2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing First Drive Review: A 668-HP Manual Monster

I believed the CT5-V Blackwing was the proper luxurious sports activities sedan, and there was no approach for Cadillac to make it any higher. It is a good factor I do not run GM’s luxurious model, as a result of the 2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing has by some means taken an ideal components and enhanced it much more. In a world the place sedans and guide transmissions really feel extra antiquated than a paper map or a VHS tape, the Blackwing stands because the final bastion of pure driving enjoyment with 4 doorways.

If I might construct my dream sports activities sedan from scratch, it would not be far off from what Cadillac has created. A 6.2-liter supercharged V8 drives the rear wheels (no heavy all-wheel-drive system is obtainable), mated to both a superb 10-speed computerized or a segment-exclusive six-speed guide delivered from the heavens. What extra might a driving fanatic crave? For 2025, Cadillac has improved the CT5’s luxurious credentials with a brand new 33-inch show, and beefed up its observe efficiency with a brand new Precision Bundle. To seek out out if these enhancements might make the CT5-V Blackwing much more good, CarBuzz traveled to Georgia to lap round Atlanta Motorsports Park.

First Drive occasions present our preliminary impressions of a automobile in a restricted atmosphere beneath sure time constraints. Control CarBuzz for our complete Check Drive overview which is able to observe quickly.

What’s New For 2025?

The Cadillac CT5 is a mid-size luxurious sedan that straddles the road between a standard mid-size, like a BMW 5 Collection, and a smaller compact, like the three Collection. The ‘common’ CT5-V acts as a mid-level model akin to the M Efficiency (M340i) or AMG Line (C43), whereas the Blackwing targets totally fledged M and AMG fashions just like the M5 and E63. It is an odd technique, but it surely units the CT5-V Blackwing other than its rivals.

Cadillac up to date the CT5 lineup each inside and out of doors, including new options that may enhance the automobile on the street and on the racetrack. Tremendous Cruise is now normal on automatic-equipped fashions, that means the 2025 CT5-V Blackwing will likely be an excellent higher street journey automobile than earlier than. An accessible Precision Bundle delivers extra managed efficiency, which ought to dramatically enhance lap instances. Consumers may go for extra aggressive Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and carbon ceramic brakes to additional take seconds off their observe classes.

Exterior & Inside: A Higher Each day

All CT5 fashions, together with the CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing, obtain bolder entrance finish styling that appears extra inline with the remainder of Cadillac’s lineup. Stacked vertical headlights really feel barely harking back to the now-discontinued CT6, they usually play a pleasant animation if you stroll up or away from the automobile with the important thing fob. Different exterior adjustments embrace a brand new grille, rockers, and rear spoiler that full the elegant but aggressive look. Cadillac nonetheless presents some daring colours, together with our tester’s Cyber Yellow Metallic, in addition to three new hues: Drift Metallic, Deep Area Metallic, Storm Metallic. 19-inch wheels are the one possibility (in two patterns and three colours), shunning the development of overly massive wheels that spoil the journey consolation. As earlier than, clients can choose blue, purple, or bronze brake calipers with a key fob to match.

The inside adjustments really feel extra intensive with a brand new 9K 33-inch diagonal LED display that mixes the gauge cluster and infotainment system. This is identical display discovered within the XT4 crossover, but it surely will get particular options like a Efficiency Knowledge Recorder that may analyze your lap instances, give pace recommendations on go sooner, and extra. Visually, the brand new display is way extra spectacular than the outgoing 10-inch one, and it’s now powered by Google with built-in Google Assistant, Maps, and extra. In contrast to BMW, Cadillac left loads of bodily controls for the local weather and shortcut buttons for the infotainment, that means you do not have to totally depend on the touchscreen. Cadillac solely had take a look at autos with the non-compulsory carbon fiber-backed high-performance bucket seats, however they’re nonetheless fairly comfy and supply heating, air flow, and therapeutic massage.

Efficiency: All In The Particulars

Cadillac did not add any extra energy for 2025, and that is simply fantastic with us. 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft of torque from a 6.2-liter LT4 supercharged V8 might not be class-leading in a world of twin-turbo hybrid-assisted German V8s, however increased numbers do not essentially make a automobile extra enjoyable to drive. Energy is shipped to the rear wheels solely, although most of its rivals have 4 pushed wheels, going out by way of a normal six-speed guide or an non-compulsory 10-speed computerized. This automobile continues to be lots fast; 0-60 is handled in simply 3.4 seconds, however assembly that estimate would require a prepped observe and a few ability. I clocked a 3.86-second run with the guide, and was barely faster with the automated at 3.80 seconds.

