Cadillac CT5 V Blackwing Subtitles
The Cadillac brand has meant comfort and luxury for decades. But these days, it could be argued
that performance is what it does best. Yeah, BMW has marketing magic with The Ultimate Driving
Machine but slide behind the wheel of the CT5 V Blackwing and the truth will set you free
Happy happy joy joy. This thing is unflappable in the corners.
General Motors does not get it’s do when it comes to chassis dynamics. They do a great job
all of the V cars, they’re terrific. The Camaro is under rated and under-appreciated.
The Corvette? Well that that speaks. Buick Encore is… okay now I’m kidding.
Between this and little brother CT4 V Blackwing, there’s no shortage of fun to be had. Cadillac
isn’t just giving these funsters away. The 5er starts at $85,000 and you’ll want a few options.
This one with over nine grand worth of carbon fiber aerodynamics
stickers for just over 106 thousand bucks.
There’s been a lot of chatter that the CT4 and CT 5 V Blackwings are the last
petroleum powered Cadillac‘s. Maybe but it’s going to be years before it transitions to an
all-electric lineup. For the forceable future there will be plenty of gasoline drinking Caddys.
But one thing is pretty much guaranteed this is the last V8 powered sedan the brand will make.
That the two Blackwing are the last new Cadillac sedans to run on dinosaur juice
and that V Blackwings will be limited to production in the low 1,000’s for the next few
model years means collectors are on as high alert as Speed Racer. This one is the 265th one built.
Here’s what makes the 5 V Blackwing go. This endangered species is a supercharged 6.2-liter
V8 that makes 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft of torque to move a 4,123-pound car. Seems adequate.
It’s hand built and signed, so, when you’re in the Detroit area you can buy Anthony a cup of coffee.
Or a beer. Maybe call him Tony. You’ll lift the hood just to look at the lovely bracing.
Nothing compares to the growl of a V8, remember, the last of the breed.
And you can have that note your way. Yes, along with the magnetic ride
control suspension and steering weight, the exhaust note can be switched up
when driving there’s a more sinister snap crackle pop. There are loads of drive modes,
not for the indecisive. Three carbon fiber and alloy pedals? Yes indeed, this precise 6-speed
manual is standard. It’s got a lovely action. The clutch take up is well done, the effort a
bit heftier than the CT4 V Blackwing’s. Like the 4 there’s an optional 10-speed automatic,
these Easter eggs cover the wheel paddles it would get. This is the GM proving grounds.
The traction control can be customized more than any other car I can remember,
it’s not just an on off thing. Choose rev matching downshift blips.
And there’s the V-Mode button that allows drivers to store a special setting for fast access for
those moments you’re busy driving. It can even be set for quick comfort. There are options.
And to tame all that power, there are big Brembo brakes. Six piston up front, four in back.
Cross-drilled carbon ceramic discs are available. MICHELIN Pilot Sport 4S tires are standard.
These Pirelli’s are better-suited to the damp pavement we often get in the PNW. Like today.
GM says this does 0-60 in 3.6 seconds with a little bit faster
but there’s more to this car than just number driving fun
CT 5 V Blackwings are rear drive only with an electronic limited-slip rear differential.
For AWD, go with the standard CT5 V. But know that it can’t be had with the manual gearbox.
The CT4 V Blackwing is just a blast drive. Light, telepathic
I would’ve thought that the 5 here would feel heavier more ponderous and heavier. But know,
it’s still fun to drive and tossible. I would describe it as more mature.
More than most sport sedans I’ve driven, this Blackwing has quite the Jekyll and
Hyde personality. That’s the beauty of the 4th generation Magnetic Ride Control
dampers and adjustable parameters. It’s always the right car at the right time.
I’ve dialed in the adjustable traction control for fun with the back tires
but there’s still a solid safety net. Reassuring on damp pavement.
Black wing would rip up a track of then with a flip of a switch
it would be perfectly comfortable like a Caterra. I could have said El Dorado or
Coupe Deville I’m being obtuse. Does anyone remember the Caterra? The Caddy that zigs?
Even with the shocks in firmer modes, my backside never gets hammered. That’s something considering
the low profile tires. For road trips, this can be moderately quiet but come on,
that’s not what this car is about is it?
