New Car

2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, CT4-V Blackwing bow as the most track-capable Caddies ever

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Feb 2, 2021, 9:50 am

Cadillac showed off its 2022 CT5-V Blackwing, and 2022 CT4-V Blackwing officially this week.

Photo courtesy of Cadillac

Cadillac took all the performance know-how it has learned and put it all into the limited edition 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing and CT4-V Blackwing. The Detroit-based automaker says that the two rear-wheel drive models are the most track-capable Cadillacs ever made and set new standards for luxury and comfort.

"V-Series Blackwing stands for the very highest level of execution from Cadillac and offers a distinctly American vision of performance: incredible power and luxurious craftsmanship, with absolutely zero compromise," said Brandon Vivian, executive chief engineer, Cadillac. "We looked to our championship-winning racing heritage and brought an uncompromising eye for detail to create two cars that elevate the V-Series experience."

Both cars were tested extensively prior to their reveal. This includes 24-hour continuous track testing with the available automatic transmission, carbon fiber aero package, aluminum wheels, and carbon ceramic brakes. The team also conducted 12-hour continuous track testing with the standard manual transmission, available carbon fiber aero package, aluminum wheels, and carbon ceramic brake package.

2022  CT4-V Blackwing

2022 CT4-V Blackwing

Photo courtesy of Cadillac

Cadillac has transformed its CT4 sedan into the CT4-V Blackwing by putting a twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 behind the grille. It is matched with a 3D-printed standard six-speed manual transmission. A 10-speed automatic transmission is available. It achieves a maximum of 472 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque.

It has a GM-estimated top speed of 189 mpg and gets from zero to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds when equipped with an automatic transmission.

Compared to the Cadillac ATS-V, the car has an air intake restriction improvement of 39-percent. Airflow routing volume is reduced by 60 percent when compared to a conventional design.

An electronic limited slip rear differential, advanced suspension refinements, Magnetic Ride Control 4.0, and unique structural enhancements make the car more agile and capable on the track. It has 14.96 x 1.34-inch front rotors and 13.4 x 1.1-inch rear rotors.

Both cars ride on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires that were developed especially for them. The CT4-V Blackwing wears 275/35ZR19 in the front and 305/30ZR19 at the rear. The tires wrap around forged aluminum wheels that are 19 x 10 inches in the front and 19 x 11 inches out back.

2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

Photo courtesy of Cadillac

The CT5-V Blackwing starts life as a CT5 sedan variant. It has a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 under the hood that is paired with a standard TREMEC six-speed manual transmission. A 10-speed automatic transmission is available. The powertrain gives drivers access to 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque, making it the most powerful Caddie ever.

The car has a GM-estimated top track speed over 200 mph and can get from zero to 60 in 3.7 seconds when equipped with the optional automatic transmission.

Each engine is hand-built at GM's Bowling Green Assembly facility in Kentucky and features a signed engine builder's plate.

Compared to the now-extinct Cadillac CTS-V, the CT5-V Blackwing has a 46-percent better air intake airflow. It also has a revised exhaust system compared to the traditional CT5 and strong braking provided in part by 15.67 x 1.42-inch front rotors and 14.7 x 1.1-inch rear rotors. Cadillac has given the model staggered Brembo six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers. CT5-V Blackwing models have a lightweight carbon-ceramic brake package available.

The car's Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires are sized 255/35ZR18 up front and 275/35ZR18 at the rear. The tires wrap around forged aluminum wheels that are 18 x 9 inches in the front and 18 x 9.5 inches out back.

Reservations for both vehicles now available on Cadillac.com, with deliveries commencing later this summer. Initial reservations for the CT5-V Blackwing are full.

Pricing begins at $59,990 for the CT4-V Blackwing and $84,990 for the CT5-V Blackwing, which includes a $995 destination fee.

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Year-end review

Tell us your best car-related memory from 2021

What was your best car-related experience this year?

Chris Teague

This year has been a lot of things, but it hasn't been boring. Even if we focus only on the car world, there's plenty to talk about, from microchip-related new vehicle shortages to the wave of new electric vehicles hitting the market. That leaves us with a question for all of you: What was the best or most memorable car moment for you in 2021? I'll get the conversation started.

