The 2021 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is an upcoming, high-performance version of the company's midsize sedan. Set to become the range-topping version of the current CT5, the Blackwing will slot above the CT5-V. Performance-wise, the 2021 CT5-V Blackwing will be the first true successor to the CTS-V, as the CT5-V doesn't fill the bill in terms of power and torque. On top of a powerful V-8 engine with more than 600 horsepower, the 2021 CT5-V Blackwing will also feature a more aggressive exterior and a revised interior with unique features and upgrades. Find out what to expect from this beefed-up sedan from our speculative review below.

Exterior

Spy shots and photos of camouflaged cars provided by Cadillac suggest that the CT5-V Blackwing will indeed look a bit more aggressive than the regular CT5-V. Up front, it will feature reshaped side vents and a slightly wider intakes in the center of the bumper. The main grille will also grow larger and it should also feature a different mesh and a dark frame in a different color compared to the CT5-V. The engine hood doesn't look different in these shots, but the final production model could actually feature a bigger bulge for a more aggressive look.

The profile of the Blackwing prototype boasts a few notable upgrades, starting with a lowered ride height and a set of new, exclusive wheels. Finished in black, they feature a unique design and come wrapped in high-performance tires. But the Blackwing model also sports revised side skirts with small winglets to the rear and a small vertical vent in the front fender. Also expect it to arrive with black mirror caps and matching door handles. Carbon-fiber mirror caps should be optional on this sedan.

Around back, the CT5-V Blackwing stands out thanks to a larger spoiler attached to the trunk lid. The prototype's diffuser is mostly similar to the CT5-V, but expect some changes in this area on the production model. The Blackwing should carry a larger diffuser with vertical fins and larger exhaust pipes onto the sides. The almost rectangular design of the CT5-V model could be dropped in favor of round outlets.

Overall, the CT5-V Blackwing won't be an overly aggressive model. Sure, it will look sportier than the CT5-V, but don't expect it to feature a rear wing or massive aero upgrades to the bumpers. But it's shaping up to be the sportiest looking sedan Cadillac has built so far.

Interior

Just like the CT5-V, the Blackwing will be a regular CT5 with extra features inside. But that's good news, because the CT5 is a big improvement over the old CTS as far as design and comfort features go. The midsize sedan features a relatively simple dashboard design with clean surfaces on the passenger area and at the top. The center stack houses a 10-inch infotainment display at the top and A/C vents and controls at the bottom. The gear selector is now placed on the left side of the center console, so it’s closer to the driver. There's also a new digital display in the instrument cluster area and a sportier steering wheel.

Cadillac didn't say much about the Blackwing's interior, but expect it to feature aluminum and even carbon-fiber trim instead of the usual wood and plastic, as well as contrast stittchig on the dashboard, door panels, and center console. Both displays should feature custom start-up screens and a few extra menus for performance-related data. The steering wheel could feature a flat bottom for a sportier look and feel, as well as Alcantara grip areas.

And this is an area we already know about since Cadillac release a photo of carbon-fiber seats with bookmatched design. What's that you ask? Well, bookmatching is a practice usually found on high-end musical instruments it's about the matching of two surfaces so that they mirror each other, giving the impression of an opened book. Cadillac did this with the carbon-fiber fitted on the seatbacks of the front seats. While it’s not exactly an innovation, it is something you won’t find in much more expensive supercars. Actually, it's probably an industry-first feature. The bookmatched design also includes a laser-etched V-Series logo for a more premium look. But don't expect these seats to come standard. You'll have to pay extra for them or settle for bucket seats wrapped in Alcantara.

Speaking of innovations, the CT5-V Blackwing will be the first GM car to feature 3D-printed parts. The most visible one will be the medallion for the shifter knob. Cadillac used the same technique for an undisclosed amount of gearbox parts and to create HVAC ducts.

