Cadillac has announced that its hardcore V brand of high-performance, track-ready vehicles will return with the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing.
Blackwing was the moniker given to a new engine that teased performance enthusiasts with its on-again-off-again status. Currently only available in the full-sized Cadillac CT6-V sedan that has already been discontinued, the Blackwing is a 4.2-litre twin-turbo V8 with 550 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque. The engine, which is hand-built by a single person in Kentucky, is also signed by whomever crafted it (just like Mercedes’ AMG engines).
Confusingly, the new CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing won’t actually use that engine mentioned above. Instead, it’s rumoured that they will use a version of the supercharged 6.2L V8 with 650 hp that powered their predecessors and the current Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, which outputs a staggering 650 lb-ft of torque.
If you're confused because you can already buy a CT4-V and CT5-V today, the Blackwing name now represents the absolute pinnacle of Cadillac performance, where the regular V is now a mid-way performance model, kind of like BMW's M Sport lineup, which are not the full-blown M models (M340i vs M3, for example).
Not much information has been officially revealed yet, but Cadillac did say the new V-Series sedans will both be offered with a manual transmission, a rarity in the luxury performance segment.
Besides the manual, we can also expect powerful Brembo brakes, an available 10-speed automatic transmission, and Magnetic Ride Control, Cadillac’s successful suspension with automatic damping.
Both new sedans have already set faster lap times than their predecessors, the ATS-V and CTS-V. Lauded by automotive journalists and enthusiasts for their glorious sound, capable chassis, brilliant balance, heightened engagement, rear-drive, V8, and manual-transmission combination, those sport sedans leave big shoes to fill for the new Blackwing duo.
The CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing compete with other super sedans like the BMW M3/M5, Mercedes-AMG C63/ E63, and Audi RS 5. It’s unlikely to arrive by the projected end of this year, so it will likely have a 2021 or 2022 model year when it’s launched.
As exciting as new high-performance sport sedans are, we’re sure the question on most people’s minds is when Cadillac will inevitably put the Blackwing badge on an SUV.
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