The 2022 Cadillac V-Series Blackwing super sedans are the most powerful Caddys to ever stalk the streets. Despite their top-tier performance status, neither the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing nor the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing have unique exterior badging that sets them apart from that of the “regular” CT4-V and CT5-V counterparts, making difficult to tell them apart at first glance. Take a second look, though, and you’ll be able to spot some crucial differences between the two levels of top-tier performance vehicles.
The most obvious way to tell the difference between a regular V-Series car or a V-Series Blackwing machine is to simply peer through the front window. If you spy a manual shifter, that’s a dead giveaway for the Blackwing, since the regular V-Series sedans do not offer a manual transmission at all. However, in addition to the standard six-speed transmission, the Blackwings are also available with an optional 10-speed automatic, so this may not always be the most accurate tell. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at some exterior details that set the vehicles apart from one another.
2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing interior (with six-speed manual transmission)
Front End
A closer study of the CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing shows some minor front end differences from the regular V-Series sedans. The most obvious is the redesigned lower fascia, which has larger grille openings and unique grille treatments, which are crucial for optimal cooling and aerodynamics.
Adding the optional carbon fiber packages to the Blackwings accentuates these differences more. The Carbon Fiber Package 1 adds some special exterior accents to the front end of the vehicle, while the Carbon Fiber Package 2 focuses more on dressing up the sides and rear.
2022 CT4-V Blackwing
2022 Cadillac CT4-V
On the CT4-V Blackwing, the carbon fiber elements lend a more defiant look to the smaller of the two super sedans, giving it canards / dive planes, along with a front splitter and wheel deflectors. The regular CT4-V does not offer thes elements.
2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
Meanwhile, the CT5-V Blackwing is granted a unique front splitter when the optional carbon fiber package is added, along with front wheel deflectors. With Carbon Fiber Package 2 equipped, the larger ultra-high-performance sedan also gets grille mesh made from carbon fiber. As before, the less aggressive CT5-V lacks these features.
In short, if the vehicle in question has any carbon fiber accents, it can be identified as a Blackwing, given that neither of the aforementioned carbon fiber packages are offered on the lower-tier CT4 and CT4-V, or the CT5 and CT5-V.
Side Profile
Walk around the side of the vehicle in question, and you might see some differences in the front fenders. Those of a V-Series Blackwing model will be much more pronounced to promote more robust engine and brake cooling, while improving underhood aerodynamics.
2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing side profile
2022 Cadillac CT4-V side profile
Perhaps the most obvious distinction between the Blackwings and the regular V-Series cars are the exterior fender vents, which are visible directly behind the front wheel wells on the CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing. They are not present on the CT4-V and CT5-V sedans.
2021 Cadillac CT5-V side profile
2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing side profile
Another difference is that of the wheel and tires. The CT4-V Blackwing offers a trio of 18-inch sets, while the CT5-V Blackwing offers three 19-inch sets available. Comparatively, the CT4-V and CT5-V have quite a few more options available, but they are narrower than the wider offerings for the V-Series Blackwing sedans.
Additionally, the V-Series Blackwing cars also have a magnesium wheel option. However, these have not been made available to order at the time of this writing. They should not be confused for the bronze-finished wheels.
Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing Wheels
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Wheels
The tire sizes differ between the V-Series Blackwing cars and the regular V-Series machines. For reference, we have included all tires sizes for the CT4 and CT5 ranges below:
CT4
- Luxury: 225/45R17
- Premium Luxury: 235/40R18
- Premium Luxury with Diamond Sky: 235/35R19
- Sport and V-Series: 235/40R18
- V-Series V-Series Blackwing: P255/35ZR18 front and P275/35ZR18 rear
CT5:
- Luxury and Premium Luxury: 245/45R18
- Sport and V-Series: 245/40R19
- Premium Luxury with Diamond Sky: 255/35ZR20
- V-Series Blackwing: P275/35ZR19 front and P305/30ZR19 rear
Rear End
From the rear, the most obvious distinction that identifies a V-Series Blackwing car is the more aggressive lower diffuser, along with exhaust tips that are finished in black as opposed to chrome. As previously mentioned, the presence of any carbon fiber accents are a clear giveaway of the vehicle in question is a Blackwing. The Blackwings also have a wide, more aggressive stance, built to divert substantially more power to the rear wheels (see the tires section above).
2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing (with carbon fiber accents)
2022 Cadillac CT4-V
In addition, the presence of a pronounced rear spoiler is a giveaway that the model in question is a V-Series Blackwing as opposed to a “regular” V-Series model, which feature smaller, less aggressive spoilers.
2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing (with carbon fiber accents)
2021 Cadillac CT5-V
As a reminder, the 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing is powered by the 3.6L twin-turbocharged V6 (production code LF4), rated at 472 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. The 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing features the supercharged 6.2L V8 (production code LT4), delivering a pavement-pounding 668 horsepower and 669 pound-feet of torque.
Meanwhile, the 2022 Cadillac CT4-V features the turbocharged 2.7L I4 engine (production code L3B) under the hood, where it makes 325 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. The 2022 Cadillac CT5-V is powered by the twin-turboed 3.6L engine (production code LGY), where it’s tuned for 360 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. Rear wheel drive is standard, with optional all wheel drive available for a premium.
Now that we’ve taken you through the differences between the Cadillac V-Series Blackwings and the regular Cadillac V-Series sedans, you’ll be able to tell what you’re looking at in no time. If you want to stay sharp, then subscribe to Cadillac Society to stay in the know about the latest Cadillac CT4 news, Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing news, Cadillac CT5 news, Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing news, and a lot more Cadillac news coverage. We also invite you to join the latest discussions in our Cadillac forums.
Cadillac CT4-V Photos
Cadillac CT5-V Photos
2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing Photos
2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Photos
