Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Compared To BMW M5, Tesla Model S Plaid: Video
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The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is a watershed moment for the luxury marque, arriving as the most track-capable model to ever wear the Cadillac crest. With a supercharged V8, rear-wheel drive, and manual transmission, the top-performer CT5-V Blackwing stands at odds with the broader industry momentum towards electrification and automation, but how does it compare to contemporary hot-to-trot luxury performance machines like the BMW M5 and Tesla Model S Plaid?
The following review video from Hagerty explores that question in-depth. Hosted by automotive journalist Jason Cammisa and SCCA Hall of Fame racing driver Randy Pobst, the video includes both track driving and real-world driving to figure out why the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is an iconic vehicle.
It all starts with performance. The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is motivated by the supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 gasoline engine, the same engine previously equipped by the third-generation Cadillac CTS-V, the C7 Chevy Corvette Z06, and the sixth-gen Chevy Camaro ZL1. Stuffed into the CT5-V Blackwing, the supercharged ‘eight produces 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque, an impressive sum, no doubt about it. Output is routed rearwards through a standard six-speed manual transmission, while a 10-speed automatic is optional.
Properly unleashed, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing can cross the quarter mile finish line in 11.6 seconds at 125 mph. That’s quick, but unfortunately, the two rivals in this comparison are quicker, with the BMW M5 completing the test in 10.6 seconds at 130 mph, and the Tesla Model S Plaid completing the test in 9.3 seconds at 152 mph. Chalk it up to the tech advantage, with the Bimmer sporting twin turbos and all-wheel drive, and the Tesla sporting the hottest all-electric powertrain the California brand can muster, plus advanced all-wheel drive grip of its own.
Indeed, it looks like the rivals have the advantage here. But there’s more to the story than just the raw performance numbers. At the end of the day, what’s it like to actually drive these machines? Does personality count?
Hit play to see for yourself:
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Nice video. He was informative, fun to listen to and funny all in one. Great shots of the cars too. Glad to see Cadillac able to play like they are in the big leagues. I’m happy for Cadillac and for those who love the performance side.
Now please, PLEASE Cadillac. Using your current Y strategy, please bring those of us who love very quiet and comfortable cars something we can be equally as proud of and that will go head-to-head against the best “luxury” vehicles in the world.
I already seen the video and all I got to say is don’t get the M5 and don’t waste $140K on the CS. This car is a fail and can’t whoop the Blackwing and got beat by it on the track at Willow Springs with a car that had a manual transmission and carried more weight than the CS.
I saw this. My only complaint is that the Automatic CT5 V was not used for the the Lap time. I have Seen several GM People say the Automatic is Faster because of its Quick shifting over the 6 Speed Manual.
If they used the automatic in the track time, they would have used it in the entire video, and one of the biggest selling points about the CT5-V Blackwing is that is comes with a manual, so I understand your point because it would have been faster, but it’s better with the manual
It’s hilarious to me that they justified the loss to the model s plaid on the track because “cars should go vroom” childish attitude.
Nobody “justified the loss” of anything. The conclusion was that production internal combustion engines have already lost in the race for short-run speed (and some time ago, at that). Period. However, the Blackwing is an icon (literally the name of the series) because it has more personality and provides a unique (and fun) driving experience that is likely one of the last in the internal combustion era. Pretty clear to me: if you want to go fast over a short time period, the Plaid is the winner. If you want the most precise and easiest to handle, go for the M5 CS. But if you have other objectives, including owning a “last of its kind” internal combustion vehicle, the Blackwing may be the choice.
Tesla isn’t in this group. Tesla is a strait line car, the others are track cars. The Tesla lacks the cooling for a hard track run. Tesla is more in the COPO camaro race class. If Cadillac wanted to, they could make a drag race car, but that’s not their goal, not the fragile plastic interior we know Tesla’s famous for
Tesla still beat the ct5 v blackwing on willows spring. I didn’t expect the tesla to run the quickest lap time, the tesla weighs 4,800lb and it has the worst brakes (more worse than the hellcat) and has understeer but somehow it beat the cadillac on track which is quite surprising.
By .3 seconds. Auto would have smashed it.
How many laps can the Tesla keep it up for, though?
And then lost to the Camaro SS. Also, wasn’t this Tesla car not stock?
Plaid’s a numbers car for statisticians
M5 CS a Blueblood for those hobbled by the need for prestige
Blackwing’s a ripper with a soul for the rest who could give a damn and just love to drive