Yahoo Autos 2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Has a Meaner Face, Same 668-HP V-8
Cadillac has now updated its entire CT5 lineup, with the CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing receiving similar exterior styling tweaks to the base sedan.
The cabins add the same 33-inch screen, and the performance data logging system has been upgraded with new tools.
The CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing are mechanically unchanged from 2024, and production begins this summer.
Cadillac is undergoing an electric transformation, with the Lyriq soon to be joined by the smaller Optiq, three-row Vistiq, and large-and-in-charge Escalade iQ. And don't forget the range-topping, $340,000-plus Celestiq sedan. But don't worry, because the fire-breathing CT5-V Blackwing and its supercharged V-8 aren't done just yet. Cadillac has revealed refreshed versions of the Blackwing and the V-6-powered CT5-V, aligning the sports sedans with the rest of the 2025 CT5 lineup.
Updated CT5-Vs
There are no mechanical changes for either model. The CT5-V continues with the same twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6, routing 360 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels; all-wheel drive also remains an option. The Blackwing retains its supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, sending 668 horses and 659 pound-feet to the rear wheels. Thankfully, the six-speed manual is still offered alongside the automatic. The suspension, brakes, and tires are unchanged on both variants.
New styling is the most obvious update, with both V-branded models wearing meaner-looking front ends that are similar to the standard 2025 CT5. The transformation includes restyled headlights with a blockier look and a slightly wider grille. Versus the normal CT5, the CT5-V is fitted with a more aggressive front bumper with an integrated splitter and blacked-out mesh grille.
The CT5-V Blackwing is distinguished a bit more from its V-6-powered sibling now, with an additional trim piece linking the inner corner of the headlights to the lower air intakes. The Blackwing wears a more extreme front splitter and rear wing too. The V-8 model is also still offered with carbon-fiber aerodynamic packages that add downforce and visual swagger. Cadillac says all aero performance has been maintained or improved. Along with the new colors offered across the CT5 lineup—Deep Space metallic and Typhoon metallic—the V models gain a light blue hue called Drift metallic.
Dazzling New Display
Inside, the cabin gains the same 33-inch LED screen that was also added to the non-V CT5 models for 2025. An illuminated version of the Cadillac crest resides on the back of the screen and lights up as the driver approaches the vehicle while the headlights and taillights play an animated sequence, adding a bit of visual pizzazz. The physical climate controls that sit below the screen are slightly restyled.
Cadillac also added more features to the Performance Data Recorder (PDR), standard on the Blackwing and optional on the CT5-V. Along with a new interface and graphics, the PDR now includes a "Lap Analyzer" tool which provides data analysis directly on the screen that previously required using a laptop-based program. Now drivers won't need to remove the SD card to transfer the data and can set custom reference laps and quickly access video playback using the built-in cameras, which auto-record like a dashboard camera. A "Speed Tips" tool that gives coaching advice on where more time can be shaved off during a lap.
There is a live data display on the central screen, intended for use by a coach in the passenger seat. This shows info like lap times, brake position, and a friction circle, while the driver can view lap-time details via the head-up display. Separately, the center screen can also show a live readout for power, torque, and boost along with gauges for things like g-forces and tire temperature.
As with the standard CT5, the infotainment system in the V models comes preloaded with Google applications such as Google Maps and Assistant. Super Cruise—GM's hands-free driver-assistance technology—is also now standard on the CT5-V and automatic-equipped Blackwing models. Super Cruise cannot be had with the manual gearbox.
Cadillac says it has drastically slimmed down the number of configurations for both models, simplifying decision making for customers. The CT5 is coming off a strong sales year (up 17 percent in 2023), and Cadillac touted record sales for the V and Blackwing models. Production of the two sporty CT5s will begin this summer, with pricing to be announced later.
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