The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing: A four-door Corvette Z06

The 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is a brute force successor to the Cadillac CTS-V that was made from 2011 until 2019. But it really is a lot more. The gearheads at Napleton News had a chance to give the Blackwing a go recently. The smiles still haven’t faded. Here’s our report.

The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is impossible to categorize

Is it a luxury car, a performance car or a daily driver? Yes. It’s all of those. What it isn’t is the Cadillac driven by your Grandfather after he and Grandma retired to Boca Raton.

Start with the Cadillac CT5 Sport Sedan body. Sleekly styled and reasonably priced, it’s a good deal from the start. But is it enough? Apparently, Cadillac’s V Division performance engineers didn’t think so. The CT5’s base engine offering is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 producing 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. It’s followed by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 pumping out 335 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque. The anything but regular CT5-V includes a tweaked version of the same engine producing an additional 25 ponies (360 horsepower). All-wheel drive is an available option on all three powertrains.

But this being the Blackwing makes it, as Frankie Blue Eyes sang, “The King of the Hill, Top of the Heap.” As a result, the Blackwing receives one of the best smallblock V8 engines in existence: The GM 6.2-liter Supercharged V8 engine. It makes 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft of tire-burning power. Pop the hood to find a heavily cladded V8 engine that is an industrial piece of art. Like any artwork, the creator signs their name. In this case, Kaleb Dudley has affixed his signature to a GM Performance builder’s plate that will stay with the car throughout its life.

The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is a rear-wheel drive sedan

And get this: It’s a proper rear-wheel drive sports sedan that delivers with a Tremec six-speed manual as standard. An optional 10-speed automatic transmission can be had for those non-believers. When things get hairy, you can bring them back under control with the Brembo Carbon Ceramic brakes. Handling results from GM’s Magnetic Ride Control, a technology found in the Chevrolet Corvette and licensed to Ferrari for use in their vehicles.

How does the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing performance Cadillac look?

From the front, the CT5-V looks pure Cadillac. Starting with a look that keeps with the brand’s Art & Science language, the front clip of this sedan carries the sharp creases that are by now familiar. Angular lines run rearward, all the way to a carbon fiber rear deck spoiler, but as it nears the trunk area, it begins to suffer an identity crisis. A sweeping fastback Chevrolet Impala-like roofline takes over at this point, but we think it’s not as well-executed as it could be.

Maybe it’s just not Cadillac enough for our tastes.

One of our issues with the CT5-V design is the excessive use of carbon fiber pieces. The front spoiler is the most egregious, comprised of a single wrap-around piece. If it were made of three pieces, replacing it would not be as costly after it strikes a parking lot block. And you do know it will hit one. When is the question?

Technology and more on the inside.

We were impressed with the interior quality of the CT5-V Blackwing, especially in the seating area. The front seats offered various adjustments, including movable bolsters, lumbar and seat cushion adjustments and a back massage. There was also our favorite: Ventilated seats! It’s just the thing to keep occupants cool as things heat up outside. They were backed by go fast-looking carbon fiber seatbacks that show off to those in the second row.

In addition to a 10-inch diagonal display for the Cadillac User Experience (CUE), the Blackwing gets an AKG Premium 15-speaker audio system.

Do you drive or fly a Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing?

Both.

This is the epitome of what a refined sports sedan should be. But then, when you consider that your MSRP is north of $114,000, there’s no reason it should be anything less.

Starting up the Blackwing is just as expected, except for the raspiness from the 6.2-liter blown V8. It’s frightfully powerful, with more than 660 hp on tap, not to mention the ability to sprint from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds. If speed is of the need, grab the 10-speed automatic; it makes the same run in 3.4 seconds.

The six-speed Tremec gearbox is a stout unit that supplies short shifts with certainty. The clutch may require a bit of a workout for your left thigh, but it will be worth it, trust us. Mash the skinny pedal and hold on. Acceleration kicks you back in your seat with the force of an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet launched from an aircraft carrier catapult.

After launch, you quickly gain control, all while shifting through the cogs. The steering system will keep you between the lines, while the brakes are here to throw out the anchor if necessary. Handling is quite good, considering this Caddy has its roots as a family-style sedan. Even though it is a sizeable vehicle, the CT5-V Blackwing handles like a smaller one thanks to the magnetic ride control and adaptive suspension.

It’s just the thing for corner-cutting on a twisty highway or track day at the local speed emporium.

2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Specifications