Back in July 2019, GM Authority reported that the upcoming Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing ultra-high-performance luxury sedans will offer manual transmissions. More recently, Cadillac announced earlier this month that the six-speed manual gearboxes in both cars will use advanced 3D printing methods.
Additionally, Cadillac’s announcement included a statement that the manual transmissions to be used in the Blackwing models will be “both quieter and more durable” than those used in previous generations. This line in particular caught our attention. How exactly, we wondered, will this be achieved?
“We made changes in the design of the manual, added double isolation on the transmission lines and added a higher flow transmission pump (making it more durable from over heating),” GM spokesperson, Stefan Cross, has explained to GM Authority.
This inspires confidence. Manual gearboxes are inherently simpler than automatics, so one would expect them to be reliable. And it sounds like these ones will be reliable and refined, despite both cars’ considerable performance.
The 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing will be the first production vehicles sold by General Motors with functional 3D printed components. In addition to the parts inside the transmissions, these will include two HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) ducts, an electrical harness bracket and, most obviously, a medallion on the shifter.
As we reported previously, both the CT4-V Blackwing and its CT5-V Blackwing will have transmissions supplied by Tremec, though as yet it is not clear exactly which transmission line will be used. Enthusiast drivers who prefer to let the gearbox make its own decisions about when to change gear will be pleased to know that both models will also offer GM’s 10-speed automatic as an option.
The 2022 CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing are due to go sale in limited quantities in the summer of 2021, both with optional magnesium wheels. Neither, however, will use the twin turbocharged 4.2L LTA V8 known as Blackwing engine, which used only in the now discontinued CT6 4.2TT Platinum as well as the CT6-V.
The twin-turbo Cadillac Blackwing engine (pictured) will not be used in the CT4-V Blackwing or CT5-V Blackwing
The CT4-V Blackwing will be offered with a twin turbo motor similar to the 3.6L V6 LF4 fitted to the Cadillac ATS-V, where it produced 464 horsepower and 445 pound-feet. The CT5-V will use a fabulous sounding supercharged Small Block similar to the 6.2L V8 LT4 last offered in the third-generation CTS-V, where it made 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. With this amount of power available, it’s perhaps not surprising that the CT5-V Blackwing will have a top speed of over 200 mph.
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This post was created in collaboration with our sister publication, Cadillac Society.
Comments
I’m still totally perplexed by these cars. GM has stated Cadillac will be an all-electric brand going forward plus GM is dropping sedans across their range. Yet GM is spending resources on developing new gasoline powered Blackwing sedans without the Blackwing for their soon-to-be EV trailblazer marque. The question is why exactly? They spent all that money for nothing on the CT6 and the real Blackwing engine and sold it only for a few months. I thought nothing could be more non-sensical that the CT6 Blackwing fiasco but I think this foolish exercise might be.
Despite all the years of Cadillac mismanagement, nothing has really improved in my opinion.
That’s been a GM problem for MANY years. Start a project then stop it in the middle. Not complaining about this one though.
The problem here was that the entire JDN Era at Cadillac was a nightmare.
Johan De Nysschen wanted to make Cadillac the perfect American impression of BMW. But that demanded huge amounts of cash…cash that senior management refused to give him. The plans included not only the CT4 and CT5 (with performance variants), but also a next-gen CT6, the production version of the Escala known as the CT8, and a RWD XT6. GM brass told JDN he wasn’t getting that money when they hit financial troubles in very late 2017/early 2018, because the cost of developing those platforms became too high for the projected sales. So in the end, he was let go. Years of planning and millions in investments went down the tubes, and Cadillac was once again scrambling for an identity.
That was when the bean counters decided to move Cadillac in a totally electric direction. Why? Cost savings and maximization. Where before, Cadillac rode its vehicles on 5 different platforms (Alpha2, C1XX, T1, Omega and E2XX), now they will ride on only two, both electric (BEV3 and BT1). This means costs of development will be cheaper than any time before in GM history…assuming people actually want to buy their luxury EVs.
This made vehicles like the Celestiq and their coming low-roof vehicles worth the cost, because the Cadillac crossovers built on the same platform (BEV3) will cover the costs of developing it, not to mention other crossovers from Buick, Chevy and GMC. But because the CT5 and CT4 were already so far along, it made no sense to kill off the V and Blackwing variants. GM still believes those two cars can be profitable for the next 3 or 4 years, before GM ends the Alpha2 platform for good. Who knows if the VSS-R platform is even happening anymore. Sadly, I kind of doubt it.
Why is it unrealistic for these sedans to have a 6-7 year life. While they’re still available for sale, bring out electric sedans to sell side by side to the gas versions. Perfect transition for those not ready to abandon gas. If sales are too low, cut them and run with the EVs because they’re exceeding expectations. GM obviously feels they can make money on them if they’re creating.
Why so challenging to comprehend?
GMC fan you are correct. Nice to read a common sense thread rather than a biased opinion based on no information or reference to factual.
The A2SL and the A2LL platforms has been in development since Johan De Nysschen was president of Cadillac. Depending on where development is on a certain vehicle once you go past the point of no return you see the project out even if it is short lived. As it will cost more to scrap it as you have contracts with suppliers, etc. For the Blackwing engine the R&D use for that is not lost.
Please answer how is it not lost when the only vehicle model (CT6) that it was used in is no longer sold in NA and the engine isn’t offered in China?
It’s not going to be available in the CT5.
@Ci2eye
If you’re perplexed it’s because you want to be. It gives you more “I-Hate-GM” copy, which would be even worse if Cadillac was NOT building these sedans.
