Just yesterday, we posted new spy photos of the next-level Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. Now, we have a fresh batch of shots showing off the CT5-V Blackwing’s smaller sibling – the new Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing.
Similar to the CT5-V Blackwing, the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing sports a number of performance upgrades over the “standard” Cadillac CT4-V. These include extra cornering grip, new aero, new suspension, and beefier brakes.
These new spy photos show off the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing’s revised fascia and front-end styling, which remains uncovered by the usual netting we’ve seen on prototypes in the past.
It’s currently unclear if the twin-turbocharged 4.2L LTA V8, which is also tagged with the Blackwing name, will be used in the new Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, but it’s looking less and less likely. Previous reports indicate that the CT4-V Blackwing will instead use the twin-turbocharged 3.6L LF4 V6, the same engine that can be found in the Cadillac ATS-V. In the ATS-V, the LF4 is tuned to produce 464 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque.
Previously, we posted a video that shows several Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing prototypes out and about conducting some real-world testing, giving us a chance to hear their exhaust note. The high-performance sedans were undergoing benchmark testing alongside the BMW M2 and Cadillac ATS-V.
The video also appears to show the CT4-V may offer a manual transmission option.
The Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing is also expected to come with wider alloy wheels wrapped in sticky Michelin tires, with previous prototypes showing off Pilot Sport 4 S meats sized at 255/35R18 in front and 275/35R18 in the rear. Those sizes match the ATS-V, and are wider than the “standard” CT4-V, the latter of which boasts 235/40R18 tires at all four corners.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Cadillac CT4 news, Cadillac news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Correct me if I am wrong, but is this to combat the Mercedes CLA AMG, BMW M2, Lexus IS300, Audi S3? Because I’d certainly buy this over the Benz, Audi, and Lexus.
Can I ask why?
The CT4V competes with the CLA 35, M235i, and Audi S3.
This car (CT4V+) in the spyshots competes with the CLA 45, M2, and RS3.
I think the Lexus IS slots in the segment above these cars.
Little off subject but does anyone know what GM is going to do with their brand new Blackwing engine? From what I have read they are only going to offer it in the son to be canceled CT6. IMO it was a pure waste of time and money to develop that Engine if that is the case. That being said I wouldn’t it to be offered in the CT4 but perhaps the top dawg CT5 would hav been a good choice.
There are a number of us wanting to know this. I suspect some at Cadillac also.
This was an JDN engine and once he was gone the board put their puppet in and may have killed it. Why was never said and no confirmation of any future use is not confirmed.
Also it is not the future DOHC Corvette engine.
I suspect they killed it due to added cost. So they put the Chevy based engine in and just make Cadillac another fancy Chevy.
It may be years before we hear the truth if ever.
The added cost is a poor excuse when they have already spent the money to develop and produce this engine. I am aware it was not meant for the lower tier vehicle but there are plenty of place they can use it in their top tier vehicles. Even with the cancellation of the CT 6 ( IMO a stupid decision) they have the escalade ,the CT5 Blackwing and hopefully a XT7 built on the omega chassis or whatever they are replacing it with. I am also wishing for a new Cadillac sedan to truly compete with the S class. Hey a guy can dream.
Not ‘THE’ future Corvette engine, but I believe a variant of it. The difference being the location of the turbos: Blackwing has the hot-V configuration, Corvette will have them in the usual outboard locations.
Watch Gale Banks go over his new, personal CT6-V…he talks about the relationship with Corvette at about the 4:35 mark…
The 4.2L Blackwing will, in its current form, be an orphan. The Alpha/LF4 (cost-effective and adequate solution) R&D was already done for the CT4, ditto for the LT4 (cost-effective and potent solution) incumbent in the CT5, the CT6-V is a goner (cost-cutting solution), and Escalade has already been developed with the LT4 (cost-effective and potent solution) in mind. They may launch a Blackwing-suitable ‘flagship’ coupe or sedan in the next 3-4 years, but will it have an ICE at all? The greatest advantage of the Blackwing V8 is the ‘cool factor’ of the name itself, and it seems to be a foregone conclusion that they’re going to pilfer that and apply it to top-rung V-Series products that don’t even have the engine.
I expect the CT4-V and CT5-V Bwings to get a slight power bumps vs. their ATS/CTS forebears, but no new engines.
I agree. Remember about a year ago when we had all this talk from GM and Cadillac saying how the Blackwing was a “Cadillac exclusive” engine, and that the new DOHC for the Corvette would not be based off the Blackwing. That was all true, of course.
The reality is that the Blackwing, as Eric said, was likely a variant of the Chevy DOHC all along.
Bore and stroke may be different, and the placement of the turbos may be different, but underneath it all, it’s HIGHLY likely that the Blackwing and the Chevy DOHC are almost identical engines. That plays perfectly with the GM press statements…it is in fact a Cadillac exclusive (by name), and the Chevy DOHC is not based off of it…its vice versa.
Also, looking at this from a financial standpoint, this would help explain why GM was (apparently, if the stories are true) so willing to toss the Blackwing. The large majority of R & D costs likely went into the development of the Chevy DOHC. The Blackwing was simply a specialty project based off of the work already done for Chevy to give Cadillac an “exclusive engine.” Moving the turbos and changing some internal components and specs isn’t a major investment. GM won’t be wasting all that money from the Blackwing development anyway, because that money was mostly used on the Chevy DOHC. So killing the Blackwing isn’t the major financial catastrophe we all assumed it was.
This is all speculation, but I imagine once the Corvette Z06 drops, and once the Blackwing is gone from production, we will find out this is what really happened. There was no way the bean-counters at GM were ever going to develop two brand-new DOHC V8 engines simultaneously anyway…ESPECIALLY when you’re the maker of the renowned LS/LT motors.
