At the 2019 Belle Island Grand Prix in Detroit, General Motors unveiled a duo of high-performing sedans that will be welcomed into Cadillac‘s V-Series family. And while there were many things about the pair that turned heads, what the newest members of the V-Series could preserve is what’s getting people the most excited. For years now, the manual transmission has been slowly fading into the background, with more and more carmakers turning to automatic-only transmissions. But with rumors of the Cadillac V-Series coming with manual transmission availability, its extinction could be stopped by an unlikely source.

Manual Transmissions

According to Muscle Cars and Trucks, General Motors President Mark Reuss showcased the new 2020 CT4-V and CT5-V sedans as replacements for the current ATS-V and CTS-V. With less power than before, President Reuss claims that the new V-Series removes some of the intimidation that was associated with the high-powered V-Series models of the last 15 years. The new sedans will be built in the Lansing Grand River Assembly in Michigan. These mid-level sports sedans will now be friendlier daily drivers, as well as track-ready performers.

With the new unveiling of the Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V comes a new, simplified, trim level process. With all going according to plan, the new V-Series will be available in a base model with an automatic transmission. The second trim level is said to be donning the “Blackwing” name and will make power on par with previous V models. Those Blackwing cars will also be offered with a manual transmission.

The CT4-V

The new CT4-V will take the place of the ATS-V. It will be the smaller of the two new sedans but is said to be a “corner-carver,” according to Motor 1. The Cadillac CT4-V will have both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive availability, with automatic transmissions offered on all base models. If rumors are to be believed, the upgraded Blackwing CT4-V would come with a manual transmission.

As it stands, the CT4-V is set to hit the streets with a 2.7-liter turbocharged, four-cylinder engine that puts out an estimated 320 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque and a near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution.

The CT5-V

The new CT5-V will be the mid-sized option in the V-Series family and will be replacing the CTS models. But the design of the Cadillac CT5-V will be shorter than the CTS, with a longer wheelbase and a better-evolved rear-wheel drive system. The CT5-V will also come with both rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive capability, with automatic transmissions offered on all of its base models. With any hope, the rumored Blackwing trim would provide a manual transmission option.

Rolling off the assembly line soon, the base model CT5-V will offer 355 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, coming from a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo, six-cylinder engine. According to MotorTrend, magnetic ride control and electronic, limited-slip rear differential will come standard on all CT5-V models.

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