The Cadillac Blackwing V8 engine is a masterpiece of engineering that is as powerful as it is beautiful. Problem is, the one model that it’s currently utilized in – the Cadillac CT6 – will exit production in just a few short days. That chain of events has caused a whirlwind of speculation about the engine, which was allegedly developed from the ground up to be a Cadillac engine and is the luxury brand’s first DOHC motor since the Northstar. So we asked Cadillac President, Steve Carlisle, to set the record straight about the Blackwing and its future.
“We don’t have a plan for the [Blackwing] engine at the moment,” Carlisle told us during the 2021 Cadillac Escalade reveal event in Beverly Hills.
“But we were very encouraged by the reactions to the Blackwing, so there will be a little bit of Blackwing still. We’re not done rolling out our performance sedans, so stay tuned on that,” added the executive.
Blackwing V8 in the 2020 Cadillac CT6-V
Our own intel indicates that the forthcoming, ultra high-performance variants of the Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V will be powered by carry-over engines from the ATS-V and CTS-V, respectively. The models were initially planned to carry the Blackwing moniker – such as CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing – but it’s no longer clear whether that will still be the case when they come to market roughly within a year.
| 3.6L V6 TT LF4 | 6.2L V8 Supercharged LT4 | 4.2L V8 TT Blackwing LTA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | ATS-V | CTS-V | CT6-V |
| Horsepower | 464 | 640 | 550 |
| Torque | 445 | 630 | 640 |
In the case of the ATS-V, that engine is none other than the twin-turbo 3.6L V6 (production code LF4) good for 464 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque. In the case of the CTS-V, it’s the supercharged 6.2L V8 (production code LT4) rated at 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, the twin-turbo 4.2L Blackwing V8 (production code LTA) – makes 550 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque in the CT6-V and 500 horsepower and 574 pound-feet of torque in the CT6 Platinum.
A prototype of the upcoming ultra-high-performance variant of the Cadillac CT5-V, belived to be called CT5-V Blackwing
The Cadillac Society Take
Reading between the lines, here’s our interpretation of the Carlisle’s comments: Cadillac currently has no plans for the Blackwing for any upcoming models, but it’s also not being discontinued outright. Instead, it might make an appearance in a special-edition vehicle in the future, though which model or when it could potentially come to market is currently anyone’s guess.
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LLK
From the Road & Track interview with Carlisle:
“With the CT6 gone, the Escalade will serve as Cadillac’s sole flagship. Carlisle said that Cadillac doesn’t plan to replace the CT6, but eventually, the automaker may make another big sedan. Just don’t expect it to have an internal-combustion engine. “[B]ody style preferences are not static, and nor are body style possibilities,” he said. “So as we move into electrification, it’s a clean sheet.””
When it comes to the Blackwing, I’m not holding my breath. There is nothing in the current portfolio that the engine fits in and it seems as if the future product portfolio is all electric. From the same interview:
“Carlisle spent a lot of time talking about the electric future, declaring that Cadillac is entering the 2020s as “an internal-combustion engine brand. Existing as a battery electric-vehicle brand.” Cadillac will soon put an electric SUV into production, and more models will follow, maybe an all-electric V-series car. “High-performance electric cars are very much a possibility,” he said.”
So long Blackwing, we hardly knew ya….
Ricky
It fits in plenty of products, including the CT5 and the Escalade as well as the next gen CT6.
The road and track interview is old.
LLK
No it doesn’t, which is why the trusty OHV motor is going in. There is no “next gen CT6”. The R&T interview was published yesterday.
From CS in Novemember, which was taken from Motor Trend:
“The report also says both the Cadillac CT5 sedan and Cadillac XT6 crossover were going to be based on the Omega platform that underpins the CT6. Cost cutting measures dropped the axe on that plan, though, and the CT5 used an evolved version of the GM Alpha architecture called Alpha 2, while the XT6 tapped the front-wheel drive C1XX platform. The Alpha 2 platform was not designed to accommodate the 4.2-liter V8 and the C1XX platform can’t fit anything larger than the current 3.6-liter LGX V6 engine under its hood – not even a twin-turbocharged V6, for example”
For the record the interview was done last week during the Escalade unveiling.
Greg
? LLK
Felix
Havering a bit of a problem understanding why an engine that fits in a CT6 won’t fit an Escalade. As far as I understand the 3.6 TT will fit the Alpha2. I would not make sense to upgrade an existing platform and make it so that it won’t accommodate the Engines that was available before. Then again it does not make sense to me why they would spend the time money and effort to design a new Engine and not use it.
LLK
The Blackwing is more expensive to build and in an Escalade offers no advanatge over the 6.2. Dimensions are different and would require some mods which would also add cost. As to your question “… it does not make sense to me why they would spend the time money and effort to design a new Engine and not use it.”, we’re all wondering the same thing.
Felix
The price point of the Escalade which in the platinum will easily exceed $100,000 could easily accept the extra cost of a premium Engine. To offer that type of Engine could greatly enhance its prestige and value. As far as an Engine with 550 HP and 640 ft pounds vs 420 HP and 460 ft pounds I wouldn’t say there is no advantage.
6.0LL76
…and the confusion continues. Make it stop!
Bobby
I really just can’t stand GM sometimes!!! Put the the damn Blackwing V8 into the platinum edition of the 2021 Escalade!!!! The new Escalade is stunning so make it even better GM by getting rid of the pushrod 6.2 and but the powerful and sophisticated Blackwing V8 in it I don’t even care if it’s the detuned version of it. I’m really hoping that GM is gonna cancel all there electric cars when they see there not selling, because we all know GM only keeps things in production if they sell in high volumes!
RIP Blackwing
RIP CT6
Catbert
The future of the Black Wing is in the C8 Corvette, whether Caddy agrees, or not.
Jonathan
starting to think you might be onto something here …..
Brian Lockhart
You will see this engine again it’s already been said that Cadillac will go electric but also internal combustion engines will be in the future.. Blackwing will live on. Let it be maybe something opulent or exiting. We’ll see