The new Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V, which are rumored to carry the “Blackwing” moniker, won’t feature Cadillac’s twin-turbo 4.2-liter V8, but according to Muscle Cars and Trucks, will be available with six-speed manual transmissions.
As car manufacturers continue to eliminate stick shifts from their model ranges, Cadillac will ensure its new performance models appeal to the most enthusiastic of drivers. Inevitably, most customers won’t want a super sedan with a manual gearbox so a 10-speed automatic transmission will also be available.
Related: New Hotter Cadillac CT5-V Special To Bring Back Supercharged 6.2-Liter V8?
It is understood that the new CT4-V Blackwing will feature a 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine much like the ATS-V before it. This model should benefit from a series of upgrades over the ATS-V to deliver in excess of 464 hp and 445 lb-ft (603 Nm) of torque. Rear-wheel drive will be the only configuration available.
By comparison, the new CT5-V Blackwing will use GM’s 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 V8 engine previously used in the Camaro ZL1 and C7 Corvette Z06 where it pumped out 650 hp and 650 lb-ft (881 Nm). It remains to be seen if Cadillac will up these figures for the new CT5-V Blackwing but even if it doesn’t, the car will have a slight edge over the previous-generation CTS-V that offered up 640 hp and 630 lb-ft (854 Nm) of torque.
The reason for the new CT5-V not using the same 4.2-liter twin-turbo V8 of the CT6-V is quite simple. Initially, the CT5-V was going to use the automaker’s Omega platform just like the CT6 but the decision was instead made to use GM’s Alpha platform. This meant the 4.2-liter V8 could no longer fit under the sedan’s hood.