Hang on to your hats: the new 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is about to do something special. If the name Cadillac conjures old-school luxury for you, this might change your mind. Actually, it will change your mind. You see, Cadillac has designed the new CT5-V Blackwing to quite literally blow the doors off its competition. We’re talking 650 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission. Track-ready design. This is most definitely not your grandfather’s Cadillac that you will find at the Cadillac Dealership near you.
What’s so special about the CT5-V Blackwing? Its absolute laser focus on performance. It’s a performance sedan and will lead the Cadillac lineup as the most powerful performance sedan. Cadillac is ready to compete with venerable opponents like Audi, Alfa Romeo, and Porsche. As it stands now, the CT5-V Blackwing will be the only vehicle in its category offered with a six-speed manual transmission, which spells more fun for those of us that like a three-pedal setup. This is a track-ready Cadillac.
We’ve pored through tons of rumors and leads in order to separate rumor from fact and bring you the most up to date information on this performance beast. At a price tag that’s rumored to be less than its German competition, the all-new 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing deserves a spot high on your list if you’re lucky enough to be in the market for a performance sedan. It’s a great time to be in the market for speed, and the folks at Cadillac are betting their CT5-V Blackwing will trip your trigger.
Performance
Regarding the potential engine of the upcoming Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, rumor has it that there will be an updated version of the 6.2-liter V8 engine that will pump out even more horsepower and torque than its predecessor. We expect the engine to be paired with a manual transmission, a first for a vehicle in its category, or an automatic transmission option.
For those more up-to-speed (no pun intended) with Cadillac’s powertrain technology, you may know that the Blackwing is the name of a twin-turbo V8 engine Cadillac used to produce. The engine was well-regarded and was the company’s first twin-turbo motor, producing between 500-550 horsepower. Much to the dismay of Cadillac performance enthusiasts, this CT5-V Blackwing doesn’t include it. Cadillac likely borrows the moniker to more aptly describe the aggressive performance we’ll expect with this car.
The CT5-V was launched in 2020 to round out Cadillac’s performance sedan lineup, which already included the CT5. The new Blackwing will round out the CT5 family, with a huge exclamation point. The Blackwing version looks to be getting high-end Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires and bronze-toned wheels. The rear tires will be significantly wider to deal with the CT5-V Blackwing’s high horsepower output. This wider tire stance contributes to an overall more aggressive curb appearance. We’d expect nothing less from the performance version of the CT5 series.
Rumor has it that the CT5-V Blackwing will reach an insane top speed of 200 MPH. We know that Cadillac has done some track testing and reported very favorable results. We don’t have specific information on the Blackwing’s track performance – so far, it’s just rumors and a trickle of leaks from Cadillac. We expect the official release of the vehicle specs and capabilities to be coming along any day now.
Interior
While we don’t have specifics on the CT5-V Blackwing other than a few details confirmed by the folks at Cadillac, there is quite a bit of press on the expected changes to the 2021 CT5 and CT5-V. We can only assume that the latest and best features will carry over to the Blackwing version, like the completely configurable 12-inch digital driver’s display. We expect a heavy focus on technology and connectivity, so expect Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as other technical features involving safety and infotainment.
Much ado is being made about the CT5-V Blackwing’s available performance steering wheel. According to Cadillac, it’s completely ergonomic, wrapped in ‘fine leather,’ and woven together with cut-and-sewn stitching. Cadillac teases the steering wheel in order to remind buyers that the CT5-V Blackwing is a race car driver’s dream and that the thrill lies in controlling it. We’re not sure the steering wheel needed that much hype, but we get where Cadillac is going. It’s a track car for serious performance drivers. Unfortunately, that’s all Cadillac will officially tell us.
Beyond that, we’re not seeing any clues about what else to expect inside, but we can look to the 2020 CT5-V for some ideas. That cabin features carbon fiber accents, a performance steering wheel (again with the focus on the steering wheel), special sport seating and alloy brake and gas pedals, which give the interior a sports car feel and distinguish it from the other CT5 trims, and a few different packages to glow it up even more. These include a Platinum Package, a Premium Package, and a Cold Weather Package. There are an optional dual-pane sunroof and a few different choices for wheels. We assume many of these features will find their way on to the CT5-V Blackwing.
Timing and Other Rumors
It looks like the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing will make its debut as a 2022 model that will arrive late summer of 2021 alongside its little brother, the CT4-V Blackwing. We fully expect it to include Cadillac-esque luxury features and over-the-top interior appointments. After all, it’s still a Cadillac. Buyers can whet their whistle with leaked photos of a highly camouflaged prototype, but if we look closely, we’ll see production wheels, different grille venting, and the familiar sedan styling.
The real story happens under the hood, with the V8 engine pumping out lots of power, giving the CT5-V Blackwing its identity and differentiating it from the rest of the Cadillac lineup. Every automaker needs a showstopper – a standout flagship vehicle with bragging rights and aspirational qualities; a vehicle that acts as an image-maker for the rest of the lineup. That’s what this CT5-V Blackwing does for Cadillac. Within its make-up is a whole host of engineering prowess and – we’re sure – plenty of bragging rights on the track.
Cadillac does racing well. It’s part of the company’s history, and this new CT5-V Blackwing will carry on the tradition. Remember, Cadillac racing pedigree goes all the way back to the 1940s and includes many success stories, like the 2004 CTS-V.R, which was based on the first generation CTS-V. That car led Cadillac to 10 wins, and 36 total podium finishes in less than four years. Just recently, back in 2011, Cadillac competed with the CTS-V.R in the Pierlli World Challenge GT Series, winning the Manufacturer Championship in 2012 and 2013, and the Driver Championship in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Echoes of these victories will reverberate through every gear shift and apex turn of the newest Cadillac racing beast, the 2022 CT5-V Blackwing. Cadillac even offers its V Performance Academy, a two-day school, to CTS-V buyers at no additional charge. It’s a chance to develop high-performance driving skills and capabilities, which we promise you’ll need when you get behind the wheel of the Blackwing. If you’re lucky enough to order your CT5-V Blackwing early, you’ll be one of the first on your block to receive it. The folks at Cadillac are banking on this CT5-V Blackwing to carry it directly into the hearts and minds of performance sedan buyers. We are excited to see what other features will be revealed in the official release of this model.
