How Does The Cadillac Ct4-v Blackwing Compare To The Best Sport Sedans Of 2008? Jason Cammisa Finds Out

It's a communal refrain among enthusiasts that modern cars are numb and soulless compared to those of moreover 15 to 20 years ago. But is that true, aliases are we conscionable looking backmost astatine them done rose-tinted glasses? Jason Cammisa investigated whether aliases not nostalgia is rose-tinting our glasses by taking nan apical 3 athletics sedans of 2008 and pitting them against nan Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, nan champion modern athletics sedan of comparable size and capability.

Cammisa has been astir nan automotive manufacture agelong capable to person driven and reviewed nan 2008 Audi RS4, E90 BMW M3, and Mercedes C63 AMG backmost erstwhile they were new. Each had a high-revving people aspirated V8 nether nan hood. The BMW and Audi came pinch manual transmissions, while nan BMW and Mercedes had rear-wheel drive. Although BMW was typically viewed arsenic nan much performance-oriented marque astatine nan time, it was nan C63 AMG that was nan biggest hooligan. Its 6.2-liter V8 vastly outsized nan BMW and Audi successful some displacement and torque, making it not only nan champion drift instrumentality but besides nan fastest successful a consecutive line.

Today, location is nary Audi RS4 successful nan US. The modern C63 AMG is simply a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 plug-in hybrid that bears nary comparison to nan older type pinch a large V8, contempt its superior horsepower. Mercedes realizes this was nan incorrect move and will bring backmost a smaller V8 soon. The BMW M3 is nan closest belief heir to its earlier version, but it, too, nary longer has a V8. While nan next-generation M3 will connection an electrical version, BMW will wisely proceed to connection a gas-powered inline-6 to support nan purists happy. It's besides now larger than nan 2008 M5, fto unsocial nan M3. They conscionable don't make 'em for illustration they utilized to. Or do they?

Who would've thought that Cadillac, champion known for nan Escalade and luxurious couches connected wheels, would make what Camissa calls "the champion compact athletics sedan you tin bargain today?" While nan Germans person moved theirs successful different directions, Cadillac copied their homework, improved connected it a bit, and nan consequence is nan CT4-V Blackwing. While Camissa criticized nan E90 M3's shifter for emotion rubbery and nan throws being excessively long, nan Blackwing feels awesome and is precisely wherever he wants it to be. The clutch, he says, is perfect. He doesn't mention really astonishing it is that nan Blackwing moreover gets a manual transmission action successful nan first place, which nan modular CT4-V does not. The Cadillac runs dormant moreover successful a resistance title pinch nan 6.2-liter V8 Mercedes C63 AMG, pinch which it shares astir of its dimensions and is only down 21 horsepower. It besides features a amended suspension that enhances some handling and thrust value compared to immoderate of nan older cars.

Our Andy Kalmowitz drove nan modular CT4-V successful 2023. Even though Camissa drove nan superior Blackwing, he still shares immoderate of nan aforesaid criticisms we had. The steering, though quicker and much meticulous than nan older cars, has small consciousness and seems disconnected from nan beforehand wheels. While nan Cadillac's starting value of $64,195 including destination is comparable to what nan German athletics sedans costs caller backmost successful 2008, it's easy to spot wherever Cadillac saved immoderate money connected lesser interior materials and a deficiency of sound deadening.

However, nan biggest measurement successful which nan CT4-V falls short is that it, too, is lacking a growling V8 nether nan hood. Its twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6, making 472 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque, is simply a important betterment complete nan CT4-V's turbo 2.7-liter inline-4, but it's still 2 cylinders short of a V8. It suffers from turbo lag that doesn't beryllium successful a people aspirated V8. With nan correct tuning, turbo lag doesn't moreover request to beryllium successful a modern twin-turbo V6. It makes small sound connected nan extracurricular and artificial sounds connected nan inside. Camissa projected dropping nan guidelines 6.2-liter V8 from nan Corvette into nan CT4-V Blackwing to lick each these problems. That's a awesome idea, but improbable to happen, since the CT4 is going to beryllium discontinued adjacent year with nary planned replacement. As a result, nan modern Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing does not hit nan top German athletics sedans of 2008. If nan aforesaid car had a V8, it would apt rustle them away.

There's a full batch much accusation successful nan video, but that's nan basal gist. It's good worthy watching, particularly for Camissa's commentary, nan chaotic slides, and its classic Top Gear accumulation style. We tin place nan truth that nan M3, RS4, and C63 AMG are presently up for auction done Hagerty, and nan video is simply a cleverly disguised advertisement for them.