German Car Zone

Cadillac's CTS-V Proved it Can Beat the BMW M5 but How About the New 510 Horsepower Jaguar XFR?


The last time we did this (Mirror, Mirror, July 2009) the American vanquished the mighty Bavarian with a brutal 1-2 combo of power and balance. But that was something of a hollow victory; merely a warm up bout between a surly young whippersnapper and an aging fighter past his prime. Sure, the BMW M5 once stood uncontested atop the luxury sports sedan field, but that was years ago. In the interim, fitter more ferocious combatants have stepped into the 'Ring.

Like the new challenger from Britain, the 2010 Jaguar XFR. Coventry's younger and more powerful bruiser outpoints the SMG equipped M5 in nearly every one of our instrumented tests. On numbers alone, the XFR is clearly a more formidable opponent to the Cadillac's CTS-V.

In physical and historical context, the new Jaguar also measures up better against the Cadillac. Both draw strength from large displacement V-8s enhanced by Roots type superchargers. Both send power rearward via six-speed automatics and stalk about on magnetic fluid-filled dampers. Both were mentored by some of the best corner men in the business, Jaguar chief engineer Mike Cross and former GM Performance Division director and test ace, John Heinricy. Most notably, both are struggling to wrest the luxury performance mantle from Germany and return glory to their storied, resurgent marques. But so far, only one has succeeded in dispatching a heavyweight German rival. Can Coventry's battle cat take the belt away from our American hero?


Full Story: Motor Trend - Comparison: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V vs. 2010 Jaguar XFR

Can anything stop the CTS-V? Looking forward to a comparo: E63 vs CTS-V.

Jag looks fabulous - especially compared to the Cadillac!! Nevertheless it isn't a bad car though.

When I look at what GM can do (Z06 and ZR-1 Corvette, GTO, Volt, CTS-V); I can't help but hinking that it's a huge waste of competence and engineering brilliance that has been lost because of incompetent leaders.

GM could've done so many great cars if the stupid CEOs had seen that pick-up trucks are not the best they can do...

CTS-V sucks bricks! The car looks horrible IMO. I have never liked that car no matter what engine is in it. IMO it really just a 3 series and C-class competitor. I know I know...it weights more and is bigger in some dimensions. I understand all that, but in my eyes it is still a baby caddy. Of course Cadillac is to busy being confused and not keeping the STS (5 SERIES competitor) and DTS (S-class competitor) alive.

I used to own a DTS and the car had a Bus load of issues. I would personally rather see the new Lincoln MKS compared to Jaguar then that CTS Crap. I had a town car as well and it was so much better then the Caddy.

Love the Jaguar here, it and the E63 AMG are the cars for me in this segment right now.

M

Weird-looking Xf-R is comfortable but slow! Can't wait to see the Cts-V nose-to-nose with the next M5!

The XFR is anything but slow. For the Cadillac to be much lighter and have a lot more power it is barely ahead in the video.

M

Yup... that wasn't exactly a huge victory by CTS-V.

For a car that costs about 20K less, I'd say that is a pretty good victory. Of course, I'd still take the Jag over that Cadillac any day. I saw a XF the other day, and not sure what it was but it had a "Supercharged" badge on the back.