Whereas Miami, FL might thrive as a land of extra, significantly following a post-pandemic migration of nouveau riche residents, it’s not an excellent dwelling for automotive lovers. Certain, the surroundings is attractive, and there’s no scarcity of exotics or ultra-luxury machines round, however until a street community designed within the spirit of a spreadsheet is your thought of enjoyable, you’ll should search for thrills elsewhere.
But it’s on this very setting the place I discover myself behind the wheel of the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, a 668-horsepower tremendous sedan whose output finds its rear wheels through a six-speed handbook transmission. It’s a recipe that guarantees to prioritize driver engagement. And given this automotive’s $124,005 as-tested determine, you’ll quickly study why that’s each a blessing and a curse. Nonetheless, can what reads like Cadillac’s most fun four-door up to now shine the place the roads really feel just like the work of a toddler with an etch-a-sketch?
The quick reply is sure, so long as you purchase the best CT5-V. For the 2025 mannequin yr, Cadillac will promote you two variations that, at first look, look almost equivalent. The primary is the plain jane CT5-V, which makes use of an uprated model of the identical 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 you’ll discover in the usual CT5. Though the American carmaker markets it as an official member of its V-Sequence household, it’s far nearer in spirit to the bottom automotive than it’s to the range-topping Blackwing.
Given the model cache and diehard fanbase established by the discontinued CTS-V lineup, Cadillac slaps that additional letter on the CT5-V’s identify with hopes of making enchantment for what in any other case reads like solely a mildly sporty sedan. It’s a web page out of the BMW M playbook and a surefire approach to dilute a subbrand that’s taken over 20 years to ascertain. Briefly, this isn’t the one you need.
For the full-fat sports activities sedan expertise, you’ll need to step as much as the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. From a worth perspective, it’s extra of a leap than a step, contemplating the $38,600 premium the Blackwing instructions. Add in some optionally available extras, and that’s the way you get to my tester’s $124,005 out-the-door worth. Extra on that later.
The 2025 mannequin yr marks the arrival of the Blackwing’s mid-cycle refresh. Aesthetically, Cadillac has targeted most of its work on this automotive’s entrance finish. It sports activities a redesigned entrance bumper accented by new vertical LED headlights. The latter will placed on a short mild present as you stroll as much as or away from the automotive. Is that this a gimmick? Certain, nevertheless it creates a way of event, and that’s all the time welcomed in a automobile targeted on delivering a memorable expertise.
The remainder of the outside carries over largely untouched. A set of 19-inch wheels is commonplace gear, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S rubber measuring 275/35 up entrance and 305/30 within the rear. Three new colours be part of its out there palette for 2025, with this tester carrying the most effective shade: Storm Metallic. And will the Blackwing’s look not be fairly aggressive sufficient in inventory type, you may possibility a $5,600 Carbon Fiber 1 Bundle like my tester to introduce new aero parts, or take it even additional with the $6,730 Carbon Fiber 2 Bundle it lacks.
From a visible perspective, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing will get it proper. It has a large and low stance that pairs with attention-grabbing however not overdone styling. That is, in spite of everything, nonetheless a full-size luxurious sedan. And regardless of what it hides beneath its hood, the Blackwing will get away by being considerably understated. It’s a correct IYKYK automotive. Whereas its broadly circulated German rivals are sometimes missed, Cadillac’s flagship pulls within the fanatic’s eye like few vehicles I’ve examined over time.
That mentioned, there’s no denying how eerily comparable the Blackwing appears to its lesser CT5-V sibling. The non-Blackwing V sports activities equivalent styling cues, equally large bodywork, and a trapezoidal quad-exhaust setup. I can solely think about that pulling as much as one at a stoplight in your six-figure rendition of the identical automotive can’t be an excellent feeling.
Nevertheless, as shut as they could be from a visible standpoint, they’re worlds aside concerning efficiency. Like the entire sport sedan greats that got here earlier than it, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing facilities its driving expertise round an engine that’s as thrilling as it’s spectacular on paper. It’s a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 creating 668 hp and 659 pound-feet of torque.
As you’d anticipate from a GM small block with a 1.74-liter blower on prime, it sounds improbable. Its quad ideas crackle on a chilly begin whereas its throaty word crescendos as you’re employed up the revs. It’s not simply loud however musical. There’s nonetheless some digital engine noise by its audio system. Fortunately, it doesn’t sound overly artificial like what you’ll discover in some current AMG or BMW M merchandise. When you don’t get a flood of supercharger wine a lá Hellcat, the Blackwing produces simply sufficient to maintain issues attention-grabbing.
In a world the place the most recent hybridized BMW M5 develops 717 hp, it’d be simple to underestimate the Blackwing’s 668-hp output. That’s till you issue that as a result of it weighs 4,123 kilos outfitted with a handbook transmission, the Cadillac is 1,267 lb lighter than its closest German rival. That’s because of its lack of electrification or an all-wheel drive system. Possibility a clutch pedal, and the Blackwing sprints to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds or 3.4 seconds in the event you go for the automated.
No matter your transmission alternative, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing delivers straight-line efficiency you may get drunk on. With what looks like an infinite energy reserve out there through your proper foot, the Blackwing is speedy from a dig or in the event you’re already cruising at freeway speeds.
