Thursday 1st August 2019

Hot Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwings spied!

V6 and V8 power is due for Cadillac's performance saloons, which will take on Germany's finest in 2020

---

Cadillac is making no bones about its ambitions for the upcoming CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwing performance models; the pair having been spotted during public benchmarking against two of the BMW M department’s finest machines. Captured by our spy snapper near the firm’s Michigan base, Cadillac’s hot pairing – set to come with boosted V6 and V8 power respectively – were in convoy with a BMW M2 and BMW M5, as well as the lesser CT variants that will slot beneath them in the sporting range.

While details are a long way off from being revealed - the cars aren’t due until next year - the sighting emphasises that Cadillac’s entire line-up of V-badged models is being developed to take on the sharpest driver’s machines of their classes. They’re certainly bringing appropriate firepower; the smaller CT4-V Blackwing is set to come with something in the region of 450hp from its turbo six, while the CT5-V Blackwing’s V8 is predicted to be GM's supercharged 6.2-litre unit, offering significantly more than 600hp.

Those numbers ought to give the Blackwings ultimate honours in their segments, and we’re expecting good things when it comes to their overall packages, as well. Cadillac has really delivered on the chassis front in recent years – we loved the CTS-V, for example – and it’s almost certainly going to retain rear-wheel drive and manual options for both models, despite the shift towards all-wheel drive and auto from the Germans. With an American market to please, the Caddys ought to sound pretty bold and feel rather muscular, too; our spy snapper was certainly impressed with the exhaust notes of the development cars.

Lower down the CT rakings will be non-Blackwing models, using turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines with slightly less focussed chassis setups. These will, of course, be the volume sellers when it comes to the hot stuff, although there’s a strong chance that a significant portion of the V-badged CTs to make it to Britain will be the top performance variants. What’s the point of going for a leftfield (and left-hand drive only) choice from the States and not going for the big daddy, eh?

[Turbobanana]

These look fun.

Has PH overlooked these? Someone puts a different exhaust on a Supra - 13 comments (at time of writing). Carbon roof on an M2? Dozens of comments (admittedly an old story, updated). Fresh, different take on a performance saloon from an unlikely source? No-one notices.

I hope they do well.

[AmosMoses]

Turbobanana said:

These look fun.

Has PH overlooked these? Someone puts a different exhaust on a Supra - 13 comments (at time of writing). Carbon roof on an M2? Dozens of comments (admittedly an old story, updated). Fresh, different take on a performance saloon from an unlikely source? No-one notices.

I hope they do well.

They wont be coming to England so no one really cares. I do love the hot caddys though, the last CTS-V was mad.

[pb8g09]

Turbobanana said:

These look fun.

Has PH overlooked these? Someone puts a different exhaust on a Supra - 13 comments (at time of writing). Carbon roof on an M2? Dozens of comments (admittedly an old story, updated). Fresh, different take on a performance saloon from an unlikely source? No-one notices.

I hope they do well.

I suppose it being LHD only means it probably will only appeal to a minority on here.

[unsprung]

Turbobanana said:

No-one notices.

Some of us notice but are reluctant to post first. Whenever I attempt this, my post never goes on the original thread. Instead it appears in a parallel thread that is not connected to the PH article. Everybody else posts on the latter and my post drifts alone in e-space.

AmosMoses said:

I do love the hot caddys though, the last CTS-V was mad.

They've done a good job with their performance cars, which are generally good value for money.

There has been a slight change in nomenclature, now. V now means "entry level performance" and the car is only lightly breathed upon. "V Blackwing" means "full-on performance" and includes entirely different powertrains, suspension, and the like.

pb8g09 said:

I suppose it being LHD only means it probably will only appeal to a minority on here.

LHD-only is a pity. On the other hand, no pun intended, these cars will be ideal for the UK enthusiast who wants something a little bit different. Plus, being a General Motors product, these are likely to achieve above-average reliability with low maintenance costs and loads of kit and creature comfort.

It's not impossible that these cars could be offered officially in the UK via a designated importer (as has been done traditionally with Corvette). I, personally, if I would be in the UK, would look into a private import of a used example that has come off lease. Say, three years old and below average miles. Could be a used car bargain. And nobody you know will have one!

[dvs_dave]

PH said:

....while the CT5-V Blackwing’s V8 is predicted to be GM's supercharged 6.2-litre unit, offering significantly more than 600hp.

keep up at the back gents.

It’s very well publicized that the LTA is a 4.2L TT DOHC “hot-vee” V8. It’s “currently” unique to Cadillac, but its a given that it’ll end up in hotter versions of the new Corvette.

It shares nothing with the N/A 6.2L V8 LT5 pushrod V8 currently in the Corvette.

Edited by dvs_dave on Thursday 1st August 18:55

[unsprung]

video here:
https://www.motor1.com/news/362817/cadillac-ct4-ct...

Each of the Blackwing cars is discussed on that page and present in the video.

[Velox56]

Anyone know why the aerials are so long? almost like an RC Car . Still look awesome though.

[unsprung]

Velox56 said:

Anyone know why the aerials are so long? almost like an RC Car . Still look awesome though.

These prototypes are travelling in a small convoy with numerous General Motors staff. The aerials may provide CB radio communication within the team. Alternatively they may be transmitting telematics / test data.