2025 sees the introduction of a brand new Precision Bundle, which prices $9,000 and requires the number of carbon ceramic brakes for a further $9,000. This bundle comes with stuff you cannot see, but it surely vastly improves the dealing with. These upgrades embrace: elevated spring charges, revised bushings, a bigger entrance stabilizer bar, new steering knuckles and rear suspension, new toe hyperlinks, a extra aggressive observe wheel alignment, and retuned MagneRide suspension and limited-slip differential. Mixed with stickier Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires that change the Pilot Sport S5 ones, observe efficiency is massively improved from final yr’s mannequin.

Driving Impressions: Floats Like A Butterfly…

What impresses most concerning the CT5-V Blackwing is just not its super energy, which is totally jaw-dropping; it is the consolation. Due to reasonably-sized wheels and Cadillac’s glorious MagneRide dampers, the Blackwing floats like a… effectively, you recognize the saying. It is wonderful what a well-sorted chassis, some glorious suspension, and a sensible engineering philosophy can do for a automobile’s journey. Hey, Germany, vehicles do not have to interrupt your backbone to deal with effectively!

The stunning softness is complemented by talkative steering that feels pure and never overly assisted. It provides suggestions to the driving force, which is greater than may very well be stated for the steering in most trendy vehicles. Then there’s the guide transmission, which delivers a satisfying feeling each time you modify gear. Sadly, you do not have to vary gears very steadily as a result of there’s merely a lot torque, it is almost inconceivable to stall or be within the incorrect gear for an overtaking maneuver. The clutch pedal is lengthy with an honest heft to it, but it surely’s removed from tiresome. At full throttle, you may even change gears with out letting off the throttle due to Cadillac’s No-Raise-Shift function.

This occasion was my first likelihood to pattern a CT5-V Blackwing with the non-compulsory 10-speed computerized transmission. Whereas it isn’t the choice I might select, it is a wonderful one. It blends into the background in regular driving, however rips off razor quick shifts at full throttle. Every gear change is accompanied by a thwack from the exhaust, because the supercharged V8 takes a short break from shouting out its lungs. Passing on the guide transmission looks like lacking out on what may very well be the final of its breed, however in a vacuum, the automated looses nearly nothing when it comes to pleasure.

Observe Impressions: …Stings Like A Bee

Cadillac arrange the Efficiency Knowledge Recorder for Atlanta Motorsports Park, giving us the flexibility to research our lap instances. My first laps have been executed in an automatic-equipped CT5-V Blackwing with out the Precision Bundle. It was blisteringly fast, however the PSS5 tires did not have sufficient grip leaving corners, that means I needed to wait longer to get on the throttle. The Blackwing additionally felt much less assured beneath braking, and I could not confidently carry as a lot pace by way of the lengthy carousel part. My quickest lap on this automobile was 1:41.53.

I hopped out of that automobile right into a guide one with the Precision Bundle. Instantly, I used to be struck by how a lot sooner I might get on the facility with out worrying about wheel spin and the way rather more pace I might carry. The PDR informed me that I might keep on-throttle longer and confirmed me higher strains to take by way of varied corners, leading to a 1:34.09 lap time – an enormous enchancment. The automated with the Precision Bundle was barely faster, 1:33.71, however there is not an enormous delta between the 2 transmissions. You possible will not discover the Precision upgrades throughout regular road driving, however should you plan to trace your automobile, it is a must-have possibility that turns the Blackwing right into a precision instrument.

Pricing & Verdict: Price Each Penny And Extra

A full configurator is just not but accessible for the 2025 CT5-V Blackwing, however pricing begins at $95,595. That is some huge cash for a automobile, but it surely’s virtually a cut price in comparison with the Audi RS7 at $128,600 and BMW M5 at $119,500. Even with $18,000 tacked on for the Precision Bundle and carbon ceramic brakes (totaling $113 595), the Blackwing stands as a worth within the luxurious efficiency sedan phase.

The German opponents could boast faster 0-60 instances due to their all-wheel-drive techniques and hybridization, however these options trigger them to really feel heavy in comparison with the Blackwing. Hopping into the Cadillac looks like a time capsule, a reminder of a time when weight and complexity have been the enemies of efficiency. The CT5-V Blackwing looks like the final word mid-2000s luxurious sedan, in-built 2024 with trendy expertise and energy. It is the whole lot automobile lovers say they need from a efficiency sedan, and proof that Cadillac can nonetheless set the usual – and that bettering on perfection is feasible.