Although we tend to associate the sports sedan with Germany, it was actually the U.S. auto industry that was the first one to flirt with the idea of stuffing a lot of performance underneath the hood of a sensible, every person’s sedan. As far back as the 1950s, the Studebaker Champion would emphasize weight reduction over all-out power for improved performance, while the Chrysler 300 Series worked the other way around by cramming the largest, most powerful V8 engines underneath its hood. In many ways, it’s the American performance sedan and coupe market that gave birth to the entire muscle car genre of the 1960s.

It goes even further than that. Bob Lutz, a well-known American automotive executive and visionnaire, took inspiration from past, powerful American sedans to help develop the entire M division at BMW. It was this ethos of blending performance with an everyday sedan that spearheaded the entire 3 Series project, an ethos that still sticks to the car to this day.

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But although America was a pioneer in the sports sedan segment, it has taken a back seat to the dominating German big three. All the great, American performance sedans are now gone, at least the gasoline-powered ones are. While the all-electric Dodge Charger is also available with four doors, the only, true, American sports sedan left is the lovely Cadillac CT5, a car I’m living with this week and that has me a bit saddened by what this segment has been reduced to.

America Versus The World

As long as there are automotive enthusiasts on this planet, the sports sedan will continue to exist. And as long as GM gives its engineers the freedom to create, there will be wonderful sedans built under one of its brands.

The only real question for carmakers is not if the sports sedan matters, but if it’s actually worth investing so many resources in a car that only sells marginally. Thankfully, the main players in this space still believe in the concept of these cars. The BMW 3 Series, while not selling like it once was, remains a healthy contender in that space, one that still holds the crown for being the benchmark in the category.

Mercedes-Benz recently introduced an all-new C-Class that’s also very good, and while the A4 is now a thing of the past, Audi has consolidated it with the new A5, creating a solid, curve-devouring sports sedan in the process. Oh, and lest we forget the Genesis G70, an underdog sports sedan from South Korea that will hold its own against these cars in a track battle.

And then, there’s the Cadillac CT5, a model most enthusiasts don’t necessarily flock to when thinking about these cars, but that’s honestly just as and, in some cases, better than its German opposition. Even in its most basic, 350T version, the CT5 is a well-buttoned down, rock-solid, and playful piece of machinery.

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It loves to wag its tale on throttle the moment you remove its traction control system, and while its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine may sound a little harsh at times, it puts down ample horsepower and torque to get this beautifully styled sedan moving with haste.

Climb the ladder in the CT5 hierarchy, and the CT5-V will take the fight to the BMW M340i, Audi S4, and Mercedes-AMG C53. Powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, it cranks out a healthy 360 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque, allowing it to sprint to 60 MPH from a standstill in under five seconds. Sure, it’s a tad slower than the German equivalent, but its chassis and suspension calibration are arguably better sorted out, making it a worthy American athlete in this all-European race.

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Finally, the top dog, the almighty CT5-V Blackwing, a Go-America powerhouse that’s here to take on the full-fat BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C63. Except, the Cadillac goes about its business in a more juvenile manner. There’s no all-wheel drive to improve traction during launch, and the only transmission offered is a six-speed manual, something the Germans gave up on a long time ago.

The Blackwing is also considerably more powerful thanks to its jaw-dropping 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft of torque from a 6.2-liter, supercharged V8 built right here in the US of A. Other American carmakers may have abandoned the sports sedan a long time ago, but Cadillac is still at it and it’s coming out swinging.

What’s Next For The CT5?

But with GM – Cadillac especially – now focusing more than ever on electric vehicles (EVs), it’s not clear what the CT5’s destiny really is. Sure, it’s not the carmaker’s bread and butter right now, but Cadillac did manage to sell more CT5s last year in the U.S. than Genesis sold G70s. So there’s still somewhat of a market for it. I also know, for a fact, after speaking with the Cadillac V division’s lead engineer Alex MacDonald, that performance is still very much a priority at GM. Its engineers want a car like the CT5-V Blackwing.

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But another gasoline-powered CT5? One that drinks premium fuel for breakfast and angrily barks American V8 decibels through its quad exhaust pipes? Doubtful. This is most probably the last-ever gasoline-powered American sports sedan we’re ever going to get. After that, the CT5 will most likely become an all-electric sedan, poised (I hope) to take on solid contenders like the

BMW i4
and the

Mercedes-Benz EQE
. And I’m sure Cadillac will do well in that space. But for now, we owe the CT5 a round of applause for keeping the American sports sedan torch well-lit in these rapidly changing times.