Here’s What We Know About The Next-Level Cadillac CT5-V

Cadillac is currently hammering away on developing a new go-faster CT5-V variant that will slot at the top of the CT5 food chain as part of the luxury brand’s two-tier V-Series strategy. Initially teased in June 2019 at the Belle Isle Grand Prix, the range-topping Cadillac CT5-V is planned for a debut later this year and an on-sale date in 2021. Suffice to say, we’ve been scooping up as much info as we can on this next-level Cadillac CT5-V super sedan, and are putting the highlights right here for your reading pleasure.

Some of the latest news is confirmation that the next-level Cadillac CT5-V will indeed offer a manual transmission option in the form of a six-speed unit. Proof of the row-your-own interface just hit the Web in the form of new leaked images which show the Caddy’s cabin space with a stick shift in the central tunnel. Compared to current CT5 models, this manual-equipped model features a reconfigured center console, eschewing the digital gear selector of automatic models for a stick, plus the associated boot and silver surround trim.

In addition to the six-speed manual already mentioned, the next-level CT5-V will also offer a 10-speed automatic.

As we reported previously, the next-level Cadillac CT5-V will draw motivation for a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine (production code LT4), the same lump utilized in the outgoing third-gen Cadillac CTS-V. Equipped in the 2016-2019 CTS-V, the blown ‘eight throws down 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque, while the next-level CT5-V will likely arrive with output in the 600-horsepower and 600-pound-feet range.

Critically, the next-level CT5-V won’t come with the Cadillac twin-turbo 4.2L V8 engine (production code LTA), a.k.a. “Blackwing,” used in the Cadillac CT6 Platinum and CT6-V, despite earlier reports to the contrary.

Other details include a host of high-performance features for the cabin, such as a large red stripe added at the 12 o’clock position on the steering wheel, which will also have a large V-mode button that’ll set up the car for max-attack performance, while carbon fiber and aluminum trim play dress up. The seats will be highly bolstered buckets with additional lateral bolstering to hug the driver and front passenger.

Outside, look for a very aggressive front fascia optimized for air flow to the engine, larger wheels, wider tires, air extractors behind the front wheels (in the in the front fenders), bigger brakes, and more aggressive styling in general. It’s possible that the hood will have an air extractor, but recent prototypes have not had such a feature. Out back, a set of trapezoidal quad exhaust tips will spit spent gasses and a lovely supercharged V8 soundtrack to boot. In fact, that exhaust note will be a bit different than that of the CTS-V, as sources tell us that engineers have spent some time tuning it.

Cadillac Society was the first to report on the next-level Cadillac CT5-V’s use of the “Blackwing” name, but that may no longer be the case, as the branding direction may have changed internally. Indeed, without the Blackwing engine under the hood, the name seems like an odd choice for the next-level Cadillac CT5-V.

The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing / next-level CT5-V will be joined by the smaller CT4-V Blackwing. Unfortunately, the CT6-V with the actual Blackwing engine have ceased being part of the lineup as of February.

Are you excited for the next-level Cadillac CT5-V? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to Cadillac Society for more Cadillac CT5 news and ongoing Cadillac news coverage.