The 2025 Cadillac CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing carry the brand’s performance car torch, allowing Detroit’s luxury automaker to compete with well-known four-door sports sedans from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Based on the somewhat mild-mannered Cadillac CT5, the CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing offer more powerful engines and specific performance tuning for superior driving dynamics.
Cadillac offers the 2025 CT5-V with a twin-turbocharged V6, making 360 horsepower. For maximum acceleration, look no further than the 2025 CT5-V Blackwing and its supercharged V8 with 668 horsepower. The automaker equips each model with a range of performance enhancements, from the brakes and suspension to speed-friendly tech features.
All of Cadillac’s CT5 models get a refresh for the 2025 model year, bringing revised exterior styling, a modern 33-inch interior display housing new digital instrumentation and touchscreen infotainment systems, an expanded list of safety features, and a more advanced version of the hands-free Super Cruise system.
The CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing receive revised front-end styling for 2025, each getting updated grille designs and aerodynamic bodywork.
In addition, new lighting elements include vertical LED daytime running lights and LED headlights with a unique etched pattern in the light housing. They provide approach and departure animations, and an illuminated Cadillac logo on the back of the infotainment display lights up to greet drivers as they walk up to the car.
Aside from the sizeable new instrumentation and infotainment display and a few other minor changes, Cadillac announced no updates to the interiors of its hot-rodded sedans.
Confirmed standard and available features include carbon fiber interior trim, ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel, and front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage. A dual-pane Ultraview sunroof is also available, and Cadillac says the cars have new climate controls with animation.
Powertrains are the star of the CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing shows. The CT5-V features a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, making 360 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. The CT5-V Blackwing takes things several steps further, with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 generating 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque.
Cadillac equips the CT5-V with a standard ten-speed automatic transmission, but the Blackwing has a six-speed manual gearbox. You can option it with the automatic if you prefer.
Enthusiast-friendly rear-wheel drive is standard for both models, and you can get all-wheel drive on the CT5-V. Other standard go-fast bits include an electronic limited-slip differential, launch control, a magnetic adaptive damping suspension, and Brembo front brakes.
The Blackwing adds four-wheel Brembo brakes and a line lock system that locks the front wheels so drivers can warm the rear tires (also known as ‘perform a burnout’).
Cadillac equips its performance sedans with several standard advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). New features include a blind-spot warning system with active steering, intersection braking assistance, and a traffic sign recognition system.
Super Cruise is also standard this year on the CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing*. Super Cruise is Cadillac’s hands-free highway driving assistance system, and it adds a new Driver Attention Assist system to help ensure the safe operation of the technology.
Though the CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing didn’t receive significant interior changes for 2025, there’s no missing that new 33-inch LED display with digital instrumentation, a Google Built-in infotainment system, and updated performance and entertainment features. Highlights include integrated Google Maps, Google Play Store, Google Assistant, and standard AKG audio systems.
In addition, a Performance Data Recorder system offers a lap analyzer, tips to improve lap times, a track database with information on past performance, live data with vehicle telemetry, and more. A separate performance app adds data displays for power, torque, turbo boost, and a live dyno graph with analysis and driving tips.
The Cadillac CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing are credible alternatives to often more expensive sports sedans from Europe. They include the Audi S6 and RS 7, BMW 540i and upcoming redesigned M5, and AMG-tuned versions of the Mercedes E-Class.
Those European rivals aren’t as brash as the Cadillac twins and are often more sophisticated and refined. However, the CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing successfully blend heart-racing performance and an unabashedly American attitude with value you won’t find elsewhere.
* Unavailable on Blackwing models with a six-speed manual transmission.
Cadillac is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of January 25, 2024, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.
Chris Teague is an experienced writer in the automotive and technology fields. In addition to JDPower.com, his work appears at Forbes, The Drive, Your Test Driver, and others.
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