The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is a 668bhp supercharged V8 with a manual transmission, a winning formula that takes on the BMW M5 Competition. The CT5-V Blackwing is made by Cadillac and features a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 producing 668bhp at 6500rpm and 659lb ft at 3600rpm. It’s available with ceramic brakes and boasts ‘track ready’ credentials, equipped as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox.
First impressions of the CT5-V Blackwing concern its design and features. The Blackwing seems exotic to British eyes, with a taut and handsome design that packs enough aggression to suggest serious hardware beneath the hood. It’s a relatively compact saloon with more power than a Ferrari Enzo and similar torque to a LaFerrari.
The interior of the CT5-V Blackwing is on par with an M3 and not too far off an M5 CS, with carbon fibre trim, a small and round steering wheel, and a short, simple gearlever. The infotainment system has an unobtrusive rightness that’s also something of a throwback, and it features Apple CarPlay. The hand-made 6.2-litre supercharged ‘LT4’ V8 doesn’t dominate the character of the car, but it does suffuse every fibre of what makes the Blackwing special.
Cadillac’s New Supersaloon
The CT5-V Blackwing is equipped with Magnetic Ride Control 4.0, an excellent e-diff, and capable of over 200mph. It features rev-matching and ‘No-Lift Shift’, and the six-speed ‘box is sweet enough, with long gearing that’s no problem at all when you have 659lb ft and murderous power in the mid-range. On the wide concrete freeways, the CT5-V sweeps along with a lovely gait, keeping the body flat and under tight control whilst managing to deftly trace the surface and massage away nasty expansion joints.
Track Ready Credentials Shine
The Blackwing feels poised and agile, with an underlying muscularity that makes every millimetre of the throttle pedal energise the entire car. When pushed beyond the surface, the Cadillac becomes a capable and agile supersaloon, with great endurance and extremely impressive body control on circuit. In Track mode and with all the driver aids removed, the Blackwing is outrageously adjustable, with a riotous balance that’s a shock to experience.
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Cadillac’s Performance Traction Management is excellent, allowing you to toggle traction control assistance up and down in a similar fashion to the new BMW M3. The steering is light, clean, and responsive, and it acts on that positive front-end to great effect. The Blackwing seems to take attitude in perfect synchronicity with that turn-in phase, and it isn’t a two-stage process that could feel disjointed and out of control. Instead, the car just turns as one, and the rear seems to adopt the perfect angle of attack.
The Blackwing’s preferred stance is with rear tyres overspeeding ever so slightly, very little steering angle, and the dampers and hollow anti-roll bars doing a fantastic job of keeping the car flat but smothering kerb strikes with finesse. It feels fast and efficient but a million miles from clinical, with that wild V8, the mind-altering and No-Lift shift enhanced acceleration, and the simple act of changing gear and all the planning, care, and technique that it naturally breeds. The Cadillac is enormous fun, deeply involving, and so keen to cut clean lines that it’s a bit of a shock.
With the PTM still active but slackened off, the angle remains as you start to fire torque at the rear Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, allowing you to open the steering and carry tremendous speed. This is where the Blackwing comes alive, and it’s an experience that’s hard to match. Lose the PTM altogether, and the CT5-V can be made to hold ludicrous angles from turn-in to exit kerbs, with so much power and such linear engine response.
Supersaloon Showdown Looms
The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is a supersaloon that’s not big, but it is clever, and it’s a whole lot of fun. It’s good enough to stand toe-to-toe with a BMW M3 Competition or an M5 CS on UK roads, and it’s an exciting prospect to consider how it would perform in a comparison test. The CT5-V Blackwing is a car that’s sure to impress, with its combination of power, agility, and sophistication making it a compelling choice for anyone looking for a high-performance supersaloon. The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing specs show a car that’s well-equipped to take on the competition, with a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine and a six-speed manual gearbox.
The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing has a length of 4923mm, a height of 1453mm, and a wheelbase of 2946mm, making it a relatively compact saloon. The CT5-V Blackwing is a car that’s sure to generate a lot of interest, and its performance capabilities make it a strong contender in the supersaloon market. With its powerful engine, agile handling, and sophisticated technology, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is a car that’s not to be missed. The CT5-V Blackwing features Magnetic Ride Control 4.0, an excellent e-diff, and is capable of over 200mph, making it a highly capable and exciting car to drive.
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Its size is similar to that of the E39 M5 and the new M3 Competition, with the CT5-V Blackwing taking up just a tiny bit more space. This compact size, combined with its powerful engine and agile handling, makes the CT5-V Blackwing a formidable opponent on the road.
Performance Capabilities Unleashed
In terms of performance, the CT5-V Blackwing’s 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine produces 668bhp at 6500rpm and 659lb ft at 3600rpm, making it a force to be reckoned with. The engine is hand-made by one person and features a 1.7-litre four-lobe Eaton supercharger and titanium intake valves, giving it a unique character that sets it apart from other supersaloons.
Performance and Handling
The CT5-V Blackwing’s performance and handling are truly impressive, with the car feeling poised and agile on the road. The six-speed manual gearbox is sweet and easy to use, with long gearing that is no problem at all when you have 659lb ft and murderous power in the mid-range. The car’s body control is also excellent, with the magnetic dampers working superbly to keep the body flat and under tight control.
The CT5-V Blackwing’s ability to hold angles from turn-in to exit kerbs is also noteworthy, with the car’s long wheelbase and dialled-in agility making it a joy to drive on the track. The car’s linear engine response and powerful acceleration make it a thrill to drive, and its ability to cut clean lines and carry speed is a result of its exceptional handling and performance. With its combination of power, agility, and sophistication, the CT5-V Blackwing is a compelling choice for anyone looking for a high-performance supersaloon, and its specs show a car that is well-equipped to take on the competition.
