2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing vs. 2019 Cadillac CTS-V: What’s the Difference?
Just like the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing is the true ATS-V successor, the 2022 CT5-V Blackwing is the heir to another sporty Caddy. In this case, the Cadillac CTS-V. And just like the CT4-V Blackwing, the CT5-V version borrows a few things from its predecessor’s toolbox. But how much does the new car improve on the old?
Is the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing as fast as the 2019 Cadillac CTS-V?
| Spec | 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing | 2019 Cadillac CTS-V |
| Engine | 6.2-liter supercharged V8 | 6.2-liter supercharged V8 |
| Power | 668 hp | 640 hp |
| Torque | 659 lb-ft | 630 lb-ft |
| Transmission | Six-speed manual 10-speed automatic (optional) | Eight-speed automatic |
| 0-60 mph time | 3.6 seconds (manual) 3.4 seconds (automatic) | 3.8 seconds (Car and Driver) |
| Curb weight | 4,123 lbs (manual) [The Drive] 4,142 lbs (automatic) [The Drive] | 4,168 lbs (Car and Driver) |
The 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing offers similar specs to the third-gen Cadillac CTS-V for a reason. Both cars use the same ‘LT4’ V8, though the Blackwing’s version has a new intake, supercharger, and intercooler. They also ride on the same Alpha platform. The CT5-V Blackwing, though, is slightly smaller and lighter, yet it has a longer wheelbase, Road & Track notes.
Unlike the Cadillac CTS-V, there’s no wagon version of the 2022 CT5-V Blackwing. Admittedly, the third-gen 2016-2019 CTS-V wasn’t available as a wagon, either. Nor was it available as a coupe, again, something its predecessors offered. In terms of body styles, then, the old car and new car are equal. The Blackwing, though, only offers one wheel size, for reasons that we’ll discuss shortly.
However, the 2019 Cadillac CTS-V and the 2022 CT5-V Blackwing do have one critical performance difference: their transmission. Although the first two CTS-Vs offered a stick, the third-gen model is automatic-only. And while automatics are generally faster these days, having a manual sets the 2022 CT5-V Blackwing apart from its predecessor and rivals like the BMW M5. Plus, even with the stick, it’s faster than the 2019 CTS-V, making it a performance win-win. Little wonder that 62% of CT5-V Blackwing customers ordered the manual, R&T says.
The 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing has better tech inside and outside than the last Cadillac CTS-V
While the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing inherits a few things from the last-gen Cadillac CTS-V, the new sedan benefits from technology’s constant march. As such, the Blackwing improves on the CTS-V in several areas.
Like the 2019 CTS-V, the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing has standard magnetorheological ‘MagneRide’ dampers. However, they’re now in their fourth generation, so they react and adjust even faster. The standard Performance Traction Management system is also upgraded. And it’s now so effective that even the development drivers keep it on to set the fastest lap times, Car and Driver says.
Oh, and remember how the new car only has one wheel size? That’s because going bigger would require fitting tires with shorter sidewalls, thus losing compliance. And that would take away not just the 2022 CT5-V Blackwing’s ride quality, but also its grip, steering, and handling capabilities, The Drive explains. In short, all the things that make it more “refined and talkative at the limit” than the third-gen Cadillac CTS-V, Hagerty notes.
Like the 2019 Cadillac CTS-V, the 2022 CT5-V Blackwing has standard Brembo brakes. However, they’re even bigger than the outgoing car’s brakes, making them the biggest fitted to any production Cadillac. Also, unlike the 2019 car, the Blackwing has optional carbon-ceramic brakes. Plus, its new cooling upgrades mean it doesn’t need a hood-extractor vent like the CTS-V. And in addition to an extra strut-tower brace, the CT5-V Blackwing also offers additional carbon-fiber aero add-ons, such as a rear diffuser, rear wing, and front splitter.
But the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing doesn’t just improve on the old car outside. It has a larger and clearer center touchscreen and better materials, The Drive says. The Blackwing’s interior quality isn’t quite “BMW good, [but] it’s far better than it was in the old CTS-V,” R&T reports.
The new car is even “more potent” than its predecessor, MotorTrend says
Despite the upgrades, the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing costs slightly less than the 2019 CTS-V. When it was new, the 2019 CTS-V started at roughly $88.5K, Car and Driver reports. The Blackwing, though, starts at $84,990. Though to be fair, like its predecessor, the new car can easily eclipse the $100,000 mark.
Nevertheless, the “’Son of Cadzilla,’” as MotorTrend dubbed the CT5-V Blackwing, is arguably an evolution of the CTS-V. But it’s also more engaging and more fun than the 2019 car. On paper, it seems to be a subtle improvement. Yet in reality, the Blackwing is a significant step ahead.
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