I’m on record that I really like electric cars but this this sound? I’m gonna miss that sound
There’s an excellent AKG sound system for entertainment but I only turned it on to
make sure it was up to snuff. Most of the time the 8 cylinder was the only soundtrack playing.
Not sure John Williams can come up with anything better.
To make this the best track car, delete the glass roof and add the carbon ceramic brakes
for less unsprung weight. But this will be fine on the track and a perfectly docile daily driver.
No car is perfect and along with price and availability, the 5 Blackwing’s fuel
economy is tough to swallow. The EPA average is 15 and I’m certain I didn’t achieve that.
That’s not unexpected and it requires premium fuel
so in addition to the cost of the car and insurance budget for gasoline.
It’s not as if the Blackwings are targeted to Sentra buyers. This is a Cadillac after all,
so expense should be expected. Those brakes I spoke of earlier? Well,
it’s hard to gauge stopping distances on damp tarmac but together with the proper tires
they haul this two-ton sedan to a stop right quick. And I find modulation to be very good
The V Blackwing’s optional aero is very authentic, adding a significant amount of downforce.
And somehow, the front piece never caught on the pavement in my keep. Seems impossible… but true.
The cockpit is an excellent place to do business from, there are no issues with the ergonomics.
There’s plenty of woven carbon fiber, leather and synthetic suede, but somehow it never looks like
a 106-thousand-dollar car in here. It’s not bad. Just not the indulgence Mercedes or BMW
offers and there’s not much ambient light piping that the Germans do so well. The door handles feel
especially good to the fingers. The seats, with adjustable side bolsters and massage will fit
nearly any pilot. Really, they’re very accommodating. Heated and vented too.
The wheel gets heat, the controls are easy to use, especially good when driving fast and hard.
And Cadillac is upping the quality, the glove box is flocked to keep down rattles and vibrations,
the door pockets get lining too, it’s what you’d expect from a premium brand.
The center console gets mouse fur too though it’s skimpy on storage.
Apparently red seatbelts are made from incredibly rare nylon… or the $400 upcharge is pure profit.
The user interface doesn’t get casual voice prompt control like,
again, the Germans, but the layout is top notch, easy to use without any hiccups at
all. Excellent touch response. Another thing GM does well but doesn’t get credit for.
Leave your iPhone on the Qi pad, Apple CarPlay is wireless. Android Auto users will need a cord.
Kind of missed you when I had to CT4 Blackwing. Well there are two things I try to avoid,
getting carsick from his driving and cramped backseat. The 5 is more spacious, I think
we’ve established we’re both 5’ 9”. Headroom is a little bit tight just that much but knee,
leg and foot room are pretty darn generous. Door openings are average in size and the cushions are
high enough so that thigh support is really very very good. Door pockets aren’t huge but I could
put my Dramamine there. Normally I would complain that there aren’t any seat back pockets but these
optional carbon fiber shells are beautiful. No separate climate zone back here but there’s power
to charge my phone. Heated seats are not happening on his car but
the seats are in nicely sculpted. This is a rear wheel drive car and the driveshaft tunnel
is on the hefty side. Because of that I recommend keeping it to back here because, yes there
are belts for 3 and red is always awesome, but it’s really best for 2. I recommend 2.
When it comes to design the CT5 is not a stunner that people will buy for the styling along.
But there’s no giant snout that everyone loves to hate. Apparently engineers went through dozens of
version of the grille pattern to get the right amount of cooling, it’s not simply a call back
to the Cadillac shield. There’s a strong argument that the quiet presence of the CT5 V Blacking is
stealthy goodness. Owners might be happy to go unnoticed, especially by law enforcement.
Though the supercharged engine snarl is tough to ignore. My eye keeps being drawn to this
and there’s a lot of Honda Accord in it. That said, the Honda looks great. Interesting that
there’s no overt Blackwing badging only this, and it appears on lesser V cars. Completing the
low-profile attitude, the only Blackwing badge is a tiny one. On the front seats.
As you might imagine CT5 is bigger than CT4 which holds five packs of my measurement
metric that’s why I like standardized testing. I’ll explain what I mean by that in a second,
but first I’ll point out that like the CT4 V Blackwing , the 5 has no spare tire.
