The twin-turbocharged 4.2-liter Blackwing V8 engine that powers the 2020 Cadillac CT6-V could find a new lease on life after the sedan dies off.
In a recent interview with Road & Track, Cadillac boss Steve Carlisle said “there’s lots of things,” the automaker could do with the dual-overhead cam V8, although he didn’t elaborate on the matter. By the sounds of it, Cadillac has no products in the works that feature the engine, but it’s open to the idea of dropping it in the something other than the CT6 one day in the future.
When General Motors first teased the new Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing and CT4-V Blackwing at the Detroit Grand Prix earlier this year, it was reported that the CT4-V prototype sounded like it had a V6, whereas the CT5-V sounded as though it had a V8. Rumors indicate the CT5-V won’t be receiving the twin-turbo Blackwing engine, though. Instead, it will get a version of the Cadillac CTS-V’s supercharged 650 horsepower 6.2-liter LT4 V8 engine, while the CT4 will receive a version of the twin-turbo 3.6-liter LF4 V6 from the Cadillac ATS-V.
This may be getting a bit confusing, as the Blackwing-badged V-series products don’t feature the Blackwing engine. But as Carlisle explained in the interview, Blackwing refers to both the engine specifically and a sub-brand that denotes a more hardcore version of the softer, more approachable new V-Series products. Not all Cadillacs called Blackwing will therefore feature the Blackwing V8 engine, then, although some may if we end up seeing the engine again one day.
The future of the Cadillac CT6 beyond the 2020 model year, meanwhile, is dependent on GM’s ongoing discussions with the UAW, though the luxury sedan will remain in production in China for the forseeable future.
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Comments
I think this engine should be a Cadillac exclusive for a while, but knowing GM…
I’m still confused with the time and expense put into this “Cadillac” only engine. They are barely using it and have given no clear indication of proliferating it into multiple applications.
I’m hoping they are holding their master plan close to the vest. But, I fear their track record indicates they don’t have a clue what they are doing.
Can somebody please turn Cadillac back to being “Standard of the World”?
GM has the design and engineering talent to rule. Look at the C8.
Why be mediocre when you could be the BEST? It’s like having a Master Chef come to your house, then you send them to the door to pay the pizza delivery guy???????????
I’m guessing that the 4.2L TT V8 was an offshoot of whatever TT V8 uplevel engine program was moving forward for the C8 Corvette: different displacements & turbo locations, but shared development. Knowing GM, there’s just no way a new clean-sheet engine program was approved for a bespoke Cadillac application. I don’t think there was ever a plan to use it in the CT5, and certainly not the CT4. Any notion of the Blackwing name being attached to the V-series literally came years after CT4/5-V and V-sport powertrains were approved.
I do think that the highest expectation that they had with the Blackwing V8 was for it to be rolled out first in two CT6 trim levels, then maybe…mayyyybe…a top-rung Escalade, and later a flagship-type Escala model and/or a mid-engined V-mobile. A CT4/5 application would have to wait for the next generation, and on a new platform.
It is still just a few months out from the Black Wings initial announcement and its first application. I have no doubt it will find itself in other Cadillac and possibly non Cadillac products. The proliferation of this sort of thing usually takes 1 to 3 years. Because this is such a high end engine, I think it is safe to say that it will be in very limited use, as evidenced by the rarified air the engine specs rest in versus the rest of the competitions engine offerrings. If they were to make this engine a bread and butter engine, Cadillac might as well fold up its manufacturing all together, and go home. I hope they are able to make its performance numbers at present and massage them so this sort of powerplant will stick around longer than one short lived generation, unless of course they have other plans to introduce offerrings that put this sort of power out the Black Wing to shame.
This site is a joke. U give wrong information everyday. Who told u that ct5 was not getting the v8tt? Lieberman? Who the *uck is that clown.
Escalade will get it. Ct5 blackwing will get it. Many models that will arrive after them will also get it. THIS SITE IS A JOKE. ALEX LUFT HAS NO INSIDERS. gmrumority lol
Have you even followed this site over the past few years? Their reports on rumors and future products are almost always very close, if not spot on months before any sort of official announcement is made. Yes, there are times when the rumors steer in the wrong direction, but those falsities are often corrected in a later article. How well can you predict the future?
“Escalade will get it. Ct5 blackwing will get it. Many models that will arrive after them will also get it.”
Cadillac has ‘many models’ with 500+ hp V8s planned? That sounds promising…details, please!!!
XT7. Coupe. Big cabrio ala Ciel.
I can go on, but its enough for u now.
GM is not good enough to do that.
The days of divisional “exclusive” anything are over.
Folks aren’t willing to pay for it. Economies of scale rule the day.
