With the 2016 CTS-V making its way all over the internet, it’s only natural that those rooting for its rivals will have something negative to say about the most powerful Cadillac ever made. Allpar, the all-Mopar based website, recently published an article comparing the fresh ‘V to their newly-haloed SRT Hellcat Charger. While they didn’t fabricate any of the noted specifications of the ‘V in the article, they were seemingly spiteful in their assertions.
Although we could see this coming even before anything was official on the new Caddy, the assertions that were published forced us to comment on them. Call us biased or maybe just realistic, we can’t let the haters take cheap shots at the real king of musclecar sedans – the CTS-V. So let’s take a closer look at some of the comments that were published in the Allpar article.
“Cadillac says the new engine has more horsepower and torque than the twin-turbo Mercedes-Benz 5.5L V-8 and BMW’s twin-turbo M-series 4.4L V-8. But nowhere in the announcement does it mention the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. One wonders why GM made such an omission?”
Maybe because the one-trick pony Charger isn’t even on the radar of the Cadillac brass? As other cars from GM have proven, such as the 1LE, ZL1 and Z/28 Camaro, horsepower isn’t everything. GM offers vehicles that are perfectly-balanced and deliver all-around performance in one package – not cars than can only go fast in a straight-line. Besides, a Cadillac and a Dodge aren’t typically marketed to the same sort of demography.
The 2015 SRT Hellcat Charger is one bad mofo – no doubt! But if you’re going to compare it to a 2016 CTS-V, make sure you’re thinking clearly. Image: Motor Trend
“Perhaps it’s the Charger SRT Hellcat’s 707 horsepower, 650 lb-ft of torque, 2.9-second 0-60 time (3.7 seconds on street radials) and top speed of 204. All in a package that is heavier, has more comfortable front seats and more rear seat room than the Cadillac CTS.”
So as a result of the Charger’s extra girth, your Hellcat’s additional 67 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over the LT4 actually puts you dead-even in a 0-60 sprint as the CTS-V (also on street radials) and a supposed 3 mph higher top speed (204 vs. 201)? Not exactly something worth bragging about, but we digress.
“And, considering that a base 2015 CTS-V starts at about the same price as the Charger SRT Hellcat, it’s reasonable to assume this new, hotter CTS-V is going to carry a hefty premium price tag, as well.”
Wait… people are actually paying Cadillac money for a Dodge? Yikes.
“Yes, the CTS-V does have some bells and whistles not available on the Charger SRT Hellcat, but a buyer who wants the car for more than show is looking for power, not plush.”
Huh? So you’re paying $70k just for the Hellcat’s 707 hp alone, and not the total package? We’re pretty sure that it makes more sense to shell out the same amount of cash for the ‘V, then literally throw on three bolt-ons that would make Hellcat’s 707 hp look weak – and have the Cadillac’s prestige, luxury, and and significance to boot, too. Besides, it’s hard to justify to somebody that you paid $70k for a Dodge sedan when you could have had a Cadillac for the same dough.
“Those who want to show the money are going to go for the Mercedes or Bimmer, anyway.”
Not necessarily. The twin-turbo BMW M5 has an MSRP of $109,000, while the E63 AMG has an MSRP of $103,000. Spend time in an area that has more cash flowing through it than anything else, and the typical well-off enthusiast will still be rolling in a $70k CTS-V to a German tuner 3 to 1.
“It’s said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but, sincere or not, GM’s copy just doesn’t match the original.”
I’m sorry, what? The first CTS-V hit the streets in 2004, the SRT8 in 2006 (a car that had its hands full even with the GTO). The 6.2L supercharged version of the ‘V was released in 2009 – Chrysler’s “direct answer” to this car happened six model years after the fact. So who copied who?
To be clear, we have great appreciation and much respect for the HEMI-powered Charger and Challenger, and the 707 hp surcharged Hellcat versions are two cars that deserve high-praise and accolades from musclecar fans the world over. Having said that, one needs to keep things here on planet Earth if you’re going to make a comparison between two vehicles.
Rick Seitz is the owner and founder of GMEFI Magazine, and has a true love and passion for all vehicles. When he isn’t tuning, testing, or competing with the brand’s current crop of project vehicles, he’s busy tinkering and planning the next modifications for his own cars.
