFCextra i want the cien but to bad it never made production which sucks,my God mother is looking at the xts that are coming in production in the near future

[@mishikwest]

the awd that changed the face of motorsports in the 80's.

[@ryann914311]

@moore39735 they pick the auto transmission on the 6 speed

[@Flabernat]

@Waltazhaar I like you're thinking ;-)

[@salzero1]

Subsequently, Fritz Fiedler who was a seasoned car designer when BMW adopted the unique design language of the kidney grilles that the Ihle brothers originally incorporated into their roadster. He produced a number of prototype variations of the design and within a few months time, this distinct dual kidney grille design was released on the brand new 303 Series in time for the Berlin Motor Show in 1933. The rest is history.//// And this is the true history behind the BMWs kidney grill.

[@VaunShiz]

The CTS was going after the 5/6 series not the 3

[@vernonprice5986]

They're being compared to each other because they're priced the same.

[@sspope]

@CJAEY that was a prototype

[@dwill8919]

@salzero1 true awd has it's disadvantages which u certainly pointed out. But put a rwd car into a tight corner at 80 mph and a awd and see Which one comes out faster, which out drifting. If ur diffention of handling is being able to slide and not spin around then yes BMW has it but still under any diffention of handling u will notice traction is the biggest part staying in the corner with out breaking lose to put best time possible

[@KEANUWHITE]

I want that m3 yesterday and still to this date, only draw back, gas guzzler!

[@bennicool888]

True. (1 Series & X1 SUV; based on 1 Series, Compact class)

[@0mgwtfbbq21]

cant we all agree that the 3 cars are just fucking beautiful and awesome instead of fighting?

[@overdrive90]

@cadrolls1 Try launching the automatic CTS-V hard a few times and you'll end up needing to change clutch disks (at least). Not with the dual clutch tranny's though. I can use the launch control all day long and not have a single problem at the end of the day.

[@Technoboy1000]

@cadrolls how can it be fastest production sedan on the market if it's a coupe

[@Bmwx5fan9]

Why are you testing 3 different classes of cars it should have been the cts-v coupe rs5 coupe and m6 coupe

[@cadrolls]

Go to your nearest Cadillac dealer and take a CTS-V out for a test drive. If that price is too much, then try the equally good ATS. It comes in an all wheel drive model too.

[@Greendude33]

It's completely over once the Cadillac gets the transmisson update from the C7 Corvette's new dual disc transmission.

[@AnonymoussourceL0L]

@cadrolls I know, and it makes sense. AWD is the best in 0-60 (in most cases)

[@TheCarLife]

@cadrolls1 I actually live in Connecticut just like you and I know quite a few people who live in Meriden. I want to see this book in person so I can read it for myself. I'm going to have to call up a friend and see if they can find it first.