The C8 Corvette Stingray and Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing are the two most exciting performance products currently on offer from General Motors, but which one is faster?
That’s the answer that Edmunds sought to find out in their recent head-to-head comparison test of these two red-hot GM performance cars. The publication rounded up these two for what they call a ‘U-Drag Race’, which entails a quarter-mile drag race, along with a brake section, a hairpin turn and a rolling acceleration zone back to the finish line. This test compares the vehicle’s launch and quarter-mile performance, just like a traditional drag race, but also demonstrates their braking and cornering ability and how well they are able to put the power down when coming out of a slow turn. This is a great test for modern-day performance cars, in our opinion, as many of today’s best many sports and supercars aim to be fast both in a straight line and around a race track.
We won’t ruin the results of Edmunds‘ U-Drag Race, but let’s just say the C8 Corvette Stingray and Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing appear to have very similar levels of performance. While the CT5-V Blackwing is heavier than the Corvette, it benefits from having a more powerful supercharged 6.2L LT4 V8 engine pumping out a massive 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque. The Corvette, for reference, produces a lesser though still respectable 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque from its naturally aspirated 6.2L LT2 V8. The Corvette also benefits from being mid-engine and more aerodynamic, although the Caddy has a bit more tire underneath it in the front and rear.
Finally, the Corvette is equipped with a quick-shifting eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, whereas the CT5-V Blackwing has the standard six-speed manual. This means the Cadillac’s performance hinges largely on the driving abilities of the editor behind the wheel, but Edmunds changes up the drivers between rounds to even the playing field a bit.
Check out this unique ‘U-Drag Race’ test in the video embedded below.
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Comments
If I could only have one or the other I think I’d opt for a fully loaded Blackwing with red brake calipers and the bronze wheels!
Could you please GM… reinstate and relaunch the Buick Questor of 1983 in an Impact Exterior Form but with this strong Star Wars Interior Character… with Ethanol Motor === ? We miss aerodynamic cars like this in Europe … here we do not care about bs blackwings or corvette those days, we want the Impact back— do not know if someone hears me
Why even have the corvette anymore if GM is going to put that motor in every car they make. How stupid.
The Blackwing surprised me, especially since it was equipped with the manual. I figured the C8’s ability to launch and corner would be too much for the Caddy to overcome in that amount of distance. At the end of the day I would happily own either of these cars.
I haven’t been following Caddy’s in many years, but learning that it had a manual transmission is awesome.
I am lucky enough to own 1 of each and both are performance bargains , the Caddy with it’s supercharged engine and manual trans makes glorious sounds rowing up and down through the gears , and the Corvette just seems to do everything right . I’m really looking forward to driving the new Z06 .
You own a Blackwing, a C8 Stingray, and are getting a C8 ZO6? You Sir, are my new best friend.
He’s not going to spot you $20.
Bill
It would be interesting to do the u turn face with C8 and the Cadillac CT4 V Blackwing, there are YouTube videos showing 1/4 mile times of the CT4 V with better times than both the C8 and CT5 V, plus very impressive track creds, might be very interesting results! Curious?
I have C8 and very impressed, with a CT4 V Blackwing on order.
I loved this test as I own a CTSV, do more like this GM, with or without Edmunds.
I would still take the C8 over the Blackwing.
The C8 is the best bang for buck and is damn close to being a supercar.
Why not pit the CT5-V Blackwing in 10-speed auto guise against the C8 and it’s DCT. That’s the race. These guys were good drivers but not pros, so unless their shifts are perfect, your not getting a true measure of the Blackwings performance, since you have to immediately factor in driver shift response. Letting the computer do the job, I bet the Blackwing beats out the C8, more definitively.
Better yet, compare apples to apples and not a halo car to a entry level machine. Maybe put a C8 Z06, that is naturally aspirated or the coming E Vette or Zora against anything Caddy can muster. Chevy isn’t anywhere close to finished…buckle up folks! Happy Motoring!
The dual clutch C8 trans is the big the difference. Put one the Blackwing and it becomes a rocket. Forget the manual unless you like shifting, but that dual clutch is already shifting before you put your foot into the clutch to shift.
European competition like the BMW or Mercedes has a dual clutch trans and could pose a lot of trouble for the Blackwing.
I would like to see this again with different drivers.
The new Caddy is a great car! It would be fun to drive to work in an unremarkable looking sedan that can perform with the best of them.
I agree, different pro drivers would be revealing methinks. Having just finished the Ron Fellows C8 School in Nevada, I had to note that their pro drivers made quite a difference in my skills and were a wonder to watch racing.
Having said this, A base C8 running head to head with the best Caddy can bring to the party, enjoying 173 HP bonus due to the blower is pretty spectacular. Let’s put the Chevy halo car against the Caddy…Zora, E. Vette, or the Z06. On paper we already know that even the Z06 out of the box will blow off the high-end Caddy.
Happy Motoring!
Same story as pitting the Mustang GT 500 against the Stingray. They are pitting the basically “base” Corvette against the biggest and baddest Cadillac ever made. Let’s see the re-run when the biggest and baddest Corvette model is out!!
The biggest and baddest corvette is already out , C7 ZR1 ! Guess what , I’ve already got 1 .
That ZR1 Will be embarrassed by the C8 ZO6… Just wait and see!!!
I’m looking forward to getting a C8 Z06 and I imagine it will be one hell of a car in it’s own right, but there’s nothing quite like rowing the gears in a 760 hp car with the low end torque, the final gearing on the new Z will make a big difference and the 8600 redline will let it wind out forever, should be fun.
The ZR1 is a wonderful car, but is so far behind a Z51, never mind the new Z06, and the coming E Vette and Zora. Each to their own time…the C8 is now “the King of the Castle!”
Right now the C8 is a mere prince, when the new Z06 hits the street it very well maybe the new king .
The new king of what corvettes?
Yes
Like I said, today, the Stingray is the king of the Corvette castle. The Z06 is not on the street. I have added over 100 HP to my C8 and it enjoys more torque than the new Z06. This works for me since I do not want the harsh ride and whole “boy wonder” Japanese- style flying wing on my car. Each to their own, however…Happy Motoring!
That Caddy is wonderful! Albeit a bit boxy, the comfort and performance specs are super! The blower on the Caddy makes a significant HP advantage over the base C8 Stingray. The C8 Z06, although a straight-forward natural aspirated engine, with 670 HP, is the natural competitor for this Black Wing. Let the games begin!
Happy Motoring!!!
Was interesting that the Caddy traveled less distance in both races…I wonder if that suggests an understeering Vette…or if it really means nothing.
I wonder how the C7 Z06 would do against the C8 in this test…will be looking to see if they have one.
Anyway, this race would seem to imply that the automatic Caddy would beat the Vette (less disadvantage getting to speed)…this looked a lot closer than prior magazine testing numbers would suggest.
I really, really want to like the Vette, but I just can’t…I often complain about its styling, but sitting next to the Caddy (which I find to be a very nice-looking car), it looks its worst. I can’t wait to see the C8 Z06…
I love manuals, but my pick between these cars would be an auto Caddy…
Dodge R/T vs Cadillac Black Wing
Done, you won’t like the results since you mentioned the R/T