We drove the two best American luxury cars money can buy — and the winner is clear (GM, F)

Lincoln Continental

We drove the Cadillac and Lincoln, two of the oldest and most prominent nameplates to ever emerge from Motown.
The Lincoln Continental starts at $44,560. But our highly optioned AWD Black Badge edition test car starts at $65,070. The Cadillac CT6 starts at $54,095. The top-of-the-line Platinum edition we tested starts at $88,295.
Both cars are superb, but the CT6 has an edge.

Cadillac and Lincoln are two of the oldest and most prominent nameplates to ever emerge from Motown. And yet, they are two brands looking to reestablish themselves as the last word on American luxury.

On one hand, Cadillac has gone for a striking, trendy yet artistic persona. Going as a far moving its headquarters from Detroit to the uber-chic cobble-stone streets of SOHO in Manhattan.

On the other hand, Lincoln has gravitated toward a more traditional, suave and sophisticated feel.

And no two cars show off the contrasting styles of these brands than their flagship sedans.

The Cadillac CT6 and Lincoln Continental are arguably the two best luxury sedans ever produced by the US automotive industry. While there have certainly been more famous luxury cars to emerge from Detroit, no others could match the level of performance, comfort, technology, and overall execution of this dynamic duo.

These are two cars that we hold in high regard here at Business Insider.

In fact, both the CT6 and the Continental were finalists for Business Insider's 2016 Car of the Year award.

It's a remarkable achievement for both iconic American luxury brands.

In the marketplace, both the CT6 and Continental are their respective brands' flagship luxury sedans. Yet, the two are smaller and less expensive than rivals like the Mercedes-Benz S Class and the BMW 7 Series, while larger and plusher than the E Class and 5 Series.

Cadillac CT6 Europe Road Trip

In May, I was able to take a 2017 Cadillac CT6 on a three-day road trip through Europe. A couple of months later, I had the chance to spend a few days driving a 2017 Lincoln Continental through the rolling hills south of Austin, Texas.

Even though, Business Insider reviewed both cars in 2016. Europe and Texas allowed us to try out the Caddy and the Lincoln in an environment outside of suburban New Jersey.

The Lincoln Continental starts at $44,560. But our highly optioned AWD Black Badge edition test car starts at $65,070. The Cadillac CT6 starts at $54,095. The top-of-the-line Platinum edition we tested starts at $88,295.

In each instance, the Lincoln and the Caddy both proved to be impressive luxury vehicles. But how do they compare to one another?

Let's find out.

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First, let's take a look at the Lincoln Continental.

Aesthetically, the Lincoln Continental is one of the most stylish and handsome cars on the road today. The Continental is beautifully proportioned. Its curved edges and clean-cut looks are the automotive equivalents of a well-fitted black suit. Classy, debonaire, and understated.

And then there's the Cadillac CT6.

The Cadillac is anything but understated. While the Lincoln can be a bit forgettable, the CT6's edgy and striking looks are immediately and permanently etched into your memory. With a long hood and short rear decklid, the CT6 cuts a sihlouette that's more in line with sleek European luxury sedans of old like a Jaguar XJ or even an Aston Martin Lagonda.

The Continental's interior delivers serious luxury.

Lincoln continues with the understated elegance theme in the cabin of the Continental. The quality of the interior leather and accents were impressive, but it failed to leave a lasting memory.

What was memorable was the Continental's 19-speaker Revel audio system. Outside of Bentley's $5,000 Naim system, the Revel may be the best in the business. Whether it's ZZ Top, Biggie Smalls or David Brubeck, the Revel sound system delivered a rich and rewarding listening experience.

Dominating the center stack is a touchscreen running Ford and Lincoln's new Sync3 infotainment system that's quick to respond and easy to learn. It's a major improvement over the company's previous attempts at infotainment. For Sync3, Lincoln abandoned the tried and true four-corners display method and went to a traditional menu with tiles.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider