Flagship super sedans get a lot of press and rightfully so. The CT5-V Blackwing is maybe the greatest internal combustion sedan ever built in America. The Mercedes-AMG E 63 S is a masterpiece of engineering too but what about the cars that slot below them in the lineup? In this drag race, the CLA 35 AMG takes on the CT4-V in a battle of compact executive sports sedans.
For a little context let’s talk about what kind of weaponry these cars are battling with. The 2022 Cadillac CT4-V features a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 320 hp (238 kW) and 380 lb-ft (514 Nm) of torque. It sends that power to all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic gearbox and tips the scales at 3,616 pounds (1,640 Kg).
The CLA 35 AMG weighs 3,500 pounds (1,587 Kg) but it has less power to work with at the same time. Its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is factory rated at 297 hp and 295 lb-ft (399 Nm) of torque. Just like the Caddy, it has all-wheel drive. Unlike the Caddy, it uses a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and that proves very important.
Read Also: This Is Our Best Look Yet At The 2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing Track Edition
From a standing start, these cars are basically going to win races based on a coin flip. From the moment they leave the line to the moment they cross the finish, they’re about as close as it could get and the Mercedes just barely wins by a nose at the end. When you race them from a roll the results are dramatically different though.
When launching from a 31 mph (50 kph) roll, the Cadillac simply has no problem just running away from the Mercedes. Unlike the straight-up drag race, the CLA 35 AMG never even seems like it could reel in the CT4-V no matter how long the runway might be.
Turn the starting speed up to 62 mph (100 kph) and the complete opposite is true. This time, the Mercedes is the one that leaves the American in its dust, and frankly, it’s the biggest margin of victory in the trio of races. Despite being very close on paper, how these cars are raced will make all the difference in the real world.