How America’s top luxury sedans stack up against each other
A rivalry for the ages Cadillac and Lincoln have been arch competitors in the American luxury car market since the latter was founded in 1917. It’s a natural rivalry made all the more intense because both brands were created by the same man – Henry Leland. That fierce competition continues today with both brands introducing all-new top-of-the-line luxury sedans in the past year – the Cadillac CT6 and the Lincoln Continental. We take a look at how they compare. ▲
A new flagship for the line The Cadillac CT6 was a brand-new nameplate for the brand in 2016, sitting atop the previous sedan flagship, the front-wheel-drive XTS, which remains in production. The CT6 is 50-mm longer and a tad roomier than the XTS and sits on GM’s all-new Omega rear-wheel-drive architecture, with available AWD. ▲
Return of the flagship to the line Reviving the nameplate that has been the off-and-on flagship for the brand since 1940, the latest, tenth-generation Lincoln Continental was an all-new addition to the lineup in 2017. While it is based on Ford’s venerable CD4 FWD platform, which underpinned the Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKZ, it is lengthened and substantially revised from that iteration and is available in Canada only in AWD form. ▲
Cadillac style The CT6 is the epitome of Cadillac’s current styling idiom, highlighted by sharp creases, vertically-oriented lighting at both ends, and the brand’s traditional grille. At 5.2 metres long, it’s a big car – about 75 mm (3 inches) longer than the Continental – although, thanks to advanced material and construction techniques, it’s lighter than most of its major competitors, including the Lincoln. ▲
Continental style When it first appeared in concept car form, the new Continental’s appearance evoked more comparison with modern Bentleys than ancestral Lincolns. Which is no bad thing. It’s a handsome car, if more traditional in contour than the Cadillac, with a host of classic Lincoln references in the details – like the repeated pattern of the brand’s badge in the grille texture and within the headlights. ▲
Standard CT6 power Although a four-cylinder engine is not new to the brand, it is definitely a break from Cadillac tradition. But the standard powerplant in the base-level rear-wheel-drive CT6 ($62,255) is just that – a direct-injected, 2.0-litre Turbo four-cylinder, rated at 265 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. As is the case for all CT6 powerplants, it’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. ▲
Standard Continental power The standard engine in the Continental (Select $57,150) is a 2.7-litre, twin-turbo V-6 rated at 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. All models feature a six-speed automatic transmission, as well as an ‘automatic on-demand’ all-wheel-drive system that drives just the front wheels most of the time but engages the rears when the need for additional traction is sensed. ▲
Alternative Cadillac Powertrains Two alternative engines are available for the CT6, starting with a 3.6-litre V-6 featuring direct injection, dual overhead camshafts with variable valve timing (VVT), plus fuel-conserving automatic stop/start technology. This engine’s output is rated at 335 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque. The powerhouse in the CT6 engine lineup is a twin-turbo, direct-injected 3.0-litre V-6 with dual overhead camshafts and VVT. It’s rated at 404 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque and also incorporates the automatic stop/start feature. All-wheel drive is included with both of these powertrains. ▲
Plug-In Hybrid Powertrain The CT6 is also offered with an advanced plug-in hybrid powertrain ($86,770) that delivers up to 643 kilometres of total driving range. The powertrain, consisting of a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder combined with a rear-wheel drive two-motor electric variable transmission, produces an estimated total system output of 335 hp and 432 lb-ft of torque. Each electric motor produces 100 hp (74.5 kW) of power. The hybrid powertrain’s combined total output can launch the CT6 to 96 km/h in 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 241 km/h, while on electric power alone, it can reach a top speed of 125 km/h. In electric mode, the range for the CT6 Plug-In is up to 48 kilometres, which makes it ideal for most daily commutes, while combing engine and battery output maximizes fuel efficiency at higher speeds. The CT6 Plug-In Hybrid’s pricing and equipment are comparable to the Premium Luxury model and include such features as a rear seat infotainment system, Enhanced Night Vision and rear camera mirror as standard equipment. ▲
