·4/27/2026
from
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing vs. BMW M5 CS / Audi RS7 Performance / AMG C63 S E
America's 668hp Supersedan Takes on Europe's Finest: Full Stats & Track Breakdown
🔥 The American Thunderbolt Has Entered the Room
When Cadillac dropped the CT5-V Blackwing, the European crowd barely blinked. A supercharged American V8 in a Cadillac sedan — going up against the legendary BMW M5 CS, the grand-touring bulldozer Audi RS7, and the sacred AMG C63?
668 horsepower. Rear-wheel drive. A row-your-own 6-speed manual. $91,000.
Nobody's smirking anymore. Let's dig in.
🏎️ Meet the Contenders
🇺🇸 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing (2022–Present)
Spec Detail
Engine 6.2L Supercharged LT4 V8
Power **668 hp** @ 6,400 rpm
Torque **659 lb-ft (893 Nm)** @ 3,600 rpm
Transmission 6-speed Manual / 10-speed Auto
Drive **RWD**
0–60 mph 3.7 sec (manual) / **3.4 sec (auto)**
Quarter Mile ~11.5 sec @ ~127 mph
Top Speed **200 mph (322 km/h)**
Curb Weight ~4,240 lbs / **1,923 kg**
Power-to-Weight ~6.3 lbs/hp
Brakes Brembo 6-piston front / 4-piston rear
Suspension Magnetic Ride Control 4.0
Base Price **~$91,000 USD**
🇩🇪 BMW M5 CS (F90, 2022)
Spec Detail
Engine 4.4L Twin-Turbo S63 V8
Power **627 hp** @ 6,000 rpm
Torque **553 lb-ft (750 Nm)** @ 3,700–5,950 rpm
Transmission 8-speed M Steptronic Auto
Drive AWD (M xDrive, RWD-selectable)
0–60 mph **2.9 sec**
Top Speed 190 mph (305 km/h)
Curb Weight ~4,025 lbs / **1,825 kg** *(lightest M5 ever built)*
Power-to-Weight ~6.4 lbs/hp
Brakes CCMR Carbon Ceramic (standard)
Base Price **~$142,000+ USD**
🇩🇪 Audi RS7 Sportback Performance (C8, 2023–Present)
Spec Detail
Engine 4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 (mild hybrid)
Power **630 hp** @ 6,000–6,500 rpm
Torque **627 lb-ft (850 Nm)** @ 2,300–4,500 rpm
Transmission 8-speed Torque Converter Auto
Drive AWD (quattro permanent)
0–60 mph ~3.5 sec (w/ launch control)
Top Speed 190 mph (305 km/h) w/ Dynamic Plus
Curb Weight ~4,564 lbs / **2,070 kg**
Power-to-Weight ~7.2 lbs/hp
Base Price **~$140,000+ USD**
🇩🇪 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance (W206, 2023–Present)
Spec Detail
Engine 2.0L Turbo Inline-4 + Electric Rear Axle Motor
Combined Power **671 hp**
Combined Torque **752 lb-ft (1,020 Nm)**
Transmission 9-speed Auto
Drive AWD (AMG Performance 4MATIC+)
0–60 mph 3.4 sec
Top Speed 174 mph (280 km/h)
Curb Weight ~4,255 lbs / **1,930 kg**
Power-to-Weight ~6.3 lbs/hp
Base Price **~$80,000+ USD**
📊 Side-by-Side Comparison
🇺🇸 CT5-V Blackwing 🇩🇪 BMW M5 CS 🇩🇪 Audi RS7 Perf. 🇩🇪 AMG C63 S E
**Power** **668 hp** 627 hp 630 hp 671 hp
**Torque** 893 Nm 750 Nm 850 Nm **1,020 Nm**
**0–60 mph** 3.4 s **2.9 s** 3.5 s 3.4 s
**Top Speed** **200 mph** 190 mph 190 mph 174 mph
**Curb Weight** 1,923 kg **1,775 kg** 2,070 kg 1,930 kg
**Drive Layout** **RWD** AWD AWD AWD
**Engine Config** SC V8 TT V8 TT V8 Hybrid I4 😬
**Manual Option** **✅ 6MT** ❌ ❌ ❌
Car and Driver Lightning Lap — Virginia International Raceway (VIR Grand Course West, 4.1 mi)
One of the most consistent and rigorous repeat-methodology track tests in automotive journalism.
