Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing

The arrival of the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and the CT5-V Blackwing gave speedo boys what the regular V saloons have been missing from the start; muscle car performance and track-honed dynamics that can scare the Germans straight, not to mention the fact that it comes with proper 6-speed MT no German high-performance monsters dared to have.

2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing

We begin with the CT4-V Blackwing, Cadillac's answer to the already hideous-looking BMW M3 G80. Priced at a super-expensive 58,995 US Dollars plus additional costs, the CT4-V Blackwing picks up where the normal CT4-V failed to deliver. By adding some steroids to the normal CT4-V, the Blackwing is a different kind of beast that loves to tackle through the hollow mountain roads before setting off for another day at the track and you'll be going to love the way it looks and feels when you take it for a joyride.

2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing

Under the hood, the ordinary CT4-V's 2.7L turbocharged engine has been replaced with the 3.6L Twin-Turbo engine derived from its predecessor, the ATS-V, but it's been upgraded to produce 472HP of power and 445lb-ft of torque, which is darn less than what the M3 Competition had but no matter because the CT4-V Blackwing is offered with the choice of a speedo boy favorite 6-speed manual gearbox and a bulkier 10-speed automatic gearbox that propels this CT4-V on steroids to a 0-60mph time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 189mph. That's an improvement compared to the old ATS-V but when compared to the ugly-looking M3, it's too close to call.

In terms of dynamics, the CT4-V Blackwing behaves like a muscle car. Dynamic and dangerous in every way. Despite its M3 sizing, this is a highly-advanced, high-performance sports sedan made for the experts and pros on the track, and it takes a serious amount of skill to understand how its eLSD, advanced suspension refinements, Launch Control, Performance Traction Management, and MRC 4.0 works. Once settled, the CT4-V Blackwing is as enjoyable as a loose-cannon cowboy in the Wild West.

2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

After you had fun with the CT4-V Blackwing, you should try out the CT5-V Blackwing, the ultimate Cadillac sports saloon ever built. Priced at 83,995 US Dollars plus additional costs, it's the most expensive four-door Cadillac ever sold, and when fully kitted with extras, its six-figure price tag will leave your bank account in shreds and tears. No, not the watery stuff coming out of your eyes.

2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing interior

By turning an ordinary CT5-V into a monster machine, the Blackwing is the ultimate expression of the V-Series mantra, delivering motorsport-level performance on the road and track. Don't let its executive looks fool you because this is an American Blend muscle car that smokes more than a carton of American Blend cigarettes. This is flavor country on wheels and it's highly addictive to drive than the Germans.

Just like its little brother, the normal CT5-V's 3.0L Twin Turbo V6 engine was swapped to a 6.2L Supercharged V8 engine derived from the old CTS-V and the Corvette C7 Z06 but it has been upgraded to produce 668HP of power and 659lb-ft of torque while mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed AT that propels this car from a 0-100kph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of over 200mph. It may be slower than the world's most powerful four-door saloon, the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye. but it will eat the Germans for breakfast, lunch, and tea, even midnight snacks.

Performance aside, the CT5-V Blackwing comes with eLSD, advanced suspension refinements, Launch Control, Performance Traction Management, and MRC 4.0, among many others. When you take it to the track, you can really experience its muscle car vibes from within. It's surprisingly dynamic but challenging in every way and it's about as challenging as, let's say, studying IELTS nonsense all day long until your brain melts. This is what the CT5-V Blackwing is all about, delivering a gut-wrenching performance that will put the German opposition on notice.

By the time the normal CT4-V and CT5-V arrived, they were not what speedo boys hoped for but they were built for balance on the road and track. With the Blackwing variants, these saloons are bursting with mayhem and with such dynamic and challenging performance, these are what the speedo boys finally want. They really made Cadillac great again.

Photo: General Motors