The Cadillac Blackwing moniker represents the pinnacle of the automaker’s performance offerings, and may refer to one of three current products: the CT4-V Blackwing sedan, the CT5-V Blackwing sedan, or the twin-turbocharged 4.2-liter LTA V8 engine utilized by the now-discontinued CT6 and CT6-V sedans.
Blackwing V8TT Engine
The name first took hold with the arrival of the 2019 Cadillac CT6 and 2019 CT6-V, which were available with the hand-built, twin-turbocharged 4.2-liter LTA V8 engine. At the time of the CT6-Vs birth, the Blackwing nameplate was specific to the powerplant, while the model itself was simply the CT6-V. For the CT6 model, a detuned version of the engine was restricted to the Platinum trim level.
Assigned RPO code LTA, the eight-cylinder, Dual-Overhead Cam (DOHC) gasoline engine is the result of a new clean-sheet design. It’s also Cadillac’s first-ever twin-turbo V-8 engine, and features the following highlights:
- Twin-scroll turbochargers
- Electronic wastegate control
- Twin water-to-air charge coolers
- Twin throttle bodies
- Direct injection
- Dual-independent camshaft phasing
- Active Fuel Management / Cylinder Deactivation
- Variable-pressure oiling system
- Stop/start technology
As mentioned, engine output varied from model to model. Output figures are shown in the table below:
| Model Year | Brand | Model | Engine | Transmission | Power hp / kW @ RPM | Torque lb-ft / Nm @ RPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Cadillac | CT6 Platinum | LTA | 10L90 | 500 / 373 @ 5000-5200 | 553 / 750 @ 2600 – 4600 |
| 2019 | Cadillac | CT6-V | LTA | 10L90 | 550 / 410 @ 5700 | 627 / 850 @ 3200 – 4000 |
The future of the low-production, boosted V8 is uncertain, as no vehicle currently makes use of the powerplant.
CT4-V Blackwing Sedan
The brand was transitioning into its Y-trim strategy during the arrival of the CT4 sedan, meaning the nameplate was split into a three-tier lineup comprised of the CT4, CT4-V, and the range-topping CT4-V Blackwing. While the CT4-V offered sports-inspired refinement over the CT4 trim levels, the CT4-V Blackwing was designed for driver’s who wanted the most performance available from the more compact Alpha II platformed sedan.
Notably, the CT4-V Blackwing is the only CT4 model to offer a manual transmission, with a 10-speed automatic also available. The high-performance sedan comes equipped with the torquey twin-turbocharged LF4 V6, and is only available in a rear-wheel-drive configuration.
| Model Year | Brand | Model | Engine | Transmission | Power hp / kW @ RPM | Torque lb-ft / Nm @ RPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Cadillac | CT4-V Blackwing | LF4 | 6-Speed Manual or 10-Speed Auto | 472 / 351 @ 5850* | 445 / 603 @ 3000* |
- The peak power RPM* has yet to be confirmed
The Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing was first seen in a teaser aired during the Rolex 24 At Daytona endurance race, was officially unveiled on February 1st, 2021, and is set to enter the market during the summer of 2021 as a 2022 model year vehicle.
CT5-V Blackwing Sedan
The Y-trim strategy was also applied to the CT5 sedan, of course, resulting in the CT5, CT5-V, and the range-topping CT5-V Blackwing. While the super sedan offers a boosted V8, it does not feature the twin-turbocharged 4.2-liter LTA Blackwing V8. Instead, the familiar supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8 sits under the hood of the CT5-V Blackwing with a GM-estimated output of 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque.
Similar to the CT4-V Blackwing, the CT5-V Blackwing is the only CT5 model to offer a manual transmission, which is a significant difference compared to its indirect predecessor: the third-gen CTS-V sedan. Cadillac says the luxury sedan is capable of reaching over 200 miles per hour.
| Model Year | Brand | Model | Engine | Transmission | Power hp / kW @ RPM | Torque lb-ft / Nm @ RPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Cadillac | CT5-V Blackwing | LT4 | 6-Speed Manual or 10-Speed Auto | 668 / 498 @ 6400* | 659 / 893 @ 3600* |
- The peak power RPM* has yet to be confirmed
Just like the more compact CT4-V Blackwing, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing was first seen in a teaser aired during the Rolex 24 At Daytona endurance race, was officially unveiled on February 1st, 2021, and is set to enter the market during the summer of 2021 as a 2022 model year vehicle.
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