Porsche Cayenne GTS My SoCal Cayenne śaw snow for the first time in its nearly 200k-mile life last week.Chris Teague

I'd spent a good portion of 2021 wanting a new-old car to drive when I wasn't testing a new vehicle. That's harder than you'd think for someone who thinks, talks, and writes about cars all day, because there are so many interesting, risky, and downright funky options out there in every price range. The added headache for me was that I'd chosen to shop for a "fun" car in one of the most volatile car markets ever seen. Even the extremely high-mileage "untouchable" European cars I wanted to buy were commanding ridiculous prices.

After a solid few months of waffling between various rattletrap Mercedes-AMG, BMW M, and Audi S/RS cars, I landed on an option that had escaped me before: The Porsche Cayenne. First-generation Cayennes are a real bargain now, but the 955/957 (Porsche's internal code for the SUVs) can experience major problems that occur with or without regular maintenance and care. I was determined to buy one, and wasn't overly concerned about mileage, as long as I could count the number of owners on one hand. There was a beautiful 2009 Cayenne GTS with 90,000 miles but nine owners, a gorgeous 2004 Cayenne Turbo with a concerning engine tick, and many more just like them. Finally, I decided to risky-click a 196,000-mile Cayenne GTS in Southern California. It had one owner and one dealer-owner for a month or two prior to sale, its condition looked decent in photos, and I was able to negotiate a reasonable enough price that shipping it from San Diego to Maine wasn't a huge problem.

Porsche Cayenne GTS The pics look great, but hands-on tells another story.Chris Teague

I had two traveling Euro mechanics check the car out, and both confirmed that it was well-worn but mechanically sound, so I jumped. Ten days later, on a snowy, icy, dark Maine afternoon, the Cayenne arrived. Cosmetically, there were a few things the dealer and mechanics failed to mention, but overall, it looked good. The SUV passed Maine safety and emissions testing without problem, got a new set of Michelins, and I was on my way.

Porsche Cayenne GTS I'm in danger, but thankfully this should be a reasonable fix.Chris Teague

A few days of driving revealed what I was really in for. A check engine light revealed a camshaft position sensor error and the Cayenne displayed a nasty vibration at idle. A new sensor and motor mounts, and I'm on my way. I'll update you as more things break or miraculously work, but I want to hear your memories from 2021.

Email me at chris@automotivemap.com, and I will compile the best and most interesting stories for a story on New Year's Day. May you all have a wonderful 2022.

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Collector cars

Buy these cars before they climb in value

Insurance company Hagerty compiled a list of cars it thinks will climb in value and price.

Hagerty

Vehicle prices have grown across the board this year, but collector car prices have been on the move for years. The world of online car auctions and car shows such as Radwood have driven attention to obscure and otherwise unknown cars, pushing their prices. Insurance and overall automotive lifestyle company Hagerty is stepping in to help. It complied a list of vehicles that it believes are currently a good value and have potential to climb. The Hagerty Bull Market List covers ten vehicles of all types.

Hagerty’s list is expansive, covering several vehicle types, prices, and time periods. The list features vehicles built between 1963 and 2012, and is designed to nudge people into buying cars before they become unattainable. This is especially important now, as online auction sites have moved the markets for some previously obscure cars well past the point of reason.

The Bull Market List isn’t intended to give you an inside track on car values so that you can flip them for quick profit. Instead, the list should give you the push you need if you’re already on the fence about buying a car to keep and drive a cool vehicle. Hagerty wants people to buy the cars and have the ability to pass them on to other enthusiasts without charging exorbitant prices.

The Bull Market List includes (with excellent condition pricing):

  • 1965-1970 Cadillac DeVille ($28,800)
  • 1969-1974 Ferrari 246 Dino ($365,800)
  • 1983-1997 Land Rover Defender ($61,400)
  • 1979-1985 Mazda RX-7 ($17,600)
  • 1962-1967 Mercedes-Benz 230SL ($80,500)
  • 1963-1967 Pontiac GTO ($100,200)
  • 1992-1995 Porsche 968 ($38,000)
  • 1985-1995 Suzuki Samurai ($10,200)
  • 2008-2012 Tesla Roadster Sport ($97,000)
  • 1975-1993 Volvo 245 ($15,800)

If you’re considering one of the vehicles on the list and have the means, it’s a good idea to act in the near future. Vehicle prices are rising due to supply chain shortages to the point that even older cars are climbing. That, plus the effects of online car auctions, have made it hard to find a good value car.

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