Flagship 2016 Cadillac CT6 is gunning for German luxury sedans

Cadillac is setting its sails to conquer the old world with its new flagship, the CT6.

Aimed squarely at the slow-selling BMW 7 Series, the CT6 is a little longer than the current range-topping XTS sedan and about 6-inches longer than the sporty, midsized CTS. In a press release, Cadillac indicated it sees a hole in the market for a large luxury car that truly feels sporty to drive. Sounds like BMW is being challenged to a duel.

To fill that niche, Cadillac has armed the CT6  with a new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that cranks out 400 hp and 400 lb.-ft. of torque. Buyers who don't feel the need to be on the front lines of the performance wars can opt for either a 265-hp single-turbo Four or a new 335-hp, non-turbo 3.6-liter V6. Both V6 powerplants come with all-wheel drive, while the four-cylinder drives the rear wheels. Cadillac did little to quash the rumors of a performance-oriented plug-in hybrid.

No matter how big or luxurious it is, a car isn't fun to drive unless it feels light on its feet. The CT6 (short for Cadillac Touring 6) strives for a fighting weight by using aluminum for doors, hood, trunk, and other elements. All told, Cadillac estimates the CT6 will come in under 3,700 pounds—about 700 pounds less than other large competitors and about 200 pounds less than the smaller CTS.

And it uses the latest state-of-the art suspension design, with short- and long arms up front and a five-link system in the rear. Buyers who want even more control can opt for the Active Chassis System, which consists of rear wheel steering and Magnetic Ride Control active dampers.

The CT6 keeps its sailors comfortable and well rested, with a quad-zone climate control system and an articulating rear seat that can recline up to 3.3 inches. Premium Opus leather front seats have five massage programs and woven-in seat heating elements. The Bose Panaray audio system's 34 speakers pump up the volume whether you're listening to Mozart or amplifying programming from either of the two rear seat entertainment screens.

A new iteration of Cadillac's CUE infotainment system uses a 10.2-inch touch screen with 1280x720 resolution that recognizes handwriting. Cadillac says the new system reacts and scrolls faster than the laggy old version. If you don't want to reach all the way to the screen, the CUE now has a new touchpad down on the center console where you can scribe to your heart's content.

Building a luxurious frigate with real sporting intent is difficult. And whether the CT6 lives up to that promise remains to be seen. But it carries impressive credentials.

The battle for sporting luxury supremacy begins next spring.

See our complete 2015 New York auto show coverage.

—Eric Evarts