There’s a handy spot for your speed shine, you’ll want to touch this car up and keep it clean.
The battery location is for weight distribution, and probably won’t fit in the engine bay. I’m
happy that the seatbacks aren’t fixed in place, there’s some practicality happening
with this sedan. You’ll be going around to the back doors to drop them though.
When it comes to loading things up, well, the 5’s real world usability isn’t quite as good as the 4.
Seriously. It’s nearly 12 cubic feet back here, but try as I might, it comes up 1 pack short to
baby brother. Maybe it’s the speaker guards. I’d throw some duct tape on those to soften the metal
edge that could easily scratch stuff. Okay, time to sum it all up. It’s Red Light Green Light time.
Green Light- First and foremost the world-class driver’s car goodness of the CT5 V Blackwing. The
V8 snarl is orchestral, like the Ride of the Valkyries performed by pistons and petroleum.
The ride quality and handling spans comfort to track star at the push of a button.
The manual transmission is snickity snick goodness.
Yellow Light- The styling doesn’t raise any attention. Can be a positive… or a negative.
Lots of high-quality materials in the cabin that still don’t equal the German brands.
The backseat is decently sized… other than headroom. That’s a bit tight.
Red Light- CT5 V Blackwing has a drinking problem. You can almost watch the fuel gauge drop when
driving hard. The larger trunk somehow manages to be less useful than the smaller CT4. Even at
an average price of 106 grand (before any dealer adjustments) it will still be tough to find one.
There’s little doubt that many buyers are snapping these up as investments. It’s sad
to think a bunch of these will be collecting dust in a garage when they could be doing this.
Or better yet, tearing up a track, kind of this car’s natural habitat.
All the buff books, Car and Driver, Motor Trend, Road and Track say this is the best sport sedan
money can buy and I would not disagree. If you’re not considering this…. too bad for you.
Also consider Audi RS5, BMW M5, Alfa Romeo Giulia Qudrafoglio, and MB AMG C63S.
If you don’t need supercharged V8 power, there’s always the standard CT5 V and it can be had with
AWD. It’s classic General Motors to get a car right just as it’s about to phase it out.
Here’s hoping Cadillac will put V dynamics into its EVs at launch.
The Blackwing cars signify the end of an era. And they’re not going quietly into the night.
Cadillac is mostly known as a luxury brand and again I think it does performance best of all.
But for a long time it was really known most for innovation. Things that we take for granted,
an enclosed cabin, the electric start, electric headlights, the pedal and shifter layout of the
cabin, synchromesh transmission, even automatic climate control were all pioneered by Cadillac.
And recently it was the first with magnetic ride control suspension and hands-free driving.
It’s a brand that has a lot of promise. If GM would only let Cadillac be Cadillac.
Curious about the Blackwing name? It comes from the original Cadillac emblem,
which featured a black bird called the merlette, not ducks. Those birds only recently went away
along with the laurel wreath. Now Cadillac’s logo is simply a Mondrian-like shield.
Kind of think this would look better monochrome for the Blackwing.
Speaking of birds, look, more eagles. We have a bunch in the PNW.
It's early on a Saturday morning and Martin Campell is out helping. And Rob Callero,
come up here Ron. The fabulaous Rob Calera. Thanks guys. It takes a village.
I’ll remind you that I have a price quote service. It’s not easy buying cars these days and getting
a quote from a dealership can help. I encourage you to use any of these services. Not just mine,
for me it’s most important that you get a decent deal. But using mine helps to support this
channel. Hey, I have costs like gas. I’ll show you the trick mirror while I wait in line to fill up.
Again. As you might imagine the V Blackwing sucked down fuel like Rob Gronkowski guzzling Gatorade.
Is being end it’s time for the fun fact Cadillac was started by gentleman by the
name of the Henry Leland at its assets came from the Henry Ford company Ford’s first
company now Leland went on to sell Cadillac to General Motors for 4 1/2 million dollars
which some 110 years ago he went on to start another luxury car company anybody Lincoln
no Leland was probably a much better engineer and machinist and he was a financial guy and
he had to sell Lincoln coming full circle to fort there is this episodes fun facts
thanks for watching remember if you have a question leave it in the comments or
get a hold of me on Twitter I’m pretty active there that’s Driven I’m Tom Voelk