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CT5-V Blackwing Engine Learned From Camaro ZL1, C7 Corvette Z06

The upcoming 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing ultra-high-performance luxury sedan will be the most powerful Cadillac ever, and its supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 engine will also be in its most powerful form yet.

In the CT5-V Blackwing, the LT4 makes 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque. That puts it 18 horsepower and nine pound-feet of torque ahead of the version used in the 2015-2019 Chevy Corvette Z06 and the 2017-present Chevy Camaro ZL1, as well as 28 horsepower and 29 pound-feet of torque ahead of what was superficially the same unit in the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V.

GM 6.2 Liter Supercharged LT4 Engine Vehicle Applications
Year Make Model Transmission (RPO) Power (hp / kW @ RPM) Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ RPM)
2015 – present Chevrolet C7 Corvette Z06 GM 8-Speed HydraMatic Auto 8L90 (M5U) 650 / 485 @ 6400 650 / 881 @ 3600
2015 – present Chevrolet C7 Corvette Z06 Tremec 7-Speed Manual TR6070 (MEK) 650 / 485 @ 6400 650 / 881 @ 3600
2016 – present Cadillac CTS-V Sedan GM 8-Speed HydraMatic Auto 8L90 (M5U) 640 / 477 @ 6400 630 / 855 @ 3600
2017 – present Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 GM 10-Speed HydraMatic Auto 10L90 (MGL) 650 / 485 @ 6400 650 / 881 @ 3600
2017 – present Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Tremec 6-Speed Manual TR6060 (MJK) 650 / 485 @ 6400 650 / 881 @ 3600
2022 – present Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing GM 10-Speed HydraMatic Auto 668 / 498 @ TBD 659 / 893 @ TBD
2022 – present Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Tremec 6-speed Manual 668 / 498 @ TBD 659 / 893 @ TBD

In a recent interview with GM Authority executive editor Alex Luft, Mirza Grebovic, Cadillac Performance Variant Manager, explained why the LT4 in the CT5-V Blackwing has such an advantage over the CTS-V.

“The main differences (from CTS-V) were outside the internals: the exhaust and the induction allowed us to get more horsepower,” he said.

However, Grebovic also mentioned that Cadillac learned one important lesson from Chevy‘s treatment of the same engine.

“We did change the supercharger lid to give it a larger gap to the [inter]cooler to get more air in and better cooling performance. This was learning from the [Corvette C7] Z06 and the Camaro [ZL1]. So it does have a taller supercharger lid,” he concluded.

This is important because cool air is more dense than hot air. In other words, there is more oxygen for a given volume of air, which leads to stronger combustion and therefore more power. Without the taller supercharger lid, the power output of the LT4 in the CT5-V Blackwing might therefore have been much closer to that of the Chevy muscle cars.

The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing and the 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing are scheduled to go into production at the GM Lansing Grand River plant in Michigan on July 5th, nearly a month before the regular (non-Blackwing) 2022 Cadillac CT4 and 2022 Cadillac CT5 luxury sedans. However, this depends partly on the ongoing semiconductor supply shortage which is affecting auto factories around the world.

The CT5-V Blackwing will be priced to start at $84,990, but it will be possible to spend $121,895 by specifying all the available options. These include GM’s 10-speed automatic transmission (replacing the standard Tremec-supplied six-speed manual), a carbon fiber aero package, and a Brembo ceramic brake package, among other options.

Even the higher figure is dwarfed by the $265,000 paid for the rights to own CT5-V Blackwing VIN 001 at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction in March. The entire sum is being donated to Black Ambition, which funds companies led by Black and Latinx entrepreneurs.

Be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing news, Cadillac Blackwing news, Cadillac CT5 news, Cadillac news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

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David has been writing about motoring and motorsport since he was 13 and racing since he was 19. He is British, and therefore apologizes for taking up too much of your time.

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Comments

  1. Sweet! I’ll take one. But I’ll have to wait for the $40k rebates.

    Reply
  2. “The entire sum is being donated to Black Ambition, which funds companies led by Black and Latinx entrepreneurs.” = Racist

    Reply
  3. The Blackwing LT4 will be a different LT4, making unofficial LT5 levels of power. Car and Driver will get it in the 10s with a rollout. There will be a test between this, the Ferrari Roma, and the McLaren GT.

    Reply
  4. I wish the CT4-V blackwing could have got the LT1 or LT2 (minus the sump situation). Especially since the next gen C63 is getting a 4 banger. The CT4-V Blackwing would have been the ultimate small RWD sedan with a small block. I just don’t understand why they did not do it. Can’t say they don’t like Chevy powertrains either.

    Reply
    1. Well I think they were trying to go for a small light weight sedan that cam almost .Almost the perfor.ance of the ct5 but since it’s still equal to the ats I’ve seen someone swap a lt5 in it with no problems which will make an ultimate sleeper

      Reply
      1. Hmm that sounds like an interesting project. Maybe something worth doing after the initial warranty runs its course if one bought a brand new CT4-V Blackwing. I am sure the driving characteristics will be stellar with the baby blackwing.

        Reply
  5. What is latinx?

    Reply
  6. Just ordered the CT5-V Blackwing. With such limited supply, was surprised that the car will be in around late September. Will give update in several months!

    Reply

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