One of Cadillac’s primary rivals in the luxury vehicles space, Audi, recently debuted the next-gen Audi RS 5 with a hybridized twin-turbo V6 powertrain capable of 630 horsepower, which can propel the new saloon from a standstill to 60 miles per hour in just 3.6 seconds. That’s all the more impressive when you consider the fact that it weighs nearly 5,200 pounds.
For reference, a Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing equipped with a manual transmission is nearly 1,100 pounds lighter than the new RS 5 and generates more horsepower and torque, yet its 0-60 time is the same.
Beyond that, the new RS 5 is a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) that can travel up to 52 miles without sipping a drop of fuel. It also features an industry-first electromechanical torque vectoring rear differential and is available as a wagon – though knowing Audi, this body configuration is unlikely to make its way to the United States. Fortunately, wagon lovers in the market for a new Audi can still find solace with the V8-powered RS 6. It’s a shame Cadillac fanatics can’t say the same.
As for the “regular” RS 5 Sportback model, well, it looks the part inside and out, sounds great on paper, and is being lauded for its impressive performance in just about every first drive review. It would seem that Audi has been able to find success by sticking to a natural evolution of what it does best, while developing an innovative all-wheel drive system and striking a balance between thrill and utility.
“The RS 5 and its innovative drive concept mark the beginning of a new era for our RS models,” says Rolf Michl, Managing Director of Audi Sport. “They bring a new level of dynamics to the driving characteristics our customers love and further improve day-to-day use value thanks to all-electric driving.”
Michl’s words echo the ethos of the brand, which is immediately recognized in the new RS 5. If you ask us, it’s a lesson that Cadillac can and should apply to the second-generation CT5 (except for the whole ‘no wagons for the US’ part).
What do we mean by this? For starters, Audi’s smooth integration of multiple large screens is certainly noteworthy. But, more importantly, if Audi is bringing us an RS 5, then there should certainly be a second-gen Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing to compete with it. On top of that, Cadillac should stick to its roots as well, and offer customers a luxurious sedan with Corvette-like capability, including a small block V8 engine and a manual transmission, too boot. A wagon variant would put us over the moon.
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