Back in October of 2020, Cadillac announced that it would eventually offer magnesium wheels on its (then forthcoming) Blackwing V-Series models. Now, nearly four years since the announcement, we are still waiting for the mag wheel option to become available.
The aforementioned announcement from 2020 stated that the magnesium wheels were to be available on the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing. This would have made the two models the first Cadillac models to ever offer magnesium wheels from the factory (though it’s worth noting that Cadillac’s parent company, General Motors, previously offered magnesium wheels on the C5 Corvette). In May 2022, Cadillac Society reported that customers would not be able to get the magnesium wheels before 2023. Alas, 2023 has come and gone, but the wheels are still not available.
“The team continues to explore opportunities to offer magnesium wheels, but nothing to share today,” Cadillac spokesperson Joe Singer told Cadillac Society in a statement, adding that, “In the meantime, Cadillac did debut aluminum alloy wheels with a tech bronze finish that provide a similar look as the wheels previewed in 2020. These wheels are available on the V-Series Blackwing lineup today.”
Cadillac is referring to the 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels with Tech Bronze finish (production code RRR) offered on the CT4-V Blackwing, as well as the 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels with Tech Bronze finish (production code RHL), offered on the CT5-V Blackwing. The wheel sets are a $1,500 option on both super sedans.
Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing with 18-inch aluminum alloy wheel with Tech Bronze finish (production code RRR)
Typically reserved for the aftermarket and racecars, magnesium wheels offer two key benefits to a car’s overall ride and handling characteristics. Due to magnesium’s superior strength-to-weight ratio compared to other more commonly-used wheel materials, they can cut considerable mass from a location that’s otherwise difficult to slim down. Another benefit is that magnesium wheels absorb road vibration and transform it into heat, which is then dissipated. Put these two together and the result is a smoother ride for a vehicle’s occupants.
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing with 19-inch aluminum alloy wheel with Tech Bronze Finish (production code RHL)
As a reminder, the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing is powered by the twin-turbo 3.6L V6 (production code LF4) gasoline engine, producing 472 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque, while the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing gets the supercharged 6.2L V8 (production code LT4) gasoline engine, rated at 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque. Both models are offered exclusively in RWD and feature a six-speed manual transmission as standard, while a 10-speed automatic transmission is optional.
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