Driving Report: Cadillac CT5 V Blackwing
Outburst of anger in the family
Cadillac CT5V Blackwing
© press-inform – the press office
When it comes to a high-performance sedan, most people think of the Audi RS6, BMW M5 or Mercedes AMG E63. But there is another way: more American, more exclusive and maybe even a touch more spectacular – in the Cadillac CT5 V Blackwing.
Ever since General Motors withdrew almost completely from the European market, their luxury brand Cadillac has become quiet. Here in the old world, it alone still offers the XT4; a chic mid-range crossover that starts at just over 40,000 euros and is lost to the German premium competition due to a lack of market presence. Things are completely different in the home market of the USA, where there is a complete portfolio that sets a sporting record with the 4.92 meter long Cadillac CT5 V. If you want to crown the CT5 V, you can opt for the Blackwing Edition, which makes you forget the tidy 360 hp six-cylinder with turbocharger. The CT5 V Blackwing is powered by the Corvette V8 powerhouse. To top it all off, the most powerful Cadillac has been supercharged, so that its engine output of 490 kW / 670 hp and an enormous torque of 893 Nm has rushed into completely different spheres. The engine is identical to that of the Cadillac top model Escalade V; has a much easier time with the significantly smaller luxury sedan on the Alpha II platform from General Motors.
It goes – either manually or with a superior ten-speed automatic – from a standing start in well under four seconds to 100 km/h and the top speed of over 320 km/h puts the CT5 V Blackwing in a league with the fast Porsches or Lamborghinis. The actual main competitors Audi RS5, BMW M5 Competition or Mercedes-AMG E63 S have long since had to say goodbye at around 300 km/h. While the competition is all-wheel drive, the CT5 V Blackwing, unlike the normal CT5 V, is only available with rear-wheel drive – a true four-door family Corvette. If the American’s outfit isn’t sporty enough for you, you can order one of the two carbon packages that bring bodywork details such as a front splitter, spoiler or diffuser to DTM level.
The boost that the supercharged eight-cylinder brings to the rear axle is enormous. Of course, an all-wheel drive vehicle would be the much better solution for such a high-performance everyday life, but on a dry track the 1.9-ton luxury class sedan surprises with the way it brings the opulent engine power to the rear axle. This applies more than ever to the suspension comfort, because the American presents itself in this performance class with McPherson struts at the front and multi-link axle at the rear, of course tightly tuned. But he’s not rock hard and depending on the driving program he even tries to mime the admittedly – very – sporty cruiser. The Magnetic Ride suspension, now in its fourth generation, only reaches its limits with short bumps and slightly offsets the gloomy four-door model in the event of rough bumps. “It’s not just the Magnetic Ride suspension,” explains product expert Mirza Gebrovoc on the passenger seat, “the car is on the road with a special tire compound that ensures that the power also gets onto the road.”
In addition to the usual driving modes, which can be controlled via a V button on the center console, different braking programs can be set separately. The current BMW M4 also offers this and here it is just as dispensable as the three steps in the Cadillac. The brake should convey confidence in the limit area and there it hardly needs several levels, just performance. “We have repeatedly received criticism that competitors offer more here than we do,” says Mirza Gebrovoc, “that’s why we now let the customer decide for themselves.” leaves open. It is better to opt for a self-developed ten-speed automatic that does not cost any sportiness, reduces consumption and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds. No matter in which driving program you let the CT5 V Blackwing thunder, the thrust is brute, unrestrained and always impressive. Over the years, the developers have also got the steering under control, because free of all driving forces, it can be finely dosed and the feedback is excellent. The standard consumption is impressive at almost 14 liters; who gives the V8 supercharger the long leash scratches at the 20-liter mark.
The price range is unusually large, since the Cadillac models are known for being fully equipped. In the base configuration, the CT5 V Blackwing costs a comparatively affordable $85,000. In full trim it looks quite the sporty one and the sportiest of all the V models is $125,580. The lavish surcharge is explained by a sonorous AKG sound system with 16 loudspeakers, optional carbon racing seats, ceramic brakes and a data recorder if it should go to the racetrack. Electric leather/Alcantara seats, LED lights, digital instruments and a head-up display are standard, as are 19-inch wheels and the normal Brembo sports brake system. The seats are excellently contoured, with second-row space that’s decent for a full-size sedan, but not opulent. This also applies to the cargo space, which is just 337 liters in size.