Overview
For those seeking an American luxury sedan, Cadillac is the only real
option, though its choices are limited. The CT4, Cadillac’s smallest, sits
below the CT5 and the upcoming all-electric Celestiq. It’s sporty but doesn’t
fully compete with its rivals in key areas. Then there’s the CT4-V Blackwing—a
powerful machine soon to disappear as Cadillac transitions to electric. With a
twin-turbo V-6 delivering 472 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque to the
rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic, its
adaptive dampers balance sharp handling with a smooth ride. This thrilling
sedan ranks among the top, rivaled only by its larger sibling, the CT5-V
Blackwing. Cadillac also offers customization options and access to the
V-Performance Academy to master its full potential.
What is the New?
For 2025, the CT4-V Blackwing introduces the exclusive Petit Pataud
Edition, inspired by the 1950 Cadillac Series 61 that raced in the 24 Hours of
Le Mans. With only 50 units available, it stands out with Magnus Metal Frost
matte paint and bold Stormhawk Blue Carbon Fiber accents. The interior is just
as luxurious, featuring Phantom Blue leather with Santorini details, paired
with Sky Cool Gray or Jet Black inserts. Special touches like blue sill plates
and 3D-printed shifter medallions complete the look. Meanwhile, the entire
CT4-V range also gets exciting upgrades—three new metallic colors (Deep Space,
Typhoon, Drift), eight-way power-adjustable front seats, and an optional
18-inch wheel design.
Pricing
The 2025 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing is projected to have a starting price
of approximately $63,590, with higher trims and options potentially raising the
price to around $75,000.
Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing: $63,590
Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing Petit Pataud Edition: $75,000 (estimated)
Engine and Transmission
The Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, a strong player in the performance sedan
world, has a twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 engine that delivers 472 horsepower and
445 lb-ft of torque. You can choose between a six-speed manual or a 10-speed
automatic transmission, both sending power to the rear wheels for a more
intense driving experience. With its shorter wheelbase, the Blackwing feels
quick and responsive. Its track-ready
features include adaptive suspension, an electronic limited-slip differential,
and powerful brakes, offering a rare mix of agility and strength that stands
out against its European competitors.
Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing Performance
At the test track, the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing with a manual
transmission accelerated to 60 mph in just 4.0 seconds, achieved 1.01 g on the
skidpad, and stopped from 70 mph in 153 feet. Although these metrics fall
slightly short of the 503-hp BMW M3 Competition, the Blackwing excels in
delivering a more engaging and communicative driving experience. Its rear-wheel
drive and a wheelbase roughly 2 to 3 inches shorter than its competitors
enhance its agility and responsiveness, making it feel more lively and
connected on the road.
Cargo Space
The Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing shares the interior design and cargo
capacity with the standard CT4, offering practical cubby storage and a trunk
that held five carry-on suitcases in testing. However, the trunk space is
somewhat limited for a compact luxury sedan, falling short of the BMW 3 Series,
which has an extra six cubic feet of storage. This difference makes the Blackwing's
trunk more suitable for subcompact needs rather than fully meeting the
expectations of a high-end compact sedan.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The 2025 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing boasts a cutting-edge 8-inch
touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and
wireless phone charging, alongside an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. Cadillac has
transitioned from its outdated CUE interface to a much more refined system,
incorporating a rotary knob and physical buttons for enhanced usability. The
Blackwing’s standard 14-speaker AKG audio system, renowned for its superior
sound quality, outshines the optional Bose system found in competitors.
Although the infotainment setup is more intuitive and responsive compared to
systems in rivals like the Mercedes-AMG C 43 and BMW M340i, the Blackwing's
utility is slightly hampered by its limited two USB ports.
Fuel Economy
The 2025 Cadillac CT4-V offers reasonable fuel efficiency, with the rear-wheel-drive version at 23 mpg combined (20 mpg city/29 mpg highway) and the all-wheel-drive slightly lower at 28 mpg on the highway. It edges out the Mercedes-AMG C 43's 22 mpg but lags behind the BMW M340i's impressive 26 mpg combined. The story shifts with the more powerful CT4-V Blackwing, which drops to 18 mpg combined for the manual (15/23 mpg city/highway) and 19 mpg with the 10-speed automatic (16/24 mpg). Surprisingly, the automatic Blackwing outperformed its EPA rating during real-world testing, reaching 25 mpg on a 75-mph highway run. While it's far from fuel-efficient, the Blackwing compensates with its powerful performance, though you'll feel it at the pump.
Safety
The 2025 Cadillac CT4-V is outfitted with a robust set of standard
safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency
braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic
alert, and lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist. It also includes
adaptive cruise control and advanced automatic emergency braking that ramps up
braking force during high-speed panic stops. Despite these comprehensive safety
technologies, the CT4-V has yet to receive crash-test ratings from the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety (IIHS). The Blackwing variant, with its manual transmission,
misses out on Cadillac’s Super Cruise hands-free driving system, though this sophisticated
semi-autonomous technology is available on other models for seamless driving on
mapped roads.
Warranty
Cadillac's warranty stands out with its robust coverage: four years or 50,000 miles for the limited warranty and an impressive six years or 70,000 miles for the powertrain. This extensive protection includes repairs for engine, transmission, transfer case, and drive system components, with both parts and labor covered for defects. The plan, supported by a wide network of dealers and specialized technicians, is fully transferable to new owners. However, while Cadillac's powertrain coverage exceeds that of Audi and BMW, its complimentary maintenance is limited to just the first visit. In comparison, BMW offers more generous complimentary maintenance with its three-year or 36,000-mile plan.