It’s the CT5-V Blackwing, a legendary performance sedan that has become so popular that the American automaker is reportedly giving serious consideration to developing a second generation.
Cadillac has always been known for the luxury and comfort of its vehicles. Over the past few decades, however, the American brand has also earned a reputation for building high-performance models. Introduced in 2004, the Cadillac CTS-V completely transformed the brand’s image with its big V8 engine and available manual transmission.
Things changed somewhat when the CT5 replaced the CTS. The V badge remained, but it was now associated with a V6 engine and an automatic transmission, moving away from the original formula. That’s when the Blackwing name stepped in to restore the spirit of Cadillac’s flagship performance sedan.
Ironically, the first vehicle to wear the Blackwing name was the CT6-V, powered by a 4.2-litre twin-turbocharged V8. However, Cadillac returned to its roots with the CT5-V Blackwing, equipping it with the legendary supercharged 6.2-litre V8 that produces 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft of torque. Despite its luxurious character, this full-size sport sedan can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in under 3.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 320 km/h.
Cadillac has already confirmed that the CT5 will return for a second generation, and all signs suggest that the CT5-V Blackwing will be part of the plan as well. Of course, General Motors has yet to officially confirm the high-performance variant, but there’s still every reason to remain optimistic. Now, all that remains is to hope Cadillac preserves the formula that has made the current CT5-V Blackwing such a remarkable machine.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