Alternative Continental Powertrain Lincoln offers one optional engine upgrade ($3,000) and it’s only offered on the Reserve model ($60,650.) It’s a 3.0-litre twin-turbo that pumps out 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. In addition to its intelligent all-wheel drive system, this powertrain also includes as standard equipment dynamic torque vectoring, which transfers torque on demand to the appropriate rear wheel during cornering, enhancing handling. ▲
Cadillac Interior Features The luxuriously appointed cabin of the CT6 is spacious, with 1,026 millimetres of rear-seat legroom and segment-best interior storage that includes a 2.2-litre centre console storage area. The CT6 is offered in four trim levels – the base model, Luxury, Premium Luxury and Platinum. A 10.2-inch Cadillac CUE interface screen with HD resolution, controlled by a console-mounted touchpad, dominates the instrument panel, while an available 34-speaker Bose Panaray audio system delivers realistic sound reproduction. The available Quadzone climate system allows passengers to personalize temperature and airflow for each seating position, while a rear seat package for Luxury and Premium Luxury models includes two 10-inch retractable screens, with Blu-Ray playback and HDMI and USB connectivity. The Platinum-exclusive rear seats offer about 84 mm of adjustable seat travel, plus lumbar adjustment, tilting cushions, massage feature, heating/cooling features and media controls. ▲
Continental Interior Features Lincoln says the interior of its Continental is designed to provide a serene experience for its occupants – physically comforting, visually soothing and peacefully quiet. Luxurious appointments include supple leather seat trimmings, leather-wrapped console and instrument panel, unique stitching, and genuine wood and aluminum throughout the cabin. Seat stitching is specified at six to seven stitches per inch, creating a couture-like appearance. The seating is especially worth noting – the new Perfect Position Seats, which remind one of the comfort and luxury common in a private jet – can be adjusted up to 30 ways to suit individual body shapes and weights. For example, the thigh cushions can be extended and adjusted independently, allowing one leg to remain at rest while the other engages the pedals, while available massage feature helps reduce muscle fatigue in the upper legs and lower back. Rear passengers are pampered with such available features as audio and climate control, adjustable sunshades, and reclining, heated, cooled and massaging seats. The streamlined interior provides generous rear legroom. A 19-speaker Revel Ultima audio system has been developed to work in concert with the car’s interior design and acoustics. ▲
Cadillac CT6 Fuel Efficiency Here are the fuel consumption ratings for the CT6 powertrain lineup. The efficiency rating of base 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder (with rear-wheel-drive only) is 11.0 litres/100 km in the city, 7.8 on the highway and 9.5 combined, using premium-grade fuel. The 3.0-litre twin-turbo V-6 AWD consumes 13.0 litres/100 km during city driving, 9.1 on the highway and 11.2 combined, also using premium fuel. The 3.6-litre V-6 AWD consumes regular-grade fuel at the rate of 13.0 litres/100 km in city usage, 8.9 on the highway and 11.1 combined. The Plug-In Hybrid has a fuel efficiency of 3.6Le/100km.– (Le/100km, or litre equivalence per 100 km, compares the energy consumption of electric and hybrid vehicles with the fuel consumption of conventional internal combustion vehicles in litres /100 km – while its gasoline-powered 2.0-litre four-cylinder alone consumes premium-grade fuel at the rate of 10.2 L/100 km in the city, 8.1 on the highway and 9.2 combined. ▲
Continental Fuel Efficiency The Lincoln Continental’s base 2.7-litre twin-turbo V-6 powertrain, with its six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, is rated at 14.0 litres/100 km in city driving, 9.5 on the highway and 12.0 combined. The 3.0-litre twin-turbo V-6, also mated to a six-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, has a consumption rating of 14.4 litres/100 km in city usage, 9.7 on the highway and 12.3 combined. ▲
Keyword: Cadillac CT6 vs. Lincoln Continental