Sure maybe for the first couple years like the GMC Truck’s Multi-Tailgate, but it’s coming soon to a Silverado near you and likely to the mid-size trucks as well.
Totally agree. Need to make money to stay in business. Sharing parts and platforms is a real world necessity.
Differentiating those parts in a clever and bespoke way, makes it somewhat palatable.
But, I’m still confused why GM spreads the platforms up and down the ladder, then spends millions of dollars to let Cadillac build their own engine only to not use it? Especially in their exclusive Cadillac vehicles.
Mind, exploding now…
I understand why DeNysschen left.
Big Loss to GM. They did not have the fortitude to look into the future to make a car that would stand out and be just a little different. Thankfully I have my ATS-V. I do believe he was largely responsible for that one.
Read between the lines. Cadillac has no desire to continue making a luxury American Sedan, or any other sedan for that matter. They are now a 3 Car (Caddy, Chevy and Buick) and one Truck Company. The Buick will continue for China as it dies off in the US. Cadillac is going the way of Packard, Chrysler and other big car manufactures. The only hope for a large sedan in the US will come from Germany (MB, Audi and BMW) and Korea. The only hope for GM and nice American Sedans is for a foreign buyout and that will come from China.
Were using no we are not using it yes we are no we are not. So as I read it it, the high powered CT4-V will have my ATS-V 3.6 Turbo in it, they could bump that to 500 HP easy. Heck it’s close to that now. And the Black Wing will go into hibernation. I can’t even pretend to understand GM. There is no method to their madness. It is so sad they could do great things. Heck you know what Audi and BMW are going to do, they will refine what they’ve in the pipeline and keep it all in order. GM is all over the place and change their mind like a teen age girl. So anyway that is my story. Also my 8 speed auto has been fixed I hope. I had one that shuddered. The new fluid seems to have done the trick. Jury is still out though and it took 3 visits to get it right I had to tell them about the bulletin. :>0
Spot on-and confusing.
If you have the ability and resources to be the best, (and, yes, GM has an awesome team that is world class/ if not better considering GM’s beancounters) why settle for only ok?
No matter the product, or merchandise, cutting costs wisely is a no-brainer. But being ok with mid-pack offerings, is (ok?) sorry…
George Carlin voice,
“REAL FUCKING STUPID”
GM will end up ruining Cadillac and the ones they make in China can Stay in China.
It will end up in the C8 Corvette as either the Zora or the Z06.
Finally, some accuracy here!
Even the spy video of the C8.R denotes a twin-turbo V8, albeit a flat-plane crankshaft for the regs. to suck on.
Gasoline engines will all be residing in the Smithsonian as historical by the end of this decade…
Don’t hold your breath on that. There is still a long way to go, give it maybe 30 years then you may have something. The infrastructure is still a ways away plus distance on the battery.
So, by the end of this year?
A decade is 10 years. The next one starts in 2020 and ends in 2030.
I’m thinking that’s what you meant!
Cadillac spent so much time and money in developing this engine.. the Blackwing V8 should be made available in EVERY Cadillac vehicle that it can be shoehorned into before the entire Cadillac becomes electrified as GM CEO Mary Barra has stated as to be her intentions for Cadillac to be the GM’s leading edge in EV.
Finally some insight. I think the CT5 should copy the 911 in terms of engines, every 100 HP has a new variant.
So it would be:
CT5 V – 400 HP
CT5 Blackwing – 550 HP
CT5 Blackbird – 670 HP
I will wait till the engine with maximum horsepower is available.
Maybe
(CT5)
V 3.0tt
blackwing LTA (550 or 670hp available)
V+ LT1
Blackbird LT5
(CT4)
V 2.7t
V+ 3.0tt
Blackwing LT2
Blackbird LTA
GM has had too many people trying to get the right products out that people would actually buy. But they’re failing miserably. In the meantime their market share is getting smaller & smaller. If they don’t get the right person soon GM will be selling only pick ups and SUVs. The C 8 may be the only bright spot if it is received well. They lost one of their best stylists (Frank Von Holzhausen) to Tesla and he did outstanding work for them. The CEO needs to go as she’s the wrong person to lead this company. (Don’t know how she wound up in that position). Cadillac had a few great vehicles recently, ats v and cts v , but didn’t market them well and instead of continuing to build and refine them , they are tossed aside for replacements that don’t seem to be as desirable performance wise or styling wise. Cadillac needs to find their way but it may already be too late.
My Friend!
As good as the current CTS V is, it was overpriced by around 20k. It was trying to be German.
If Cadillac follows Corvette on the new C8 and undercutting competition by a big margin, I think I will sign up for the the ultimate horsepower sedan.
Cheers,
Sean
The only people who think the CTS-V was “overpriced” are those who do not understand that car nor could afford one.
