US$150,000 Porsche Panamera Turbo vs the US$86,000 Cadillac CTS-V: how do they compare?
Read on for a comparison between perhaps the greatest sedan in existence and the extreme value proposition
This article was originally written by Matthew DeBord for Business Insider.
The Porsche Panamera is an incredible machine – so incredible that we named it Business Insider's 2017 Car of the Year.
The Panamera in Turbo trim is monumental: There is a stonking twin-turbocharged, 4-litre V8 under the bonnet, cranking out 550 horsepower. But behind that motor is a cabin of unparalleled luxury.
For those who want it all, the Panamera Turbo does not disappoint. But it will cost more than US$150,000. One does not get to be a Porsche owner without doing some damage to the bank account.
That is a rich sticker, but for about half the price you can get your hands on even more power. It won't be German power – it will be Detroit oomph. And it will have a Cadillac badge.
The CTS-V is probably my favourite high-performance four-door on Earth. If you like the Corvette Z06 and its 6.2-litre, 650-hp V8 widow-maker, the CTS-V has the same power plant, just tuned down by 10 horses, to 640. You would be hard-pressed to notice the drop in power. In both the Caddy and Vette, you are getting extreme performance at a cost that is difficult to overlook.
Let us call this comparison a showdown between perhaps the greatest sedan in existence and the extreme value proposition. Read on to see who wins.
The CTS-V in “Red Obsession”. I enjoyed the vehicle immensely. Our test car cost over US$90,000 and was very well-optioned. The base cost of the CTS-V is about US$86,000.
The “V” cars are Caddy's answer to high-performance versions of European sports sedans: BMW’s M Sports, Mercedes-AMGs and the Audi RS. And, of course, dedicated high-end rides such as the Panamera.