The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is the most track-capable production car that Cadillac has ever made, and for those customers milking every last tenth, the new-for-2025 Precision Package is a no-brainer. Featuring a selection of carefully selected upgrades and tuning changes, the Precision Package aims to sharpen the CT5-V Blackwing even further than the standard spec, all without compromising the luxury sedan’s inherent refinement. Now, GM Authority has covered the why and how behind the new package’s creation.
GM Authority Executive Editor Alex Luft recently spoke to Cadillac executive chief engineer Brandon Vivian about the genesis of the of the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Precision Pack. Unsurprisingly, it all comes back to a desire to be first across the finish line.
“The first thing is we play to win,” Vivian told GM Authority. “And when we barely lost in a couple lap time shootouts when we launched the car in 2022, that was the push for us to say ‘you know even though we’re really really close and it’s an amazing car, we need to go to that next level.'”
Vivian did not specify which shootouts irked the team into creating the new package, but we do know that the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing managed a time of 2:49.4 in Car and Driver’s 2022 Lightning Lap, just 1.6 seconds behind the 2021 Porsche Panamera Turbo S.
Either way, the team resolved to go over the CT5-V Blackwing with a fine-tooth comb to identify potential areas of improvement.
“So we looked at everything on the car, I mean when I say everything I mean everything,” Vivian said. “Certain things are more difficult to do than others, but simultaneously we were working on a package to take the CT4-V Blackwing racing in SCCA, and that car has won six races so far this year and is doing really well. We raced that car as 100 percent stock car which is really unique. So as we started development of that package and when we were looking at what we could add to the CT5, we kind of took the two ideas and married them together, and that’s how we ended up with the Precision Package for the CT5-V Blackwing.”
The upgrades on offer with the new Precision Package include increased spring rates, a larger front stabilizer bar, new suspension bushings, and new steering knuckles, plus new rear toe links. This allows drivers to dial in a more-aggressive track-spec wheel alignment, while the MagneRide dampers, steering, chassis control and electronic limited-slip differential were retuned as well. Finally, carbon ceramic brakes were added in the corners.
“It was about taking what’s already great about the CT4-V Blackwing, adding some parts to that car, and the investigation of what it would take to make that car successful in racing, and then philosophically apply that to the CT5-V Blackwing. So that’s how it came together, just getting a bunch of really passionate people and ideas and forming them into one,” Vivian says.
To note, the Precision Package is available for both the standard GM six-speed manual transmission, as well as the optional GM 10-speed automatic. According to GM Authority sources, pricing is set at $18,000.
Under the hood, all CT5-V Blackwing models are equipped with the supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 gasoline engine, rated at 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque. The GM Alpha 2 platform provides the underpinnings, with production taking place at the GM Lansing Grand River plant.
Comments
So where are the CT4BW upgrades that were the inspiration for this?
We also want CT4 BW refresh and precision package.
Absolutely needs CT4 refresh. I have been waiting for the refresh to replace my ’17 ATS-V manual, which only has 47k miles, so no emergency. But I’m not doing it on a car with basically the same tech as I had on my ’13 ATS! While they’re at it, new interior colors are needed, especially on the CT4-V. Just Black and Sangria? Really?
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