In the same week BMW revealed a one-off, 580 hp, 100+ lbs lighter “M5 CSL we never built” (in the words of the M division’s head of development, Albert Biermann), BMW USA’s VP had this to say about his firm’s absence from Cadillac’s CTS-V Challenge:
We have no fear of comparisons by objective bodies, but it’s different if the person doing the comparison has a dog in the hunt
Not that the point lacks validity, but would BMW’s tune be different if the M5 CSL were a production model? We’d like to think so.
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The M3 has the best time so far at Monticello
A CTS-V just beat the M3’s time. 2:48.9 vs 2:50.4
Updates here, as well: http://www.facebook.com/cadillac
A CTS-V just beat the M3’s time. 2:48.9 vs 2:50.4
Not for long. Two beats of the M3 by Heinricy and Link:
John Heinricy (Cadillac test driver)- Cadillac CTS-V: Top Lap: 2:46:560
Aaron Link (Cadillac development engineer)- Cadillac CTS-V: Top Lap: 2:48:902
Michael Cooper (Who is this guy?)- BMW M3: Top Lap: 2:50:424
Jack Baruth- Cadillac CTS-V (TTAC): Top lap: 2:51:153
Bob Lutz- Cadillac CTS-V (VP of Marketing, GM): Top Lap: 2:56:321
Wes Siler- Mitsubishi Evo X (Jalopnik): Top Lap: 3:08:126
Archan B- Jaguar XF-R: Top Lap: 3:15:670
Michael M- BMW M5: Top Lap (so far): 05:17:580
If you want to beat your chests over Baruth’s “win,” go right ahead. But why should BMW play into what amounts to GM’s publicity stunt?
Like it or not, there is not a car in BMW’s stable that can lap faster than the CTS-V. Publicity stunt or not…
I think the real nugget take-away here gentlemen is that we are actively discussing a Cadillac vs. BMW as actual competitors. Completely fantastic.
556 hp is just an incredible amount. Besides, the M5 is how old? We’ll have to wait until the next-gen twin-turbo V8 M5 to take down this CTS-V. The story would be different if that car was already released.
How the heck ///M5 could be a CSL, it’s a Sedan!
CSL = Coupe Sports Lightweight.
They could only find ~100 lbs??
I’m biased because not even for a nano second would I pick a CTS-V over an M5. That being said, who cares. This isn’t that much different than the recent Lincoln MKS test at 14000 feet (sponsored by Ford) where, surprise, surprise, the Ford beat almost every competitor.