My tester’s handbook transmission sweetens the cope with a exact shifter whose quick throws and properly weighted clutch make fast shifting a pleasure. Nevertheless, in order for you extra velocity, you may lean on its No Raise Shift characteristic, which, as its identify suggests, lets you hold your proper foot on the ground at the same time as you row by the gears. On the opposite finish, whereas Miami isn’t an excellent place to check this automotive’s $9,000 carbon ceramic brakes, they show to me greater than highly effective sufficient for these moments when the automobile on the shoulder appears suspiciously like a Dodge Charger with a light-weight bar on prime.
Halfway by my week with the Blackwing, Florida’s skies predictably flip grey and pour over the town for just a few hours. It presents a wonderful alternative to dial again the Cadillac’s traction management settings, which you’ll be able to modify independently from its drive modes, and see the way it behaves on a slick floor with 668 hp going purely to its rear tires. The outcomes are predictably hilarious, thanks partly to this automotive’s commonplace limited-slip differential. The Blackwing swings its tail on the lightest throttle enter, however due to its lengthy wheelbase, it’s by no means a handful to reign in.
In distinction to BMW M’s insistence on becoming all its merchandise with ultra-quick steering racks that really feel as genuine as going for a Sunday drive in Forza Horizon, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing employs a much more relaxed ratio. Whereas it’ll choose up weight as you dial as much as this automotive’s extra aggressive drive modes, it does so on a regular basis fairly than primarily underneath load the place the data is most helpful. Concurrently, it stays comparatively mild on suggestions.
The Blackwing’s celebration piece is its suspension. If a rear-wheel drive sedan outfitted with a supercharged V8 and a handbook transmission isn’t convincing sufficient, studying that it’s additionally luxurious automotive plush may do the trick. This range-topping CT5-V sports activities GM’s newest Magnetic Journey Management system, now in its fourth iteration. Briefly, this setup permits this automotive’s dampers to react instantaneously to street imperfections, broadening their versatility. They’ll thus be plush within the chillest Tour mode and genuinely agency within the prime Monitor setting.
Whereas my tester lacks it, the Cadillac lets you track-prep your Blackwing through its $18,000 Precision Bundle. Other than equipping this sedan with carbon ceramic brakes, this feature provides even firmer dampers and entrance suspension arms, offering better alignment flexibility and the flexibility to dial in additional unfavourable camber. And whereas it’s nice for these in search of the utmost efficiency, it’s pointless if the day by day commute is extra of your property turf.
Step inside, and also you’ll discover the second largest replace launched for the Blackwing’s mid-cycle refresh: its huge curved 33-inch LED show. This setup will really feel acquainted in the event you’ve ever been in an Escalade. Crucially, it’s a major step up from the outgoing Blackwing’s dual-screen setup that regarded dated from when Cadillac unveiled it. But regardless of integrating a brand new contact display to the best of the steering wheel, your entire important controls stay mapped to bodily buttons and switches.
On condition that the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is a full-size luxurious sedan, its cabin is spacious, with loads of room within the entrance and second rows. On the identical time, it additionally sports activities a large trunk. My tester sports activities an $8,090 set of carbon-backed seats, an possibility that additionally wraps the cabin in semi-aniline leather-based. Whereas expensive, these buckets are vital possibility. They’re supportive whereas remaining snug on longer drives and look far sportier than the tasteless chairs Cadillac presents as commonplace.
Bear in mind how I mentioned this automotive’s option to middle itself across the driving expertise is each a blessing and a curse? Effectively, that’s evident the second you begin poking round and really feel simply how flimsy most of the plastic trim and buttons really feel all through this cabin. Price-cutting isn’t inherently a foul factor, primarily when it’s hidden effectively. Nonetheless, you gained’t really feel nice about spending six figures for the privilege if you’re left to work together with low-cost switchgear and take a look at a dashboard wrapped in a soft-touch materials masquerading as stitched leather-based.
With a $95,595 beginning worth, the 2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing I’m in prices $124,005 when you’ve tallied up all of its optionally available extras and a $1,395 vacation spot payment. For context, a 2025 BMW M5 begins a lot larger at $119,500, whereas a 2025 Audi RS 6 Avant Efficiency asks for much more with its $126,600 base worth.
As I close to the tip of my time with the Blackwing in a metropolis whose roads are as inspiring as AI-generated artwork, it’s clear that Cadillac’s flagship will shine no matter the place it’s. Due to its visible updates, it appears higher than ever, even when the lesser CT5-V dilutes its feeling of exclusivity. In the meantime, tech enhancements to its cabin make the consumer expertise really feel extra cutting-edge than what you bought in its predecessor.
Nevertheless, this sedan’s supercharged V8 stays the star of the present. It’s endlessly highly effective, produces an intoxicating noise, and due to its handbook transmission possibility, it’s as partaking as it’s thrilling. Throw in a flexible suspension setup and a playful demeanor if you need it to be and planted if you don’t, and also you get a correct driver’s automotive.
The Blackwing asks you to make a trade-off. Certain, you may spend up for a BMW M5 or an Audi RS 6 and get cabins with nicer supplies. Nonetheless, if there’s something these over-isolated machines train us by every new era, this method results in a driving expertise that’s usually disconnected and forgettable. Whereas Cadillac’s flagship gained’t win you over with its supplies, its deal with delivering thrills over all the pieces cements it as one of many all-time greats.