Amen to that. That car is a super car. Only the uninformed have no clue. That’s on GM. Market the damn car. ATS-V too.
Alex,
It was too expensive. 96 K well equipped?
The dealers don’t cut you a deal either. The promotions now are end of life ones.
Why is the new Corvette the complete car? This one you can answer yourself!!
Cheers,
Sean
The CTS-V isn’t expensive for the segment it’s in. Undercutting it’s price also undercuts its credibility and respectability by being too accessible. The onus is on the buyer to step up to a Cadillac, not have the buyer expect Cadillac to lower the barrier to entry because they’ve be conditioned for years to expect a lower price for a CTS-V
Besides, you shouldn’t be buying from dealers anyway.
If I could write as well as you that is how I would put my thoughts down. Refine is not in GM’s Vocabulary
The a Blackwing is not going anywhere.
The first thing is we need to look at the block as a platform like the Alpha platform. It is the base architecture of a series of engines that will be very different such as the CTS and Camaro.
Cadillac has been a division in the middle of a custody battle between those who understand what is needed and those who want to just look at the bottom line. This is why we keep getting the mixed message and the constant changes in leadership. At Ford it has been even worse as they were trying to kill the brand there till it was saved. Still they have a muttled line of product.
This engine will be used in other Cadillacs we have yet to see. Note there is still a flag ship coming and large SUV.
The Chevy version will be a completely different engine based on the same block that will be stronger. It will have different heads etc. little will be shared other than architecture of the block.
Cadillac will add EV but it will take years till it is self supporting. The ICE vehicles and suv models will pay the bills.
I am not impressed yet but I also have not seen the whole plan yet. All is not lost yet and I will reserve judgment till we know more.
JDN leaving was a great disappointment but GM is doing to Cadillac what they did to Pontiac. They have no idea on what to do with Cadillac on the board side. They appear to be pleased being the American Lexus. The other half wants to be world class but they get shut down time and time again.
Cadillac does not need to sell Illinois of cars. They just need to make cars worthy of the upper tier price and they will make more money than by volume. Yet the Board does not see it this way.
If you over build Cadillac the special car status goes away. It should not be a car that just anyone has. Owning one should mean something special. GM can afford to do this as they have a Chevy for volume. Benz and BMW have no volume brands. This is were GM hold the advantage.
Bentley is like this in the higher class as VW is their volume brand.
GM needs to work smarter not harder.
How stupid can this notion be? Why the hell would any vehicle manufacturer profit by building an engine for one single model that cost under 200K.
Look folks. Mercedes, BMW and other manufacturers utilize two or three engines among several models to great effect. This does well to boost quality and product perception among the positives that can occur from making the best engines or special features available to your products.
Note you can see Ford, Chrysler, BMW and other car companies, utilize the best transmissions or engines with several different models, in order to improve the overall quality of their products. The small block V-8 is a good example of this.
Now why the hell can’t the CT5-V or the Escalade not have this engine available in their top trim models, with different levels of power? I do hope that the LT2 can find it’s way into the Camaro, Escalade base trim and other GM trucks and SUVs as well.
Speaking about CT5-V isn’t it a “base” CT5-V+ with 6.2 S/C and a CT5-V++ with Blackwing power arriving?.
CT5-V: 3.0 V6 TT – 355 hp / 400 lb-ft
CT5-V+ (Blackwing?): 6.2 V8 S/C – 640 hp and 630 lb-ft (or slightly better, carried over from CTS-V)
*Could* they offer a V++ with the 4.2 V8 TT, and with a higher state of tune than the 550 hp and 627 lb-ft in the CT6-V? Sure, but it would be largely redundant, and we don’t know the upper limits of what the LT2 is capable of. They would have to crank up the boost substantially to reach a worthwhile 750 hp / 800 lb-ft, and I don’t see GM going to the trouble of all the work required, considering the diminishing returns.
CT4-V+ 3.0tt 400hp
CT4-V track LT2
CT5-V+ LT1
CT5 V track LT5
PLEASE!!!!!!!!
gm never got it right with the ats-v coupe or sedan,, the v8 from the camero schould of been available for the sedan, and the super charged v-8 from the camero schould have been available for the coupe, why pay $20,000 to $30,000 for “trick” v-6 , when chevy has the v-8 monster. Cadillac schould always offer the best engines for there entire line. I laugh when I see a cadillac around town with a 4 “banger” from the old cobalt SS, and cadillac passing it off as a premium car…..
God damn, could the people at Cadillac get anymore confusing? Torque figures in N/m round up to the next 50 (which I would immediately remove if I bought one), v series that aren’t top of the line, and now black blackwing v models that don’t have blackwing engines! Drop the torque numbering bs, call the new v series v sports like they were before, and just put the blackwing engine in your v series! It doesn’t need to be this complicated Cadillac!