Drivetrain and Performance

Now this is where things become a bit confusing. Since the range-topping CT5-V features a Blackwing badge, it makes sense for it to feature Cadillac's Blackwing engine under the hood. The unit in question is the twin-turbo, 4.2-liter V-8 that Cadillac originally built specifically for the CT6-V. It was introduced in 2019, but the CT6 was discontinued in 2020 due to poor sales and America's lack of interest for sedans. The CT6-V went down with the regular sedan and so did the Blackwing V-8 engine, after just one year on the market. While this engine had some potential, it cost Cadillac some $20,000 per unit to produce so it made no financial sense to be assigned to a different Cadillac model.

The Blackwing engine was rated at up to 550 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque in the CT6-V, enough to make the CT5-V Blackwing impressively fast.

But what engine is Cadillac using now that the Blackwing is dead? A teaser posted by Cadillac a while back reveals an exhaust note that combines the growl of a V-8 with the whine of a supercharger. And this could only mean one thing: Cadillac is revamping the old supercharged, 6.2-liter V-8 that it offered in the CTS-V.

Will the CT5-V Blackwing pump more oomph than the old CTS-V? Most rumors suggest that it will produce around 650 horsepower. That's 10 horses more than the CTS-V and a whopping 290 horsepower more than the CT5-V. Needless to say, the CT5-V Blackwing will be the most potent sedan in its market, outgunning any offering from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi.

If you want more good news, the CT5-V Blackwing will be offered with a manual transmission, also a unique feature in the high-performance midsize sedan market. This gearbox could be an optional upgrade for the standard automatic, but it's still a cool thing to have on a high-performance car.

The CT5-V Blackwing will probably need around 3.6 seconds to hit 60 mph from a standing start with the automatic eight-speed gearbox. With the manual, the benchmark could drop to around 3.8 clicks. The American sedan will also hit a top speed of at least 200 mph, a figure that cars like the BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG E63 S can't reach.

How much will the 2021 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing cost?

Needless to say, the CT5-V Blackwing will be notably more expensive than the CT5-V. The latter comes in at $47,695. So it's safe to assume that the Blackwing model will retail from around $75,000 before options. But even though it will be significantly more expensive than its non-Blackwing sibling, it will still fetch notably less than the competition. Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz ask a little more than $100,000 for their high-performance midsize sedans.

Will the 2021 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing be better than the BMW M5?

Redesigned for the 2018 model year, the BMW is now more advanced and more powerful than before. Featuring a revised twin-turbo V-8 under the hood, the M5 comes with a solid 591 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque on tap. BMW also offers an M5 Competition trim that packs an even more impressive 617 horses. While that's still inferior to the Blackwing, the M5 is actually quicker to 60 mph, needing 3.3 seconds to hit the benchmark. That's because it comes with an all-wheel-drive system. Its top speed is usually limited to 155 mph, but the M Driver's Package unlocks a 190-mph top speed. But that's still below what the CT5-V Blackwing is expected to deliver. Pricing for the BMW M5 starts from $103,500, while the M5 Competition will set you back $111,100 before other options.

Read our full review of the BMW M5.

Will the 2021 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing be better than the Mercedes-AMG E63?

The E-Class was redesigned in 2016, so it's a bit older than the M5. But it was the most advanced midsize sedan when it first came up and it won't have any problems keeping up with the Cadillac in terms of features and technology. Power-wise, it also features a twin-turbo V-8. The "base" AMG E63 model delivers 563 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of twist, while the E63 S version takes it up a notch at 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. The Merc will also fall behind the Blackwing in the power department, but it's the only sedan that offers similar torque at 627 pound-feet. The AMG should also be quicker with a 0-to-60 benchmark of 3.3 seconds. Pricing for the AMG E63 S starts from $107,500.

Read our full story on the Mercedes-AMG E63.

Conclusion

When Cadillac unveiled the CT5-V back in 2019, enthusiasts were rather disappointed. That's because the sedan that was supposed to replace the 640-horsepower CTS-V arrived with only 360 horses at its disposal. Not to mention that it didn't look very sporty either. Well, it turns out Cadillac was saving the big-power V-8 engine for the Blackwing badge. With 650 horsepower on tap, the Blackwing will be the long-awaited successor to the CTS-V and Cadillac will once again take the lead in the horsepower war in the midsize market. It will also be notably more affordable, so that's a big plus.