Performance sedans aren’t nearly as popular as they once were, but Cadillac’s looking to enter the market with two explosive models: the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing. Cadillac finally revealed the vehicles with a bittersweet note, as these will be the last V-cars from the brand to be solely powered by an internal combustion engine. Cadillac is certainly going out with a bang, as the two new Blackwing models are firecrackers.
Let’s start with the more affordable CT4-V Blackwing. Power for the sedan comes from a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 472 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with either a 10-speed automatic or a six-speed manual with power going to the rear wheels. Cadillac claims a zero-to-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 189 mph. Prices for the CT4-V Blackwing start at $59,990 including destination.
Then, there’s the ludicrously powerful CT5-V Blackwing. Power for the larger midsize sedan comes from a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that generates 668 hp and 659 lb-ft of torque. Both a 10-speed auto and a six-speed manual are offered with the CT5-V Blackwing, which is a rarity for the midsize class. The CT5-V Blackwing is expected to be able to get over 200 mph and get to 60 mph from a standstill in 3.7 seconds. As the larger, more powerful sedan, the CT5-V Blackwing is a hefty increase in pricing for the CT4-V Blackwing, starting at $84,990.
As a compact sedan, the CT4-V Blackwing competes against the Mercedes-AMG C63 S, BMW M3, and Audi RS5 Sportback. Compared to the C63 S and M3 Competition, Cadillac’s sedan is down on power. Both the Mercedes and BMW make 503 hp and more torque than the CT4-V Blackwing. Those competitors start at above $73,000, though. The RS5 Sportback is an interesting option, as it comes with a 444-horsepower twin-turbo V6 and a hatchback body. Pricing for the RS5 Sportback starts at around $75,000. All three of the Cadillac’s competitors are only available with an automatic transmission. BMW offers a manual transmission on the M3, but the more powerful Competition is only available with an automatic.
Based on power alone, the CT4-V Blackwing is an excellent value option compared to its German rivals. While the sedan isn’t offered with the same kind of high-tech features, it’s a performance bargain. Throw in the fact that it’s available with a six-speed manual and the CT4-V Blackwing looks like a winner.
The 668-hp CT5-V Blackwing is the most powerful V model from Cadillac and competes with the Mercedes-AMG E63 S, BMW M5, and Audi RS7. While $85,985 for a Cadillac sounds like a lot, the CT5-V Blackwing is the cheapest vehicle out of the trio by a wide margin. All three German sedans start at above $100,000 with the RS7 being the most expensive option with a price tag of $115,045. That alone makes the Cadillac excellent value.
When you factor performance into the equation, things are still in the CT5-V Blackwing’s favor. The supercharged V8 makes more power than the powertrains found in the AMG E63 S (603 hp), M5 (600 hp), and RS7 (591 hp). You can get any of these German vehicles with a manual transmission, either. Interestingly, the CT5-V Blackwing is rear-wheel-drive only, while all three competitors come with an all-wheel-drive system. All-wheel drive helps the German sedans be quicker than the CT5-V Blackwing with the M5 capable of making the sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in just 3.2 seconds, roughly 0.5 seconds quicker than the Cadillac.
While Mercedes-AMG and Audi haven’t introduced any high-performance variants of their already high-performance sedans, BMW recently introduced the M5 CS. That sedan produces 627 horsepower and can get to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds. Despite having less power, the M5 CS is clearly more of a performance vehicle than the CT5-V Blackwing. The only issue with the M5 CS is that it’s priced at $142,995, nearly $57,000 more than Cadillac’s sedan.
From our point of view, both the CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwing models are excellent value options compared to their German rivals. The fact that Cadillac offers both sedans with a six-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel-drive layouts is astounding. With electric vehicles and SUVS dominating the industry, we believe that this could be the last time a luxury automaker produces a high-performance sedan with rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission. If these vehicles sound remotely interesting, we recommend putting in a deposit immediately, because these vehicles are sure to sell out quickly.
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