Cadillac targeting the BMW F10 M5 - Third Generation 2016 Cadillac CTS-V spotted testing with the BMW M5, 600+ horsepower coming?

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It certainly looks like Cadillac has chosen their benchmark luxury sports sedan to beat and that would be the BMW F10 M5. The CTS-V is seen here testing with its main rival and the reason Cadillac likely chose the M5 is the CTS-V like the BMW will be rear wheel drive. Additionally, the M5 won the latest comparison of all the major luxury super sedans so the M5 is a logical target considering it basically invented the segment.

What we know about the upcoming Cadillac CTS-V is that it will have a supercharged (likely utilizing the Eaton R1740 TVS blower) 6.2 liter direct injected V8 powerplant. This will be based on the engine in the upcoming C7 Z06 called the LT4. The main question mark is whether the engine for the CTS-V will again be detuned with the CTS-V getting the LSA V8 instead of the C6 ZR-1's LS9 the last time around.

With how fast all of the twin turbo V8 sedans out of Germany are Cadillac needs to bring the heat. The car will likely share the upcoming GM 8L90 8-speed automatic going into the Z06 which GM claims shifts faster than the Porsche PDK transmission. That is a very bold claim and yet to be substantiated but if the gearbox does beat the Porsche PDK gearbox in shift speed and it also matches the stated of goal of 738 pound-feet of torque capacity then a tune and pulley CTS-V will likely eat up a tune only M5, E63, Panamera, RS7, etc.



Considering the current CTS-V makes 556 horsepower a 50 horse boost at minimum seems within reason. 600 horsepower and roughly 600 pound-feet of torque with the power being routed to the rear wheels and shift speeds that do not give up much to a dual clutch transmission should make the last entry into the next generation luxury mid-size performance sedan battle the strongest. It is not like Cadillac is testing with an F10 M5 to make the CTS-V slower than it.