- A report claims Cadillac is planning a successor to the CT5-V Blackwing.
- The future of its V8 and manual transmission remains unclear.
- GM may have another opportunity for the outgoing CT5 platform.
For months, it looked like the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing might be headed for extinction. GM has already confirmed the current CT5 will be replaced after the 2026 model year, but it never said whether its fire-breathing performance flagship would make the jump to the next generation. Now, a new report suggests enthusiasts may not have to say goodbye after all.
According to a report from GM Authority, citing sources familiar with the matter, Cadillac is planning a successor to the CT5-V Blackwing as part of the next-generation CT5 lineup. The brand has already confirmed a new internal-combustion CT5 is in development, though it has yet to publicly say whether V-Series or Blackwing models will return, which is where the new rumor fills in the gap.
Read: The CT5 Sedan Outsold Most Of Cadillac’s Crossovers
If true, the move could preserve one of the automotive world’s increasingly rare combinations. Today’s CT5-V Blackwing packs a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 producing 668 hp (498 kW) and 659 lb-ft (893 Nm) of torque, sending power to the rear wheels through either a 10-speed automatic or an available six-speed manual transmission. With European rivals steadily abandoning V8s, manuals, or both, the Blackwing has carved out a niche few competitors can match.
Unfortunately, the report answers only one question while raising several others. There’s no indication what engine might power the next-generation car, whether the manual transmission will survive, or when buyers could expect to see it. The new CT5 will ride on the updated Alpha 2 platform, and a future Chevrolet Camaro sedan is very likely to share the same rear-wheel drive underpinnings.
There’s also an intriguing opportunity hiding beneath the headlines. Word earlier this year had GM evaluating a new Buick sedan for North America, and if that project moves forward, the outgoing CT5 architecture could hand it a ready-made foundation instead of forcing a clean-sheet start.
Also: Chevy’s Five-Year Plan Includes A New Sedan And Updated Gas Models
And while nothing similar has surfaced regarding Chevrolet, it’s hard not to wonder whether the same Blackwing setup could also underpin a modern successor to the long-departed SS, giving enthusiasts another rear-wheel drive performance sedan without requiring an all-new investment. Cadillac has not confirmed the report, so for now it remains firmly in rumor territory.
