Some of the most appealing sports cars money can buy are performance sedans. They are practical enough to be daily drivers or family cars while also having enough power to compete on the track with pure sports cars.
Cadillac's all-new CT5-V Blackwing is the car to beat in the rapidly dwindling niche of high-revving, high-performance sports sedans. When needed, the most powerful production Cadillac ever made provides explosive acceleration, agile handling, and a comfortable ride. The V-Series Blackwing double offering is completed by a cheaper, less powerful, but still very capable CT4-V. The CT4-V Blackwing is classified as a subcompact luxury sedan by Cadillac, and it is also the fastest Cadillac in this segment.
Both cars live up to their billing as Cadillac's pinnacle of engineering. Continue reading to find out what we think makes the Cadillac Blackwing models so great.
Extremely High Performance
The CT5-V Blackwing is Cadillac's most powerful production model to date. The same 6.2-liter LT4 V8 engine found in the C7 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is found under the hood. The engine, on the other hand, was upgraded with a new supercharger, exhaust system, and induction system, allowing it to produce an impressive 668hp and 659lb-ft of torque, which is responsible for the car's explosive acceleration.
The CT5-V Blackwing is also Cadillac's fastest vehicle in history. It accelerates to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, has a top speed of over 200 mph, and has a hot lap time of 2:49.5 minutes at the VIR Grand Course.
Pricing and Market Competition
The 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing starts at $84,990, plus taxes and fees. That is roughly half the price of the 2019 Mercedes-AMG G. Its entry-level CT4-V costs $59,990 manual and $63,165 automatic. The German BMW M5 Competition Gran Coupe and the Audi RS7 are the main competitors in the 600-hp V8, raked-roof four-door category.
The Cadillac offers the best value in the class. The more luxurious Audi RS7 starts at $115,045 while the base BMW M5 starts at $113,095, with options pushing the price above $140,000.
Save The Manual
The sad reality is that manual cars are rapidly becoming obsolete as more and more people and manufacturers abandon them entirely in favour of the more popular automatic lineups. Manual car sales fell from 3.4 percent to 1.4 percent between 2010 and 2020. Regardless, a study found a high interest in driving manual cars among households with an income of more than $75,000 and those aged 18 to 34.
The two Blackwing models come standard with a six-speed manual transmission, with the option of a 10-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission. In addition, the CT4-V Blackwing is the only sedan with a manual transmission.
Styling
The CT5-V Blackwings have a more refined and tasteful appearance than the old CTS-V, which has a more rounded and angular appearance. It turns out that beauty wasn't the only reason for the exterior makeover. Cadillac's external designers claim that every part of the Blackwing serves a purpose.
The CT5-V Blackwing's front end features a functional mesh grille and numerous wide openings that are carefully placed to channel air to the car's heat exchangers and cool the brakes. Furthermore, the attractive front and rear spoilers help keep the car grounded and stable by reducing lift.
This could be the last V-Series with gas engines
For more than a century, internal combustion engines have propelled the automobile era. However, due to concerns about climate change and increased doubts about the use of fossil fuels as demand grows, the world is rapidly shifting toward more sustainable alternatives such as electric-powered vehicles. Major manufacturers must adapt to this change or risk falling behind. According to Cadillac's global vice president Rory Harvey, the Blackwing may be one of the company's final internal combustion engine vehicles.
If Cadillac sticks to their plan and eliminates gasoline-powered vehicles from their lineup in favour of electric performance vehicles, the Blackwings will become icons representing the last of a dying breed. When you consider the level of detail in the car, you may be looking at a future collectible.
Greatness of the Rear Wheel
For performance and weight reasons, most sports and race cars use a rear-wheel-drive system. Cadillac chose a rear-wheel-only system for the Blackwing lineup, as opposed to the regular CT5s and CT4s, which come with AWD options. Cadillac's performance manager claims that the Blackwings are built for the track. A rear-wheel-drive final drive system helps to avoid the mass hits, costs, and engineering challenges that come with an AWD system.
Both Blackwing models have a rear-wheel-drive system with an enhanced electronic limited-slip differential that is tuned for each driving mode.
Cadillac's Most Track-Capable Vehicles Ever
The track-ready Blackwing models are the natural heirs to Cadillac's beloved ATS-V and CTS-V models, which were phased out in 2019. The CT5-V Blackwing and its smaller CT4-V sibling have better-upgraded engines and more advanced technology than Cadillac's previous race cars. Cadillac's engineers used the manufacturer's Championship-winning heritage to create the Blackwings, which represent the manufacturer's pinnacle of performance, technology, and craftsmanship.
The two Blackwing models generate results that are competitive with the best in the world. This is in addition to increased driver satisfaction and experience, which cannot be measured solely by lap times.
Track-Specific Cockpit
The Blackwing has a 12-inch digital gauge cluster that displays tech goodies like ride modes as well as two customizable areas to display related information to help novice racers. A head-up display, for added convenience, displays information directly on the screen, eliminating the need to look away while racing. Optionally, you can purchase a performance data recorder, which collects real-time audio and video data that you can analyse after the race to help you improve your skills or share that perfect hot lap with the rest of the world.
Cadillac upgraded the interior of the CT5-V Blackwing to make it more track-friendly than the regular Cadillac CT5. The car includes heated and ventilated seats with lumbar support as standard, with the option of level 2 performance seats with a slim headrest that is helmet-friendly for track days.
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