Skip to main content

Cadillac’s CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwings Mark the End of an Era

If you’re hanging out at home, crack open a beer, because Cadillac’s done it again. The American luxury brand recently debuted two of its most-awaited vehicles: the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing. Both sedans, on paper, look far superior to their successors, the ATS-V and CTS-V, respectively. Enjoying that beer you’re drinking? Well, it’s time to pour some out. Shortly after the two Blackwing models were introduced, Cadillac made another shocking announcement – these will be the last performance cars to wear a V badge to solely be powered by an internal-combustion engine. In every sense of the words, these two truly do represent the end of an era.

2022 Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwings

Before we get too sappy, here’s the rundown on the two sedans. The compact CT4-V Blackwing (finished in red) is the smaller, more affordable of the two. Under the hood, the sedan utilizes a twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 engine that’s good for 472 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque. Over the old ATS-V, the CT4-V Blackwing has grippier Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, an updated version of magnetorheological dampers as standard equipment, larger brakes, and aluminum housing for the electronic limited-slip differential. Of course, the cabin is filled with modern equipment, like a special AKG audio system and a digital gauge cluster, but these are secondary points to the performance.

Related Videos

Related Guides

 

The real star of the show is the CT5-V Blackwing (the white sedan). The monstrous sedan comes with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that’s putting out 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque. Each of these engines are built at the Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky by a single technician. Each technician signs the engine as a mark of their craftsmanship.

2022 Cadillac CT4-V

 

Beyond the power, the CT5-V Blackwing features Brembo brakes, 15.7-inch front rotors, an electronic limited-slip differential, forged 19-inch wheels, sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, and coolers for the transmission and rear differential. New carbon-ceramic rotors are available for the first time, while the steering wheel features a Performance Traction Management switch. Carbon-fiber backed seats are optional, and there’s a 12-inch digital gauge cluster.

 

Both of these Blackwing models are rear-wheel drive only and both are available with six-speed manual transmissions. God bless Cadillac. Of course, these vehicles aren’t cheap. The CT4-V Blackwing is priced at $59,990, while the CT5-V Blackwing starts at $84,990. Still, they undercut the competition by a wide margin. No wonder Cadillac’s books were flooded with pre-orders within a few hours of their debuts.

2022 CT5-V Blackwing

 

It’s hard to explain what makes these vehicles so special, but they’re exactly what enthusiasts have been asking for. The last time a sedan with a V8 engine was available with rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission was the Chevrolet SS. Even high-performance sports cars – ahem, the Corvette – ditched manuals a long time ago in their pursuit of quicker zero-to-60 mph figures and lap times. Yet, the fun dissolved. The need for the driver to play a pivotal role in getting the car around a stretch of corners became muted. All of these things, driver engagement, V8 engines, manual transmissions, rear-wheel drive, are on the chopping block with the rise of electric vehicles and self-driving technology. It’s the price of progress.

 

For General Motors, Cadillac’s future is EV and semi-autonomous-tech heavy. The CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing have no place in that future. By today’s standards, the pair are actually dinosaurs. That’s what makes them so special. Not only do these vehicles come with the holy trinity of features – rear-wheel drive, a manual transmission, and incredibly powerful engines – they do so at a time when few others do. Know how many sporty cars Chevrolet offers with rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission? One. It’s the Camaro.

2022 CT5-V Blackwing

 

It’s not just GM that’s looking down a barrel with its V8 engines. In an earlier interview with CNBC, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis stated that “the days of an iron block supercharged 6.2-liter V8 are numbered” because of compliance costs. Not only that, but V8-powered vehicles simply can’t match electric cars these days. The recently refreshed Tesla Model S is now pushing out over 1,100 horsepower and has a zero-to-60 mph time that’s below 2 seconds. The Porsche Taycan Turbo S has 750 horsepower and can get to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds. Upcoming pickup trucks like the GMC Hummer EV and Rivian R1T are expected to arrive with more horsepower and better performance than the Blackwing models.

 

Cadillac’s decision to come out with the CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing during this phase when performance cars are transitioning to the green side is astounding. The internal-combustion engine’s days are numbered. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology may extend the timeline a bit, but American V8s are on track to become extinct in the same way as the Western Black Rhino – painfully, slowly, and one poor creature at a time.