Car Lightning Lap Time Class
BMW M5 CS **~2:44–2:45** LL3
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing ~2:47–2:48 LL3
Audi RS7 Sportback ~2:51 LL3
Mercedes-AMG C63 (V8 era, W205) ~2:50 LL2/LL3
🏆 Motor Trend Best Driver's Car 2022
Motor Trend's multi-circuit, multi-discipline evaluation spanning road courses, canyons, and high-speed runs — the Blackwing swept the competition against a stacked field including the Porsche 911 GT3, BMW M3/M4 Competition, Chevrolet Corvette C8, and others.
That's not a small-market award. That's the car beating the Porsche 911 GT3.
⚖️ Final Verdict by Category
Category Winner
🚀 Raw Acceleration (0–60) **BMW M5 CS** (AWD launch advantage)
🏁 Track Laptime (VIR) **BMW M5 CS**
🔝 Top Speed **CT5-V Blackwing** (200 mph)
🔄 Driver Dynamics & Balance **CT5-V Blackwing** (RWD purity)
🎮 Driver Engagement **CT5-V Blackwing** (only one with a manual!)
🛋️ Grand Touring Refinement **Audi RS7 Performance**
⚡ Torque **AMG C63 S E Performance** (1,020 Nm)
💰 Value for Performance **CT5-V Blackwing** (668hp for ~$91K)
❤️ Soul & Character **CT5-V Blackwing** 🔥
Winner: Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
**Base Price** **~$91K** ~$142K ~$140K ~$80K
So, which one would you take home?
🇺🇸 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing — The last of the analog V8 muscle sedans, a true driver's car
🇩🇪 BMW M5 CS — The ultimate precision instrument, the fastest of the bunch
🇩🇪 Audi RS7 Performance — The effortless grand tourer that does everything brilliantly
🇩🇪 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E — Love it or hate it, 1,020 Nm of torque is hard to argue with
Drop your pick in the comments — and tell us why 👇
🔥 The American Thunderbolt Has Entered the Room
When Cadillac dropped the CT5-V Blackwing, the European crowd barely blinked. A supercharged American V8 in a Cadillac sedan — going up against the legendary BMW M5 CS, the grand-touring bulldozer Audi RS7, and the sacred AMG C63?
668 horsepower. Rear-wheel drive. A row-your-own 6-speed manual. $91,000.
Nobody's smirking anymore. Let's dig in.
🏎️ Meet the Contenders
🇺🇸 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing (2022–Present)
Spec Detail
Engine 6.2L Supercharged LT4 V8
Power **668 hp** @ 6,400 rpm
Torque **659 lb-ft (893 Nm)** @ 3,600 rpm
Transmission 6-speed Manual / 10-speed Auto
Drive **RWD**
0–60 mph 3.7 sec (manual) / **3.4 sec (auto)**
Quarter Mile ~11.5 sec @ ~127 mph
Top Speed **200 mph (322 km/h)**
Curb Weight ~4,240 lbs / **1,923 kg**
Power-to-Weight ~6.3 lbs/hp
Brakes Brembo 6-piston front / 4-piston rear
Suspension Magnetic Ride Control 4.0
Base Price **~$91,000 USD**
🇩🇪 BMW M5 CS (F90, 2022)
Spec Detail
Engine 4.4L Twin-Turbo S63 V8
Power **627 hp** @ 6,000 rpm
Torque **553 lb-ft (750 Nm)** @ 3,700–5,950 rpm
Transmission 8-speed M Steptronic Auto
Drive AWD (M xDrive, RWD-selectable)
0–60 mph **2.9 sec**
Top Speed 190 mph (305 km/h)
Curb Weight ~4,025 lbs / **1,825 kg** *(lightest M5 ever built)*
Power-to-Weight ~6.4 lbs/hp
Brakes CCMR Carbon Ceramic (standard)
Base Price **~$142,000+ USD**
🇩🇪 Audi RS7 Sportback Performance (C8, 2023–Present)
Spec Detail
