- a new cadillac ct4-v blackwing model will sit at the top of the ct4 sedan's lineup in terms of performance.
- it will offer a twin-turbocharged v-6 engine and a manual transmission.
- the ct4-v blackwing should go on sale sometime later this year with a starting price of around $55,000.
like its big sibling the ct5, the cadillac ct4 will soon receive a new high-performance, track-focused variant and it will be called the ct4-v blackwing. it will sit above the existing ct4-v in terms of power and performance. confusingly, it won't have the 4.2-liter blackwing v-8 as its name suggests, but will instead carry on with a twin-turbocharged v-6 like its predecessor, the ats-v. and the especially good news is that cadillac has now confirmed it will offer the blackwing model with a manual transmission.
because the ct4 is essentially a rebodied version of the ats, we wouldn't be surprised if cadillac carries over the ats-v's twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter v-6—especially considering that engine already mated with a six-speed stick. the newer twin-turbo 3.0-liter v-6 from the ct6 and the ct5-v is a possibility, too. we can expect either of these engines to make upwards of 400 horsepower in this application. an automatic transmission, either with eight or 10 speeds, will also be offered, and we anticipate the ct4-v blackwing wil come only with rear-wheel drive.
as we can see in the photo cadillac has provided of a ct4-v blackwing prototype, this model will look considerably more aggressive than the lesser ct4-v, which is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. the blackwing appears to be lowered, is fitted with upgraded wheels and tires, and sports racy aerodynamic add-ons such as a front splitter and large rear spoiler.
due to cadillac's repositioning of its sedan lineup, the ct4-v blackwing is now aimed at smaller luxury-performance models such as the bmw m2, audi rs3, and mercedes-amg cla45 in addition to the well-established bmw m3 and amg c63. as such, we presume the ct4-v blackwing will start somewhere in the low-$60,000 range when it arrives later this year.