Audi may have confirmed the new RS5 for the States, but Americans won't be able to sample the scorching hot high-performance coupe until sometime in 2012. But when there's a will, there's a way, so the crew from Motor Trend headed to Germany to compare the two newest entries in the sports coupe segment, the Audi RS5 and Cadillac CST-V Coupe, with BMW's 'old-timer', the M3 Coupe.
We won't spoil the video for you by telling you won, so follow the jump to check it out along with the performance details on all cars and then don't forget to take our poll on which sport coupe would you be more likely to buy.
The upcoming Audi RS5 tips the scales at 1,800kg (3,968 lbs) and packs a naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 cranking out -in Euro spec- 450HP at 8,250 rpm and 430Nm (317.15 lb-ft) between 4,000 and 6,000rpm.
It also features a rear-biased quattro all-wheel drive system that splits torque 40:60 under normal conditions and a new seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission. Audi says the coupe completes the standard 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 4.6 seconds.
The recently introduced Cadillac CTS-V Coupe weighs in at 1922kg (4,237 lbs - Automatic) and makes use of a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine rated -in U.S. spec- at 556HP at 6,100 rpm and 747Nm (551 lb.-ft.) at 3,800 rpm.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. According to GM, the CTS-V goes from 0 to 60mph (96km/h) in 3.9 seconds.
Finally, the oldest model in the comparison is the BMW M3 Coupe. It weighs in at 1,675kg (3,692 lbs - DKG transmission) and sports a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V8 delivering -in Euro spec- 420HP at 8,300rpm and 400Nm (295 lb-ft) at 3,900rpm.
Buyers can opt for either a 6-speed manual (0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds) or a 7-speed dual clutch transmission (0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds). The car tested here by Motor Trend's Editor in Chief Angus MacKenzie, was fitted with BMW's $2,500 optional Competition Package that includes wider offset 19-inch alloy wheels, lowered ride height and recalibrated Electronic Damper Control and Dynamic Stability Control settings.
[Link to test: Motortrend]
Which One Would You be More Likely to Buy?
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