2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing Packs 472 HP and a Stick Shift

Cadillac’s successor to the ATS-V gets more horsepower and technology at a price nearly $10,000 cheaper than an M3.

BY CHRIS PERKINS

 SEP 2, 2022

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MICHAEL SIMARI

The letter “V” has always meant big power in the language of Cadillac. So when the automaker rolled out the new CT4 (basically a refreshed, renamed ATS), we were mildly perplexed to find that the CT4-V packed nothing more than a 32o-hp four-cylinder under the hood. Finally, a true successor to the brilliant ATS-V is here. Meet the 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, complete with a twin-turbo V-6, an available six-speed manual transmission, and a very tempting base price.

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First Drive: 2016 Cadillac ATS-V

In Cadillac’s new naming system, “Blackwing” represents the most high-performance variant in a model range. Here, that means a revised version of the twin-turbo 3.6-liter LF4 V-6 familiar from the old ATS-V, with a new intake and exhaust system, new oil squirters, and in manual-transmission cars, titanium connecting rods. Power has increased, from 464 hp in the ATS to 472 hp in the CT4-V; torque remains unchanged at 445 lb-ft. The Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual is unchanged too, and like the ATS-V, the CT4-V Blackwing offers no-lift upshifts and automatic rev-matching on downshifts (which you can switch off if you like). Prefer not to shift yourself? A 10-speed automatic is optional, a 25 percent increase in gears over the past 8-speed.

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MICHAEL SIMARI

An electronic limited-slip differential is standard, and as with all serious GM performance cars, it works in tandem with Performance Traction Management. PTM offers a number of traction control settings for various street and track scenarios, switchable on the fly via a steering wheel button. Cadillac says the automatic-transmission CT4-V Blackwing will hit 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, and regardles of transmission, top speed is 189 mph.
Also standard is the latest version of GM’s excellent MagneRide adaptive damping system. Bucking current sport-sedan trends, the CT4-V Blackwing rides on reasonably-sized 18-inch wheels, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires (with a Cadillac-specific tread compound) measuring 255/35 up front and 275/35 out back. Lightweight magnesium wheels will arrive as an option later. Braking is accomplished by six-piston front and four-piston rear Brembo calipers. And like the lesser CT4-V, the Blackwing is brake-by-wire, allowing drivers to adjust pedal firmness to their liking.

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Cadillac wants to launch no fewer than six fully-electric vehicles by 2025 and the Celestiq luxury sedan is expected to be the very last one of those to debut. And as this article on Cadillac Society rightfully points out, you’d therefore expect the Celestiq to go on sale around the same year when it will be shown.

However, the same article also points out that the Celestiq may, in fact, debut quite a bit earlier than first anticipated. It looks like Cadillac is rushing to get its range of EVs on the market as soon as possible – the first of these to debut, the Lyriq crossover, for instance, was expected to debut in late 2022, but it will now apparently go on sale nine months earlier, in the first quarter of next year.

Gallery: Cadillac Celestiq Teasers

6 Photos

Cadillac Celestiq Teasers Front

Cadillac Celestiq Teasers Detail

Cadillac Celestiq Teasers Badge

Based on this information, the Cadillac-centric outlet predicts that we will see the range-topping Celestiq one, maybe even two years earlier than anticipated. Yes, that’s right, it means we could see it make its debut as early as 2023, maybe 2024.
If this proves accurate, then Cadillac won’t have to wait until 2025 for half of its model roster to be comprised of pure-electric vehicles. Aside from the Lyric and Celestiq, there will be two more high-riding crossovers, the Optiq and Symboliq, plus a big SUV, the electric equivalent of the Escalade (it will have a different name, but we don’t know what it’s going to be).