Cadillac Sings Ode To New 550HP Blackwing V8 Engine In Film

The all-new “Blackwing” 4.2-liter twin-turbo V8 engine is a big deal for Cadillac and for General Motors as a whole.

A clean-sheet design, the power plant has twin-scroll turbochargers housed inside the “V” of the engine (in a so-called “hot-vee” layout), allowing for more compact packaging and, more importantly for the driver, less turbo lag.

When Cadillac announced the all-new CT6 V-Series last year, it said the Blackwing V8 produces up to 550 horsepower (558 PS) and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm) of torque. Cadillac didn’t reveal where in the rev range the maximum power and torque kick in but said the engine has been optimized for a smooth, flat power curve.

In the 2019 CT6 and CT6 V-Series, the engine is hooked to a GM’s Hydra-Matic 10-speed automatic transmission (10L90) that drives all four wheels.

Also watch: Hennessey’s Cadillac CTS-V Dips Into Hypercar Realm With 1,000 HP

The new 4.2-liter unit is also available in a lower state of tune of 500 hp (507 PS) and 553 lb-ft (749 Nm) of torque in the 2019 CT6. No other performance specs have been announced so far but chances are the Blackwing will help make the 2019 CT6 V-Series an interesting alternative to the Mercedes-AMG S63 and the upcoming Audi S8.

For now, the CT6 remains the only car officially announced to feature this engine. However, rumors about GM fitting this power plant inside the upcoming mid-engine Corvette C8 have been going around for quite a while now. The fact that it’s hand-built in Bowling Green, Kentucky (the home of the Corvette) certainly helps these rumors gain traction. Not to mention that even the Blackwing logo reminds of the Corvette.

Until official confirmation arrives, check out the following video Cadillac dedicates to the Blackwing V8. We promise you’ll be excited.

https://youtu.be/WH_Xk8OHxUk