What about a corvette style panamara competitor? The ct6 v black wing will be a collector car as one of the last best gas engines car sedans of the century
CT4 is a mere ATS with more athlete look.
Beautiful design
I prefer the CT4 exterior design over the CT5’s. The latter has a stubby rear end that makes its proportions look odd. Because the CT4 is a smaller vehicle, the shorter rear area doesn’t looks as odd on it.
Has there been any confirmation that the Blackwings will have be available with AWD like the regular Vs?
If they do I might trade my camaro in for it
Not that I’d complain about having a 464hp twin turbo V6, but I would hope that GM would add a little more magic to this setup. Granted I figure GM will use the 10-speed auto from the ZL1 along with some other performance parts for improved acceleration but I hope they wouldn’t be that lazy as to drop the exact same LF4 into this car that was in the ATS-V. Don’t get me wrong, the ATS-V is a marvelous vehicle but let’s be honest. If Ford has a 450hp/510tq 3.5L Ecoboost, why can’t GM match that kind of torque in the LF4 or at least come close to it? 475hp/495tq would be ideal for this car. Appearance-wise this car looks amazing. Wheel/tire package is a bit narrow and a vented hood and larger rear lip spoiler would have been nice but those are minor gripes that can easily be fixed by the aftermarket. It has a lot of the look of a Holden HSV car. I’m sure the interior is pretty sweet as well. It looks great as far as I’m concerned. I wouldn’t have a problem having one in my driveway.
GM may or may not have had ATS-V’s running around with 500 HP, safely. Safely.
maybe. All I’m saying is that this car should be a step above the ATS-V. Honestly, I wish they’d just put an LT1 under the hood and have 455hp/455tq especially with the way this thing looks!!! I can’t stop looking at it. I know it’s supposed to be Cadillac and its supposed to be all sophisticated and better than a Chevy but that look with a small block V8 under the hood and cadillac has a winner.
The horsepower and torque figures you quoted are almost exactly what I had in mind. Mine was 480 HP and 500 ft pounds. But I would be happy with ur figures.
Very interested to see what engine this will offer.
I don’t see any black wings.
Come on Caddy. The CTS -V was awesome. It evolved every generation. Don’t go backwards.
I’m hoping this is awesome….?
This is somewhat redundant of what I said earlier but just a bit more in depth I feel as though GM has a great idea with the CT4-V Blackwing but i think they’re kind of shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to the engines. As much as I would love to see everything in the V series lineup receive the new blackwing 4.2L V8, it’s honestly a bit “Cookie-cutter”. I think GM have come out with different “Blackwing” engines for this new lineup or “Blackwing” Versions of some existing engines that would make these car feel a bit more special than they already are.
Take the 3.6L Twin Turbo V6 LF4 engine. GM already has an LF4.R version of this engine that is rated to 600hp and 520tq. a Blackwing V6 that takes some of the technology and equipment from the R-version and puts it into a streetable variant that produces 480hp/495lb-ft of torque, backed by a 10-speed automatic shouldn’t have been too much to ask. an AWD variant of that would be even better and seeing that we already know that GM can produce an AWD setup on this Chassis, why not? a performance oriented AWD system with Torque vectoring, electronic differentials, Brembo brakes, Magnetic ride and all of that kind of stuff should be already on this car with the price tag that it has. The car should also have an exhaust system that fits what this car is. An CT4-V Blackwing should not sound like a vacuum cleaner or a V6 Honda. The car should sound closer to a Nissan GTR or something like that. It should sound desirable. It should have a titanium active valve exhaust system, it should have tubular exhaust manifolds, it should have high flow cats on it right from the gate with what this car costs. The Regular CT4-V should have had the 3.0L Twin turbo with 420hp/420tq. The CT4-V Blackwing should also have had a taller rear spoiler and a vented hood, you guys know this by now. Those wheels and tires should matched what a Camaro 1LE has on it. 285/30R20 front and 305/30R20 rear Ultra high performance All-Season tires with specific Blackwing wheels. With the look the car has, GM could have easily Lifted the wheels from the Holden HSV Gen-F from 2015 (those triple-V wheels) made them into a staggered 20″ Combo and put them on this car. (IMO one of best looking wheels GM has ever made) and the look of this car would be so spot on. Same thing on the inside. Cadillac’s V-Series cars have great interiors, throw in the Holden steering wheel re-upholstered to Cadillac specs along with the seats from the HSV GTS re-upholstered for Cadillac V-specs and that’s a great setup. Don’t get me wrong I think the car looks AMAZING!! I honestly can’t stop looking at it, however there are a few things that would really make this car what it needs to be. I am truly hoping to see a more Cadillac-V type hood on the production car. That needs to be there.
I read sometime ago that a CT5 version might have a detuned 3.0L TT V6 rated 355HP/400ft-lb instead of the CT6’s 404/400 AWD version. That sounded like goofball math. How do you detune the engine HP and develop the same torque? (I don’t recall reading any RPM details.) So far I haven’t seen the weight spec of the CT5, but it should be several 100 lbs. lighter than the CT6…and that could generate a <10:1 lb/hp ratio that would put it in the 4+ sec 0-60 range. That is a C6 Vette time, not bad for a Cadillac 4dr. sedan. That might be too close to the aged 3.6L turbo V6.
A Blackwing Colorado named Cyclone, with AWD, could be sold by both Chevy and GMC dealers. If they don’t sell more than 10,000 units per year, they don’t have to meet emission standards. In fact, they could make V6 version of the Blackwing in the Colorado/Cyclone to get about $25 HP with a slight tune change and bigger exhaust. The resale value of them will be huge even after 3 years.