One of Cadillac’s main rivals in the luxury vehicle space, Audi, recently unveiled the next-generation Audi RS 5 with a V6 twin-turbo hybrid powertrain capable of producing 630 horsepower, which can take the new sedan from a standstill to 60 miles per hour in just 3.6 seconds. That’s even more impressive when you consider the fact that it weighs almost 5,200 pounds.
For reference, a manual transmission-equipped Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is nearly 1,100 pounds lighter than the new RS 5 and produces more power and torque, but the 0-60 time remains the same.
Additionally, the new RS 5 is a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) that can travel up to 52 miles without consuming a drop of fuel. It also features the industry’s first electromechanical torque vectoring rear differential and is available as a wagon – although with the Audi, this body configuration likely won’t make it to the United States. Luckily, wagon lovers looking for a new Audi can still find solace in the V8-powered RS 6. Unfortunately Cadillac fanatics can’t say the same.
As for the “regular” RS 5 Sportback model, it looks great, sounds great on paper, and is praised for its impressive performance in almost every first drive review. It seems that Audi was able to achieve success by sticking to the natural evolution of doing what it does best, while developing an innovative all-wheel drive system and striking a balance between thrill and usability.
“The RS 5 and its innovative drive concept mark the start of a new era for our RS models,” said Rolf Michl, Managing Director of Audi Sport. “They bring a new level of dynamics to the driving characteristics that our customers love and further increase the value in everyday use thanks to the all-electric drivetrain.”
Michl’s words echo the brand’s ethos, which is instantly recognizable in the new RS 5. If you ask us, this is a lesson Cadillac could and should apply to the second-gen CT5 (except for the whole ‘no wagon for the US’ part).
What do we mean by this? For starters, Audi’s seamless integration of multiple large screens is certainly worth noting. However, more importantly, if Audi brings us the RS 5, then there’s definitely a second-generation Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing that can compete with it. Additionally, Cadillac should also stick to its roots, and offer customers a luxury sedan with Corvette-like capabilities, including a small-block V8 engine and manual transmission, to boot. The wagon variant will take us to the moon.