Engine 4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 (mild hybrid)
Power **630 hp** @ 6,000–6,500 rpm
Torque **627 lb-ft (850 Nm)** @ 2,300–4,500 rpm
Transmission 8-speed Torque Converter Auto
Drive AWD (quattro permanent)
0–60 mph ~3.5 sec (w/ launch control)
Top Speed 190 mph (305 km/h) w/ Dynamic Plus
Curb Weight ~4,564 lbs / **2,070 kg**
Power-to-Weight ~7.2 lbs/hp
Base Price **~$140,000+ USD**
🇩🇪 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance (W206, 2023–Present)
Spec Detail
Engine 2.0L Turbo Inline-4 + Electric Rear Axle Motor
Combined Power **671 hp**
Combined Torque **752 lb-ft (1,020 Nm)**
Transmission 9-speed Auto
Drive AWD (AMG Performance 4MATIC+)
0–60 mph 3.4 sec
Top Speed 174 mph (280 km/h)
Curb Weight ~4,255 lbs / **1,930 kg**
Power-to-Weight ~6.3 lbs/hp
Base Price **~$80,000+ USD**
📊 Side-by-Side Comparison
🇺🇸 CT5-V Blackwing 🇩🇪 BMW M5 CS 🇩🇪 Audi RS7 Perf. 🇩🇪 AMG C63 S E
**Power** **668 hp** 627 hp 630 hp 671 hp
**Torque** 893 Nm 750 Nm 850 Nm **1,020 Nm**
**0–60 mph** 3.4 s **2.9 s** 3.5 s 3.4 s
**Top Speed** **200 mph** 190 mph 190 mph 174 mph
**Curb Weight** 1,923 kg **1,775 kg** 2,070 kg 1,930 kg
**Drive Layout** **RWD** AWD AWD AWD
**Engine Config** SC V8 TT V8 TT V8 Hybrid I4 😬
**Manual Option** **✅ 6MT** ❌ ❌ ❌
Car and Driver Lightning Lap — Virginia International Raceway (VIR Grand Course West, 4.1 mi)
One of the most consistent and rigorous repeat-methodology track tests in automotive journalism.
Car Lightning Lap Time Class
BMW M5 CS **~2:44–2:45** LL3
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing ~2:47–2:48 LL3
Audi RS7 Sportback ~2:51 LL3
Mercedes-AMG C63 (V8 era, W205) ~2:50 LL2/LL3
🏆 Motor Trend Best Driver's Car 2022
Motor Trend's multi-circuit, multi-discipline evaluation spanning road courses, canyons, and high-speed runs — the Blackwing swept the competition against a stacked field including the Porsche 911 GT3, BMW M3/M4 Competition, Chevrolet Corvette C8, and others.
That's not a small-market award. That's the car beating the Porsche 911 GT3.
⚖️ Final Verdict by Category
Category Winner
🚀 Raw Acceleration (0–60) **BMW M5 CS** (AWD launch advantage)
🏁 Track Laptime (VIR) **BMW M5 CS**
🔝 Top Speed **CT5-V Blackwing** (200 mph)
🔄 Driver Dynamics & Balance **CT5-V Blackwing** (RWD purity)
🎮 Driver Engagement **CT5-V Blackwing** (only one with a manual!)
🛋️ Grand Touring Refinement **Audi RS7 Performance**
⚡ Torque **AMG C63 S E Performance** (1,020 Nm)
💰 Value for Performance **CT5-V Blackwing** (668hp for ~$91K)
❤️ Soul & Character **CT5-V Blackwing** 🔥
Winner: Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
**Base Price** **~$91K** ~$142K ~$140K ~$80K
So, which one would you take home?
🇺🇸 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing — The last of the analog V8 muscle sedans, a true driver's car
🇩🇪 BMW M5 CS — The ultimate precision instrument, the fastest of the bunch
🇩🇪 Audi RS7 Performance — The effortless grand tourer that does everything brilliantly
🇩🇪 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E — Love it or hate it, 1,020 Nm of torque is hard to argue with
Drop your pick in the comments — and tell us why 👇