Back in June, we spied a curious Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing prototype with what we thought was a bronze wheel package. Then in October, Cadillac officially announced that the CT5-V Blackwing and CT4-V Blackwing models will offer magnesium wheels as an option, providing a teaser that did not show the entire wheel. And that’s when it all made sense: what we thought were bronze wheels were actually the upcoming mag wheels.
The magnesium wheels on the CT5-V Blackwing prototype are 19 inches in diameter and have a multi-spoke design with a satin bronze finish that contrasts nicely with the red brake calipers behind them. They are wrapped with Michelin Pilot tires measuring 275-30 at the front and 305-30 at the rear, which is wider than the rubber fitted to the third-gen CTS-V high-performance sedan.
Since magnesium has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal which could reasonably be used for making wheels, the optional rims are lighter than the stock aluminum items. This will help in the handling department, and to some extent their straightline performance. A possible disadvantage is that lower unsprung weight usually leads to inferior ride quality, but this could be compensated by the fact that magnesium has a high damping capacity. In other words, it converts movement into heat, which is rapidly dissipated by the surrounding air.
With or without magnesium wheels, the Blackwing models will be the high-performance variants of the CT4-V and CT5-V. The Blackwing name was previously used for the twin-turbo 4.2L LTA V8 engine which was rated at 500 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque when fitted to the discontinued Cadillac CT6 4.2TT Platinum and 550 horsepower and 627 pound-feet in the CT6-V.
However, neither of the new models will use it. The CT4-V Blackwing will get a twin-turbo 3.6L V6 similar to the LF4 used in the last-gen ATS-V, where it was rated at 464 horsepower and 445 pound-feet the CT5-V Blackwing will be powered by a supercharged 6.2L V8 similar to the LT4 used in the aforementioned third-gen CTS-V, where it produced 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet. The CT5-V Blackwing will be capable of reaching a top speed of over 200 mph. Both engines will be mated as standard to a 6-speed manual transmission or to an optional ten-speed automatic.
Cadillac has said that the decision to offer magnesium wheels on these cars was inspired by the fact that similar items are also fitted to the Cadillac DPi-V.R race car. The DPi-V.R has won the Prototype class of what is now known as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship every year since 2017.
The CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing are both set to launch in the summer of 2021 as 2022 model year cars. Both will offer the magnesium wheels as an option.
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This post was written in collaboration with our sister publication, Cadillac Society.
Comments
Cars look really nice, but disappointing that there are no heat extractors on the hood and fenders. Would have really set the blackwing apart from the CT5-V
Agreed Eric! The hood vents on the CTS/ATS-V give it a special look. Wish that’d be a part of the Blackwing look
Of all the enhancements that GM could come up with; they choose magnesium wheels! The need and so called advantages of magnesium wheels are ridiculous. Didn’t GM leadership learn anything from the Corvette wheel cracking fiasco?
Wow – magnesium wheels – doesn’t magnesium burn? Looking more and more like the downtown Atlanta street racer goons
Pure magnesium does burn, but certain magnesium alloys, including those used for wheels, do not.
I wanted to replace my Chevy SS with a CT5 V, but I just can’t get past that C pillar.
You can’t put lipstick (debatable attractive wheels) on this ugly pig of a design. Most econo sedans have a more attractive side profile. The area beyond the B pillar is comically ugly. No wonder Caddy emphasizes SUV’s…its hard to screw up a two box design.
The magnesium wheels don’t mean really anything right now. The fact that Cadillac is going to go to EV could very possibly be the ending of Cadillac they will end up going the away like Oldsmobile did ! GM’s attempt at electric vehicles failed.until they can make a car that can actually charge and go right on the road again EV have no chance ! It’s time to look for another brand of vehicle!
Whoever designed the C pillar should be fired! I was ready to trade my CTS until I saw that tail. Looks like a Accord. Design something original.
Sadly, in person, it looks a bit Accord/Altima-ish from the rear part of the profile. The front and rear look nice, but as others have remarked, not sure the Blackwing treatments are as aggressive as their predecessors to offset the econo-profile.
So where does this leave us? Well… the magnesium wheels smell of Hellcat brass monkey wheels, so they don’t really move the bar for me.
The manual transmission + V8 engine moves the bar for me more than anything else, speaking as a middle aged guy who grew up driving manuals.
The whole Blackwing concept seems sandwiched between the old school swagger of the Charter SRT and the AWD super sedans. No idea whether this old school drivetrain meets modern chassis and styling will sell in 2022 — and it doesn’t help that it will drag into the coming carbon-unfriendly administration. The only stroke of luck is that BMW decided to cleave the front end of the M3 with an axe, making CT5 look better. On the other hand, by 2022, even the Mustang Mach-E performance will be buzzing past this car at stoplights, so time is not on GM’s side, and if everyone is buzzing past you, I guess that only leaves swagger and style…oops.
My verdict? If there were a legit 4-door Corvette available, I’d honestly just get that.