Marc UrbanoCar and Driver
Lap Time: 2:53.5
Class: LL3 | Base: $89,845 | As Tested: $104,595
Power and Weight: 503 hp • 3917 lb • 7.8 lb/hp
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, F: 275/35ZR-19 (100Y) ★ R: 285/30ZR-20 (99Y) ★
The BMW M3 Competition takes the win over the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing primarily because it can stay with the Cadillac in the lower-speed technical parts of the track and flex its 31-hp advantage on the straights and in the straight sections that lead to the Climbing Esses.
We also found the BMW’s all-wheel-drive system to be an advantage. Driving all four tires allows you to stoke the six’s 503-hp flame sooner than would be possible in the rear-drive Cadillac. Going into the Climbing Esses, the M3 arrives doing 134.1 mph (6.4 mph faster than the 4 Blackwing), creating a 0.1-second lead in that sector. It’s the same case in the track’s last corner heading into the long straight. The BMW can rocket onto the straight earlier and harder, picking up nearly a second.
Marc UrbanoCar and Driver
On the rest of the track, the CT4 and M3 are nearly too close to call, despite the M3’s wider front tires, which give it more grip in Turn 1—1.03 g’s versus 0.98. BMW also fits the M3 with near-racing seats that might be annoying to get into and out of but do hold you in place, letting you throw the car around without being thrown around yourself.
Sharper on turn-in than the Caddy, the BMW moves with slightly more confidence. The steering only whispers what the front tires are up to, while the Cadillac’s steering never stops crying “Hear ye, hear ye!” Call it a wash on braking feel and strength, and we’re back to power. BMW’s six delivers near supercar numbers, while the Cadillac musters sports-car speeds. Judged solely on times, the BMW is the winner.
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