For those who informed anybody within the automotive business 21 years in the past that Cadillac would ultimately produce essentially the most driver-centric and trackable handbook transmission tremendous sedan available on the market, you’ll lose all credibility for making such an outlandish declare. As soon as Cadillac launched the primary CTS-V in 2004, the world began to see the dynamic potential that the model possessed. Now not was Cadillac perceived as the popular technique of transportation for the parents whose model of pleasure was catching the early hen particular on the native diner; it was a critical efficiency luxurious automobile contender. Now, after almost 20 years of regularly spectacular V-Collection fashions, the up to date 2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing takes issues to the following degree with refined updates that make a big distinction on the racetrack.
Updates to the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing are comparatively minimal total. It good points new entrance finish styling, extra commonplace options together with Tremendous Cruise on vehicles outfitted with computerized transmissions, a 33-inch diagonal display screen, a brand new and vastly spectacular Efficiency Knowledge Recorder (PDR), and a Precision Package deal that takes the already spectacular dynamics to the following degree. What does that each one add as much as? Cadillac introduced me out to Atlanta Motorsports Park to seek out out.
Full disclosure: Cadillac flew me out to Atlanta and gave me a number of hours behind the wheel of varied CT5-V Blackwings on the difficult twists and turns of Atlanta Motorsports Park. I had a hoot and a half slinging this unimaginable machine round and revisiting my efficiency driving coaching. I’m happy with myself for not going off even as soon as.
Cadillac didn’t add any extra energy to the already beefy supercharged 6.2-liter V8, so it nonetheless produces 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque and is obtainable with both a 10-speed computerized transmission or a spectacular 6-speed handbook, the latter of which over 50 % of CT5-V Blackwing patrons go for. The large information is that $18,000 Precision Package deal, which provides new entrance steering knuckles and rear suspension toe hyperlinks that give a extra aggressive wheel alignment for observe utilization, carbon-ceramic brakes, recalibrated chassis subsystems, elevated spring charges, a bigger entrance stabilizer bar, revised suspension bushings and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires. All CT5-V Blackwings can be found with the brand new Efficiency Knowledge Recorder designed in collaboration with Cosworth that enables customers an unparalleled capacity to evaluation all driving knowledge inside the onboard techniques with out ever needing to plug in a laptop computer.
Does the Precision Package deal completely remodel the automobile? Not essentially, nevertheless it does elevate the expertise. It took me hopping straight between Blackwings with and with out the Precision pack to really feel the distinction on the street, the place the chassis and suspension tweaks manifest themselves by making the automobile really feel a bit extra alive. You’re extra conscious of what’s occurring between the tires and the street, and it’s nowhere close to agency or jarring; the automobile feels prefer it’s at all times able to dive into any nook at any velocity and are available out prepared for extra. Regardless of the extra aggressive setup, the Blackwing nonetheless rides fantastically and pampers passengers on the street. On the observe, nonetheless, the Precision Package deal correctly cranks up the depth. I think that many of the distinction comes from the tires, however the suspension calibration and carbon ceramics make the CT5-V Blackwing appear way more succesful. The steering appears to lose a little bit of really feel with the stickier rubber, nevertheless it’s nonetheless higher than most vehicles.
I stored the traction management in Sport and Sport Plus, which let me have a variety of enjoyable whereas preserving me protected and on the street. It was my first time driving at Atlanta Motorsports Park, which is a really technical course with plenty of tight turns and elevation modifications that create blind corners. Leaping out of ordinary Blackwings and into vehicles outfitted with the Precision Package deal illuminated the sharpened demeanor. Flip-in felt extra instant, braking was way more assured, front-end response was sharper, and the rear finish felt extra related and settled. All of these enhancements don’t diminish the automobile’s admirable day-to-day consolation, both. The CT5-V Blackwing continues to be on the high of the heap for people who worth the preservation of a related driving expertise, and the Precision Pack amplifies that.
The up to date Efficiency Knowledge Recorder prices $1,600 and supplies patrons with detailed in-car telemetry, even providing drivers recommendations on the place they will make up some helpful time on the observe. It now reveals a lap timer display screen that gives real-time knowledge in regards to the delta between your quickest lap and your present lap, which sounds gimmicky, however I promise it’s nice for bettering your laps. It’s like having your personal private racing coach within the automobile with you, and you’ll watch side-by-side onboard digicam recordings of various laps all from the infotainment display screen. If you wish to get extra technical, the cell app AliveDrive permits customers to sync knowledge with the cloud to evaluation throughout units, and dig deeper into the telemetry of each transfer. Teaching strategies are generated after a session of laps, the place the pc compares your quickest lap in opposition to your others and recommends methods to enhance your lap occasions. It’s a critically spectacular piece of expertise that I like to recommend equipping when you ever plan to trace your automobile.
Together with the addition of the brand new PDR and the Precision Package deal, the CT5 good points an up to date inside that higher aligns it with the remainder of Cadillac’s newest choices. A 33-inch diagonal LED show that comes with a digital driver’s show and central infotainment touchscreen with Google Constructed-In. It definitely modernizes and elevates the inside when in comparison with the pre-facelift mannequin, and its sizable footprint is integral to the brand new PDR’s many options.
The 2025 CT5-V Blackwing will go on sale earlier than the tip of the 12 months, beginning at $96,990 together with $1,395 vacation spot. It’s among the finest efficiency sedans at present obtainable for the individuals who wish to be concerned within the act of driving, together with its smaller sibling the CT4-V Blackwing. The CT5-V Blackwing is uniquely obtainable with an excellent handbook transmission, and it manages to maintain the driving force acutely concerned within the driving expertise.
It’s surprisingly pleasant on public roads, and it stays a critically compelling alternative for anybody out there for a sensible automobile that may drive like a race automobile. I used to be skeptical about all of the reward that the CT5-V Blackwing receives, however after driving it on the street and on the race observe, the reward is totally warranted. It’s the driving force’s automobile of the phase. Interval.
