Posted at 5:45 p.m.
Audi S4
Price: from $64,950
Audi’s S4 sells for roughly the same amount as the IS 500 F Sport. On the other hand, by opting for the German, the buyer will have 123 hp and 26 lb-ft less of torque under his right foot. Big deal ! And yet, the S4 achieves a comparable acceleration time, boasts a higher top speed, more fuel-efficient fuel consumption and its all-wheel drive allows you to enjoy driving in all seasons.
BMW M3
Price: from $86,800
PHOTO UWE FISCHER, SUPPLIED BY BMW
BMW M3
The M3 costs more, but also offers more. Much more. Faster, more twirling, more sophisticated, the M3 drives its rear wheels through a manual gearbox. A rarity these days. To get all-wheel drive and an automatic transmission, you have to pay some $10,000 for the “competition” version, by far the most popular in the lineup. From a dynamic point of view, the price difference is perfectly justified compared to the IS 500, but it can turn out to be less restrictive and exhausting to drive on a daily basis.
Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
Price: from $65,098
PHOTO DW BURNETT, SUPPLIED BY GENERAL MOTORS
Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
Like the Corvette, the CT4-V Blackwing is sometimes snubbed by some. Too bad for them. The CT4-V Blackwing is by far the best deal currently on the market. Its supercharged six-cylinder engine may lack nobility compared to an atmospheric V8, but it keeps its promises if not particularly sober. Much like the IS 500 F Sport, the Cadillac only drives its rear wheels, but offers the luxury of choosing between a manual or automatic transmission. Prefer the latter. It matches the power curve of the engine. For the rest, the Cadillac offers an even more refined chassis than that of the Lexus and, above all, a direction as telepathic as that of a Porsche.