Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing 2025: The star among sports sedans

Attention fans of the outgoing Cadillac CTS-V: The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is the rightful successor to that performance powerhouse, even if it goes by a different name. The new car is powered by the same supercharged V-8 engine, but Cadillac is pinning its hopes for high-performance on its updated styling and new interior. The Blackwing seems well-equipped to take on rivals like the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG E63 .

Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

To truly win against these world-beating sports sedans, the CT5-V Blackwing will need to offer more than just horsepower; it will need to offer brilliant ride and handling to accompany its brutal acceleration. Based on how well the CTS-V performed in our comparison tests, we’re excited to see what the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing has to offer.

Engine, transmission and performance

Although Cadillac calls it the CT5-V Blackwing, it doesn’t get the newly developed twin-turbo Blackwing V-8 from the now-discontinued CT6-V. Instead, an updated version of the CTS-V’s supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, making a whopping 668 horsepower, is mated to either a six-speed manual or an optional 10-speed automatic transmission.

We haven’t had the chance to drive the new CT5-V Blackwing yet, but early impressions of the standard CT5-V suggest a sharp-handling sedan that should improve even further once Cadillac tackles all the performance suspension bits that will be standard on the Blackwing model. All models come with an adaptive suspension system and a limited-slip rear differential.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Fuel economy estimates have not been released for the CT5-V Blackwing, but the outgoing CTS-V wasn’t exactly sipping gas. When we get a CT5-V Blackwing for testing, we’ll run our usual 75-mile highway fuel economy route and update this story with the results. For more information on the CT5-V Blackwing’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, comfort and cargo

The CT5-V Blackwing shares its cabin with the standard CT5, giving the performance sedan a suitably spacious interior with plenty of features and niceties. We found the regular CT5’s cabin to be a mix of materials – some fine, others decidedly budget-conscious – but Cadillac will dress the CT5-V Blackwing to better match its much higher entry price. All models come with genuine leather upholstery with heated and ventilated front seats and 18-way power-adjustable seats. Sport seats with leather and microfiber upholstery are optional and come with matching door panel inserts. The Blackwing’s trunk is the same size and shape as the regular CT5, where we fit five carry-on suitcases during our testing. The gauge display includes a lap clock function; a performance data recorder is optional.

Infotainment and connectivity

The CT5-V Blackwing features the same 10.0-inch touchscreen display and CUE infotainment interface as the standard CT5. This system also includes a secondary rotary controller in the center console for drivers who prefer not to touch the screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as are a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless smartphone charging. While the standard CT5 comes with an optional Bose stereo system, the Blackwing comes standard with a 15-speaker AKG system. All models also come with a 12.0-inch digital display with unique V-Series-specific start-up animation and a head-up display.

Safety and driver assistance functions

A variety of driver-assistance features are expected to be available both as standard and as options. Information on the CT5-V Blackwing’s crash test results can be found on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features are likely to include:

• Automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection as standard
• Standard lane departure warning with lane keeping assist
• Available adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode

Warranty and maintenance coverage

Compared to rivals like the M3 and C63, the Cadillac ‘s standard powertrain warranty offers coverage for a longer period and mileage. However, Cadillac only covers the first service visit, unlike BMW , which offers three years of free maintenance.

Price Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is an all-new performance sedan in the Cadillac lineup that will arrive in dealerships in summer . Don’t let the new naming confuse you: The Cadillac CT5-V is now just a sportier trim level of the CT5 series; the Blackwing is the brand’s all-out hyper-performance version.
Although Cadillac hasn’t released a full list of standard and optional features, the company says the base price of the CT5-V will be just under $85,000. If that price is too high for your budget, consider the smaller and more affordable Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing , which we review separately.