IT'S U-TURN DRAGS TIME - STARRING CADILLAC'S CT5-V BLACKWING VS HYUNDAI'S IONIQ 5N - ICE VS EV.
At SXdrv, we’re all about discovering the coolest and most innovative things in the automotive world, which is why we’re big fans of the Edmunds Cars channel on YouTube. Unlike most car review outlets that focus on straight-up timed tests or simple head-to-head drag races, the team at Edmunds Cars takes a refreshingly different approach to car testing. Typically, you’ll see reviewers either run a single car through a timed course or pit two market rivals against each other on a strip or track, often limited to quarter-mile runs due to the complexities and costs of full track tests. While these methods are great for evaluating acceleration, traction, and some onboard tech, they don’t always capture the full picture, especially when it comes to critical factors like handling and braking. That’s where the Edmunds U-Drag race comes in. This unique testing method goes beyond the standard drag race format by adding a twist - literally. Instead of just hitting the brakes at the end of a quarter-mile run and coasting to a stop, drivers must slam on the brakes, perform a 180-degree turn, and race back to the starting line, which now serves as the finish line. This not only tests a car’s straight-line speed but also challenges its braking performance, handling, and overall balance, making it a far more comprehensive - and entertaining - test than the usual fare.
In the latest instalment of this interesting way to test cars, we see an American favourite in the form of the powerful Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing taking up the mantle for ICE cars, and it’s pitted against one of Korea’s coolest EVs, the IONIQ 5N. The Yank Tank features a large 6.2 litre V8 with a fat supercharger bolted on and it’s rated at 498 kW with 893 Nm of torque, and it’s all directed at the rear wheels via the optional 10-speed automatic transmission. It can hit 100 km/h in as little as 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 336 km/h. Being of a US persuasion also means it may not handle as well as some things, even though this spec has the best of the best components. OK, American cars and lack of handling is a myth, but when you compare like for like with the Germans… Anyhoo, in this weird match-up, the Blackwing gets to see what a large ICE setup can do against an EV hatchback that the world’s motoring press is in love with, the Hyundai IONIQ 5N. This thing is powered by a pair of electric motors, one at each end of the car to power the wheels all around. At the front, the electric motor is rated at 166 kW, but when you add in the rear motor that’s rated at a 282 kW things heat up which gives the IONIQ 5 N a total of 448 kW of power on tap. If you add in the special overdrive burst called N Grin Boost, power rises to 478 kW with 770 Nm of torque. This Korean hatchback can get to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds and has a top speed of 260 km/h. So far we’ve seen this car decimate many bigger and more expensive cars, especially ICE-powered supercars. But how will the IONIQ 5N fare when pitted against a certified Amercian badass in a test that uses acceleration, braking, handling and balls.
Take a look at the YouTube video showing the Edmunds Cars crew having more fun while "working" as they pit two popular new cars up against each other in their signature U-turn drag race comparison testing - this time starring the Hyundai IONIQ 5N and the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing : U-DRAG RACE: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N vs. Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing | Quarter Mile, Handling, & More | Edmunds Cars
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News Edmunds Cars Versus Drag Race U-Turn SXdrv 5N IONIQ Hyundai Blackwing CT5-V Cadillac Testing Test