2022 Cadillac CT4-V

 

This certainly seems like the end of the line. If it is, what a glorious send-off. Consumers that get to purchase one of these special sedans get to enjoy the best of what cars with internal-combustion engines could offer. Everyone should say a hushed “thank you” to Cadillac for going out in a bang and not a silent whirl of electricity.

Editors' Recommendations

BMW just made a critical (and expensive!) change to its M series X5 and X6
BMW's X5 M and X6 M: Hope you’re ready for the electrified future, because it’s arrived
2024 BMW X5 M and X6 M Competition parked in front of a glass building in the desert with mountains in the back.

After seeing the changes that BMW made for the 2024 X5 and X6 midsize SUVs, we were expecting to see similar changes for the high-performance M variants. As we expected, the X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition arrive with similar changes that include updated exterior designs and new tech features. More importantly, the X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition mark a new era for BMW’s M-badged vehicles, as they’re the first to come with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that supplements the V8.
Let’s start with the SUVs’ engines. Both come with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 that’s heavily revised compared to the outgoing models. The S68 is rated at 617 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. The mild-hybrid system consists of an electric motor that’s integrated into the 8-speed automatic transmission’s housing. It adds 12 horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque. The 48-volt system also acts as a starter generator for the SUVs.

Previous

Read more
Iconic Meyers Manx buggy gets first-ever Remastered Kit for auto enthusiasts
The iconic Meyers Manx dune buggy has been updated, but you’ll still need to source major components on your own
Meyers Manx Remastered Kit front end angle parked on the beach in front of water.

When most people think about a buggy, there’s a good chance they’re envisioning a Meyers Manx. The odd, frog-looking machine was one of the original DIY kits when it was introduced in the ‘60s and gave enthusiasts the ability to build a funky machine that could travel across sand better than a hermit crab. Now, the Meyers Manx has returned for a new generation of enthusiasts with some modern tweaks thanks to renowned automotive designer Freeman Thomas.
There’s some good news for enthusiasts that like the way the original Manx dune buggy looks – the design of the new kit essentially looks just like the original one. That was Thomas’ intention from the beginning, as the designer claims that the goal with the “Remastered program was to preserve [founder] Bruce Meyers’ unmistakable design while incorporating modern touches that make full assembly accessible to more people.”

The new Meyers Manx Remastered Kit utilizes 3D scanning that’s 100% digital to ensure that the fiberglass panels fit seamlessly together. The kit also has a few modern touches that will make the vehicle easier to assemble for DIYers who want to complete the build in their garage, like a removable dash panel and integrated wiring tubes. The best feature that really showcases how modernized the Manx Remastered Kit is compared to the original one is the addition of a locking rear trunk. That’s right. You now have a small place to store goodies that will be safe from thieves you might run into while off-roading on the beach.
Buyers interested in the new remastered kit have 46 different metal flake gel-coat colors and 18 solid gel-coat color schemes to choose from. Metal flake paint jobs cost an extra $1,000, while getting your body kit protected from the sun with a UV coat costs $800. Meyers Manx is currently accepting deposits for the Remastered Kit, that’s priced at $5,995. You can put down 50% to get your name in the hat and get your build going as quickly as possible.

Read more
BMW’s new design facility in Santa Monica will mean great things for you, too
After 50 years in Thousand Oaks, BMW’s Designworks has moved to Santa Monica
One of the office spaces in the BMW Designerworks studio in Santa Monica, California.

You don’t have to be an artist to notice that automotive design has changed dramatically over the past few decades. While every decade sees automobile designers take inspiration from outside the automotive industry, new-age vehicles are blazing their own paths for automotive designs. In order to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of automotive design, BMW recently moved its innovative Designworks division to Santa Monica, California.
At first glance, the move might be confusing. For the past 50 years, Designworks has been located in Thousand Oaks and has worked out of a 70,000 square-foot facility. The new studio in Santa Monica has just 16,000 square feet of space. While the change in location may seem like a business deal gone bad, the change will help Designworks really flex its muscles as an innovative design studio. That should mean more stirring designs for consumers.

Previous

Read more