Over this past year, we've set out collective butts in the driver's seats of some amazing machinery. These new or significantly updated cars have set new standards for luxury and performance. In choosing our annual Best Car to Buy we had to leave several excellent vehicles off our list of finalists, but seven cars stood out as our finalists.

In the weeks leading up to our January 4th announcement, we are profiling each of these cars, making the case for why they could be the Motor Authority Best Car To Buy 2016. Up today is the most powerful Cadillac ever to grace the market: the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V.

The case for the Cadillac CTS-V

While the BMW M5 has gotten fat, and the Mercedes-AMG E63 has always been rather heavy, Cadillac has sneaked into the segment with a car that is lighter, more powerful, and more fun to drive. Take that, Germany!

The throbbing heart of the CTS-V is the Corvette Z06's LT4 supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, here making 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. Those ridiculous numbers translate to ludicrous performance figures: 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds, and a top speed of 200 mph.

2016 Cadillac CTS-V

2016 Cadillac CTS-V

And better yet, all that performance is wrapped in the trappings of a genuinely comfortable luxury sedan that can be driven every day. Part of the reason for the ride quality is the standard Magnetic Ride Control suspension. It uses shocks with almost infinitely variable viscosity, thanks the the MR fluid in the CTS-V’s dampers. Sensors scan the road constantly, and can adjust to the conditions in real time, allowing the ride to be smooth during cruising or firm and agile when pushed.

Most enticing, however, is the outstanding driving experience. Combine brutal, endless acceleration with shockingly good brakes and neck-stretching grip and you have a formula for success. The CTS-V is light for its size, too. At  4,145 pounds, it's about 300 pounds heavier than its little brother, the ATS-V, and more than 200 pounds lighter than the 2016 BMW M5. This translates to a nimbleness, and a feeling of shrinking around the driver that you don’t expect given the size.

ALSO SEE: These Were The 10 Most Searched Cars On Google In 2015

We'll announce our Best Car To Buy winner on January 4, along with the winners from our sister sites, The Car Connection and Green Car Reports. We'll also reveal the winners in our Driver's Choice awards—as voted by you, our readers—at that time.

Be sure to tune in tomorrow when we make the case for the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS.

_______________________________________

Follow Motor Authority on Facebook and Twitter.