This, readers, is the first-ever Cadillac CT6 V-Sport.

Essentially, it’s the brand’s big luxury barge (which we liked), but fitted with a brand-new engine – a 4.2-litre, twin-turbo V8 of the kind that Cadillac has never produced before.

In fact, this new engine is quite clever. The turbos sit inside the space created by the V-shape – like the AMG GT’s V8 – for less turbo lag and better packaging. It produces 550 bhp and 627 lb-ft of torque, which is no joke – even in a massive saloon car.

Also, it’s got a “Track Mode”. This optimises the performance with Magnetic Ride Control damper control, re-mapped steering efforts for sportier and dynamic feedback, track-focused stability controls, and track focused active exhaust valve calibration, giving you the most out of that V8 noise.

Inside, the CT6 V-Sport has been advanced to include a new rotating controller and buttons. The controller handles scrolling, oversees commands like volume and audio track selection, the buttons take you directly to menu pages like home, phone, and navigation. Other upgrades are fast responses and voice recognition, and what Cadillac says is an “intuitive” interface.

From the outside, you’ll be able to spot the new mesh grille, horizontal LED lights, and 20-inch V-Sport wheels.

In terms of the larger picture, with the CT6 V-Sport, Cadillac is taking the fight to the likes of Mercedes and BMW. It’s a range-topping super saloon that sits somewhere in between the E-Class and S-Class in terms of size.

The question is: Would you have this Caddy over the AMG E63 S or BMW M5?