How could you call the truth hate mail? It’s another poor decision made by management just like axing the CT6, That’s why they’re out sold by Lexus and Mercedes-Benz with half the amount of dealerships, wake up and smell the quality, Cadillac still doesn’t have it.
@James Miele:
“…the truth” ? Like so many here, you’re confusing OPINION with truth.
“…another poor decision by management..”
Are you saying building the V Blackwing Cadillac sedans is a mistake?
“….like axing the CT6.”
The CT6 wasn’t selling in the US and they were losing money on it. There was no other choice. Sales in the US were 7900 in 2019. While in China, sales were over 22,000 the same year.
The vehicle segment that the CT6 occupied is not a high volume segment for sales in NA to begin with. GM had to know that before pouring resources into engineering and development. But then NA wasn’t the primary market for the CT6; China was.
However I’d give anything to be a fly on the wall to hear how they wrote off or absorbed the expense for development of the BW V8.
You say they weren’t making money on it – maybe true – but how is it other manufacturers continue to sell in the segment and offer updated and replacement models? And to boot, their vehicles carry the added expense of being imported into the US!!!! Doesn’t make sense.
Calling the upcoming high performance variants BW appears asinine. They have zero connection to the BW engine.
I don’t get it either. Also they’re spending all this time and money developing the alpha 2 ct4 and ct5 and all the respective versions…. meanwhile the Camaro is the best selling alpha platform car and they’re going to just drop it??
Hopefully! The manual gearbox in my ATS-V isn’t anything to brag about. You really have to muscle it from first to second. Missed that shift several times before I got used to it.
Why is it hard to get from 1st to 2nd? I have been a professional driver for 47 years and drive nothing but manuals in my daily driver. Check out my You Tube video “Shift a 6 speed manual like a pro” and get back to me. I may be able to help you.
Doug Stern,
Do you have a link to your video? Always interested in improving my manual skills.
Thanks
Just go onto You Tube and type in the search bar, “Shift a six speed manual like a pro”. I also have a extensive truck shifting video “Three Ways to shift a 13 speed” Let me know how it goes. By the way, I would be able to shift your ATS from 1st to 2nd with one finger, and drop it into first gear with equal ease. I’m always glad to help.
Is there a C8 tease on that shifter knob.
Cadillac amassed a bunch of V fans over the past 16 years. Some of us like manuals and would definitely consider the upgrade if this thing ever materializes and doesn’t get thrown away.
If GM walks away from this, Dodge will rule the old school, which would be too bad given Cadillac has much better and more modern platforms. The Challenger can still be had with a manual and the Charger with lots of HP but no manual.
EVs are fun for daily drivers, often very quick but also very appliance-like. It would be nice to see some high-performance sedans for the hold-outs. Save the manuals.
If they plan the sell “limited quantities” then why all this effort? They did it with the original blackwing also and only produced 800 copy. Really? What is this, the most exclusive megacar of the world? Even ferrari makes more copies of their most over the top hypercars and sell them for a couple million.
One thing is sure there’re no business minds behind gm operation. They turn GM into a charity to provide car collectors. Maybe they think people appreciate them for their effort but nobody care quite honesty.
Man, you’re aiming at bmws, mercos, then make hundreds of thousands of that sucker ,like they do. But if you have no intend to do so then don’t make it at all and don’t waste your limited precious resources for developing unprofitable niche cars. Because it’s definite that this one also will be more trouble than it’s worth for GM.
The CT4 and CT5 have capacity for hundreds of thousands. I’m sure the Vs will be profitable if the base cars are.
How many AMG63 are produced for every lesser model Mercedes? Answer is just a small fraction.
In the case of the CT6, Cadillac ceased all CT6 production, not just the V. So yes, if the base car doesn’t sell in volume, there’s no business case.
If the V isn’t for you, don’t buy it man – buy an EV Crossover self-driving appliance and enjoy.
Yawn… these cars will be dead in 2 years, 3 max. Neither GM nor Cadillac are committed to absolutely world class and thus they will die from multiple wounds. Superior competition and neglect being mortal ones as GM focuses on EV. Clearly Mary Barra is hoping Quid Pro Jo Jo actually assumes 1600 as he will immediately render us no longer energy independent. That said California currently has rolling black outs of electricity to its citizens so we can see how that will fare if everyone is driving and EV in the future… this isn’t Star Trek… it’s a pathetic joke…
I like manuals & the article but not the use of bad English.
Please, did you really say “these ones”.
There are different Englishes.
I don’t know where to start regarding that remark but all “Englishes” have a correct or grammatical way of speaking. As a journalist you should be aware of that. The term “these ones” makes no sense. One means one it cannot be made plural so to say “these” makes anything following plural. I am not an English teacher ( & they teach English not Englishes) but all you needed to say in the sentence above was “these will be reliable and refined “. If this is considered nitpicking by the readers of today I am can’t imagine where our education left off since I was a student.
@Glen U:
Thank you!
You’d think a simple grammar- check would be standard before publishing.
Two vehicles that carry a name for an engine they don’t even have. Just an obvious rehash of the ats and cts v cars. Cool cars, but will be cheaply built and dead in 4 years.
Totally agree… unfortunate and pathetic…
Xjug87
You again.
They let you back in?
New name, same old negative Nancy trollery.
Cadillac Matt
“Blackwing” was ALWAYS meant as a series/model name, not just an engine.
cts5 is ugly, c-pillar was ugly on the nissan /infinity cars and cadillac decided to copy, “Who designs these cars” , ct4 is nice but is a ats with a new grill, now they are giving them the horsepower they schould of offered out of the gate,sadly this is the last hurrah for the brand, all electric is going to go over like paying $50,000 for one with a 4 cylinder from a chevy cobalt SS, sadly no one at cadillac knows what they are doing and won’t until the brand dies….