It seems as if we’re going to be watching BMW M5 comparison videos for the next year or so straight. Every publication possible wants to get their hands on the new M5 to test it against its competition. Its main competition is the Mercedes-AMG E63 S, a car that we’ve seen the M5 take on numerous times now. But what about the others? Well, German publication Sport Auto recently got the BMW M5 together with the AMG E63, as well as the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E Hybrid and the Cadillac CTS-V.
In this video, all three cars race to 300 km/h (186 mph), although the only view we get is from each cars’ speedometer. So we don’t know how exactly accurate this race is. However, it’s probably accurate enough to get a basic idea of which cars are faster than which. And the results are a bit surprising, especially when you consider the specs of each car.
Both the BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG E63 S are very similar in terms of power and performance. The BMW M5 has a 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8 that makes 600 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. The AMG has a 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 that makes 603 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque, a nine-speed automatic and all-wheel drive.
The two outliers are the Porsche and the Cadillac. The Porsche Panamera Turbo S E is a plug-in hybrid that uses a 4.0 liter twin-turbocharged V8 paired with an electric motor, which both combine to make 680 hp and 626 lb-ft of torque. It also gets an eight-speed auto and all-wheel drive. While the Cadillac CTS-V uses a 6.2 liter supercharged V8 that makes 640 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque.
So two of these cars use very similar approaches, the BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG, while the other two are a bit odd in their approach. And you can immediately tell which is the best approach.
From the beginning of the race to the end, the BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG are consistently in the lead, with the two of them going back and forth between each other. The BMW M5 jumps to 100 km/h (62 mph) first but then as speeds start to reach 200 km/h and on, the AMG catches up and they start to go trade blows on their way to 300 km/h. Although, the AMG is the first one to reach that target speed by just a bit. It’s quite obvious, though, they’re both so evenly matched and probably closer than they ever have been before.
However, the Panamera stays in a pretty consistent third and the Cadillac, despite having the second most horsepower, most torque and lightest curb-weight, lags behind the entire way. So it seems that having a 4-something liter twin-turbo V8, traditional automatic gearbox and an all-wheel drive system with two-wheel drive mode is the right way to make a performance sedan. Porsche got a bit too cute trying to go hybrid and Cadillac just stuffed a supercharged Corvette engine under the hood, without giving it anymore thought than that. So the fact remains that if you want a super sedan, take your pick between the M5 and the E63. Both are superb and there really isn’t a wrong choice between those two.
