Cadillac is back in the performance game with the CT4-V Blackwing. A spiritual successor to the ATS-V, discontinued in 2019, the Blackwing marks Cadillac's return to the high-performance compact segment. Main entries in this market include the BMW M3, Mercedes-AMG C63, and Audi RS4. The latter is not available in the U.S., so the Blackwing will face competition from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Is Cadillac's hot sedan for it? Is it powerful and quick enough to give its German competition a run for its money? Let's find out.

Powetrain

Just like its predecessor, the ATS-V, the CT4-V Blackwing features a twin-turbo, 3.6-liter V-6 engine under the hood. The mill is actually the same GM LF4 that Cadillac planted in the ATS-V, but upgraded to deliver more power in the new sedan. The BMW M3 also features a twin-turbo engine, but the company's 3.0-liter is an inline-six. Mercedes offers the larger powerplant in this niche, as the AMG C63 draws juice from a twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8.

When it comes to transmission, the CT4-V Blackwing is available with a six-speed manual as standard, but it can be optioned-up with a 10-speed automatic. High-performance cars with manuals are rare nowadays, but BMW also offers a six-speed for the base M3. The German sedan can be fitted with an eight-speed automatic as well. Unlike BMW and Cadillac, Mercedes offers the AMG C63 with a nine-speed automatic gearbox only.

Just like ATS-V, the CT4-V Blackwing is a rear-wheel-driven sedan. This was the norm for high-performance compact sedans until recently, when BMW introduced an AWD system for the M3. The German four-door is available with xDrive starting 2021. Just like Cadillac, Mercedes offers an RWD-only AMG C63 model, but that will probably change when the next-generation model arrives.

Power and torque

The CT4-V Blackwing comes with 472 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque on tap. Output is very similar to the ATS-V, with just an extra eight horses and identical torque. It misses just one horsepower, but it benefits from an extra 39 pound-feet of twist. However, it's nowhere near as powerful as the M3 Competition, which cranks out 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of twist. Specifically, the Blackwing lags behind this Bimmer by 31 horses and 34 pound-feet of torque.

The Cadillac boasts an extra three horses, but the Mercedes model cranks out an additional 34 pound-feet of torque. Then there's the AMG C63 S, fitted with a V-8 that generates 503 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Compared to this model, the Blackwing is missing a notable 31 horsepower and 71 pound-feet of torque.

Off-the-line sprints

Somewhat surprisingly, the CT4-V Blackwing is a tenth-second slower from 0 to 60 mph compared to its predecessor, the ATS-V. But it's no slouch; the American sedan hits the benchmark in 3.8 seconds. This figure if the Blackwing fitted with the automatic transmission. There's no data for the manual model, but it should hit 60 mph in four seconds flat.

The Blackwing doesn't fall behind the competition, even when it's compared to more powerful versions of the M3 and AMG C63. The automatic model is three tenths quicker than the BMW M3, rated at 4.1 seconds, and on par with the M3 Competition, which hits the mark in 3.8 clicks. Compared to the Mercedes-AMG C63, it's a tenth-second quicker than the base model and just as quick as the more powerful S version.

Top speed

While it's not necessarily quicker than the range-topping BMW M and Mercedes-AMG models, the CT4-V Blackwing wins the top speed battle with a 189-mph benchmark. By contrast, the BMW M3 is limited to 155 mph. The German company offers an M Driver's Package that lifts the limiter and allows the M3 to hit 180 mph, but that's nine mph below the Blackwing's benchmark. The same goes of the Mercedes-AMG C63, electronically limited to that very German 155 mph. Get the optional driver's package and top speed jumps to 174, but that's 15 mph below the Cadillac's.

Conclusion

While it's not as powerful as the range-topping versions of the BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C63, the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing is a solid contender on the performance front. It's not slower than its competitors from 0 to 60 mph and it delivers superior top speed.