Cadillac CT4V Blackwing Continues to Wow Reviewers

Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing dazzles with crisp styling, precision handling and a manual transmission.

The Cadillac brand is slowly transitioning to an electric-only lineup, but before internal combustion engines have disappeared from new car showrooms, General Motors’ luxury brand is going out with a bang. The “Blackwing” versions of the CT4-V and CT5-V are the best performing Cadillac and recently, our Editor Michael S. Palmer had a chance to send time with the smaller of the two for CorvetteForum.

Like so many others, Palmer loved his time in the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, finding little more than nit-picky things to dislike. In the long run, while it doesn’t pack the supercharged V8 power of the CT5-V Blackwing, the twin turbocharged V6 in the CT4-V Blackwing makes this midsized sedan a formidable foe in the popular luxury-sport segment. In fact, the CT4 is good enough to rival the BMW M3 for the best sport sedan in the segment.

CT4-V Blackwing Details

Before getting into everything that Palmer liked and the few things that he disliked about the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, let’s take a look at the key specifications.

The Blackwing version of the CT4-V is powered by a twin turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 that delivers 472 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque. In this case, the power is sent towards the rear wheels by means of a 6-speed manual transmission with a twin-disc clutch and the no-lift shift feature.

As you can see in the images here, the CT4-V Blackwing was finished in gorgeous Electric Blue with blue brake calipers. Options include the leather, suede and steering wheel upgrade package, the Performance Data Recorder, interior and exterior carbon fiber packages, the technology package and the climate package.

This Cadillac had a price-as-tested of roughly $76,000, but as Palmer points out,that number can be reduced a great deal by removing the carbon fiber appearance packages. The BMW M3 starts just over $70,000, but that number quickly climbs when you start adding options.

Pros and Cons

In his review on CorvetteForum, Palmer has plenty of good things to say about the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing. He starts by praising the aggressive exterior styling, proclaiming the look to be appropriate for a flagship performance model. It is hard to dispute that, as the combination of the bright blue paint with the carbon fiber trim bits looks amazing, but the look leaves no question that this is a high performance machine.

Next, Palmer crushes on the 472-horsepower V6 engine and the 6-speed manual transmission of the CT4-V Blackwing, going so far as to call the gearbox “sublime”. Where this V really shines brightest is in its handling capabilities, with Palmer stating that the “engineers tuned the handling perfectly” and that the Brembo brakes are almost as good as some higher end carbon ceramic braking systems.

Palmer would prefer that the CT4-V Blackwing be powered by the LT1, but he enjoyed the twin turbo V6. He doesn’t love the burbles and backfires from the exhaust, but he points out that the active exhaust system allows you to control the sound level. His other complaints pertain to the lack of legroom in the back seat, the overly aggressive lane-keeping system and the cluttered buttonfest on the steering wheel.

However, Palmer closes by pointing out that none of those “cons” are small issues that don’t prevent him from loving the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing. He closes by calling this Caddy the “last chance to buy an incredible American sports sedan with a manual transmission”.

Click here for a closer look at the piece at CorvetteForum!

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com