Well done Cadillac. The CT5V is a worthy successor to the CTS-V, and the pricing isn't totally out of line. It looks pretty great too.
First things first: To clear up any potential confusion, think of the new V-Series Blackwing models as the “true” successors to the CTS- and ATS-V of yesteryear. That means the “more pedestrian” non-Blackwing V-Series CT4 and CT5 are more akin to Cadillac’s version of a BMW M-Sport, Mercedes-Benz AMG Line or even a Hyundai N-Line model.
Make sense? Great. Let’s carry on.
Cadillac teased both cars over the weekend during the live broadcast of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, but now we have the full details.
First up is the CT4-V Blackwing. Power comes from a 3.6-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 rated at 472 horsepower and 445 lb.-ft. of torque. Cadillac estimates that it can reach a top speed of 189 mph, and reach 60 mph from a standstill in 3.8 seconds if equipped with the 10-speed automatic transmission.
The CT5-V Blackwing, on the other hand, makes use of a 6.2-liter, supercharged V8 that is good for 668 horsepower and 659 lb.-ft. of torque—said to make the CT5 the most powerful production Cadillac ever. That gives the car an estimated top speed of “over 200 mph” and a zero-to-60 time of 3.7 seconds with the auto. The press release also notes that each engine is hand-built in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and even features a “signed engine builder’s plate,” kind of like how they build engines for the Nissan GT-R and various Mercedes-AMG models.
For both cars, perhaps the most notable feature is that a six-speed manual is standard. Said to be a Tremec unit that uses a twin-disc clutch, the manual transmission features “Active Rev Matching accessible via a console-mounted toggle switch to automatically adjust engine speed to match anticipated downshifts,” along with “No-Lift Shift allowing the driver to shift gears without letting off the gas pedal. In the case of the CT4-V Blackwing, it allows the turbos to remain spooled, resulting in faster lap times.”
The CT4 and CT5 are shod in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires at all four corners, with Brembo brakes—six-piston calipers up front, four-piston calipers in the rear—handling stopping duties.
Now for the less-than-fun numbers: The CT5 V-Series Blackwing starts at $84,990, and the CT4 V-Series Blackwing starts at $59,990 (that's roughly $37,000 and $15,000 more than the CT5 and CT4 V-Series models, respectively).
Cadillac explains that reservations are now open, with deliveries taking place "later this summer."
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Well done Cadillac. The CT5V is a worthy successor to the CTS-V, and the pricing isn't totally out of line. It looks pretty great too.
Too bad they ditched the blackwing engine they spent all that money on and hardly used...
Considering no-one else is doing manuals these days they have my attention. The stats and pricing seem to be inline for this type of vehicle as well. Well done indeed.
Wow. That's impressive. And not astronomically priced either...
How big are they comparatively?
My mother-in-law always wanted a new Cadillac but ended up getting new Bonneville's, Delta 88's, Oldsmobile 98's, and finally a Buick LeSabre. She never got the Cadillac - oh so close she was given my father-in-law worked for General Motor's Fisher Body his entire career.
In 1985 I showed up in a brand new 5-speed manual tranny Nissan 200SX and her reply to me was; you paid all that money for a new car and you still have to shift the gears?
If she was here I wonder what she would say about that sweet $85,000 CT5-V?
rslifkin said:Too bad they ditched the blackwing engine they spent all that money on and hardly used...
This man speaks the truth
The lack of a 2 door makes me a little sad but otherwise well done Cadillac!
Colin Wood said:For both cars, perhaps the most notable feature is that a six-speed manual is standard.
!!! I didn't expect that. There's still hope for us Luddites who like to change our own gears. 
Now if they only offered a naturally aspirated version.
Well this is exciting news. Not like I'll ever own one, based on where CTS-V prices have bottomed out, but it still cool to see. I like cadillac's new design language.
They look big and the interior styling definitely seems to be aimed at an older crowd that has that kind of money to spend. I don't hate the exterior styling, even if I'd rather see a smaller 2-door, as it seems to strike a good middle ground of exciting but not busy. Even looks like the visibility oughta be pretty good out of the 5, as well. The interior, though, is just awful. Whoever they put in charge of the interior should not be allowed to do that again. It almost reminds me of an SN95 mustang interior, if you kinda squint a lot. Either way, love it or hate it, the price tag makes clear they're not for me.
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