How Fast is the CT5‑V Blackwing? 0–60 Times, Horsepower, & Engine Specs Explained

Some performance cars make you work to appreciate what they can do. The 2026 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing takes a different approach. It has the shape and practicality of a midsize sedan, but there’s a serious amount of performance built into what sits underneath the bodywork.

That combination is part of the appeal. You can have a back seat, a usable trunk, and a cabin loaded with Cadillac technology, then change the character of the car when the road opens up. The Blackwing is built for drivers who want that flexibility: a sedan for everyday driving with hardware that’s ready for much more.

The Blackwing by the Numbers

Before getting into the details, here’s a quick look at what the 2026 model brings:

Those figures put the CT5-V Blackwing in rare company. And there’s an important detail hiding in that transmission line: Cadillac still offers a six-speed manual. It includes active rev matching and no-lift shifting, so the driver has plenty to do when the road gets interesting.

Why the V8 Is Only Part of the Story

A big engine gets attention, but horsepower by itself doesn’t tell you how a car will behave. The Blackwing also uses Magnetic Ride Control, performance brakes, a performance-tuned chassis, and other hardware designed around high-performance driving.

The suspension is especially useful outside of a racetrack. It can react to changing road conditions while you’re driving, which is handy when a stretch of winding pavement suddenly follows a perfectly ordinary commute.

There are also more serious options available. The Precision Package adds suspension and chassis electronic calibrations along with carbon-ceramic brakes, while performance-focused wheels and tires can further change the car’s setup.

And then there’s the manual transmission. For some drivers, rowing through gears is a big part of why a performance sedan is enjoyable in the first place. The Blackwing gives you that choice rather than assuming everyone wants an automatic.

What Makes It More Than a Weekend Car?

This is where the CT5-V Blackwing gets interesting.

Despite all that performance equipment, it’s still a five-passenger sedan with 11.9 cubic feet of trunk space. The cabin includes heated and massaging front seats, a 33-inch Horizon Display, and an available 16-speaker AKG audio system. If your idea of a good drive includes music, comfortable seats, and somewhere to put your groceries after work, those details count, too.

The available 10-speed automatic also brings another useful feature: Super Cruise. That gives buyers who spend a lot of time on longer highway drives a different way to configure the car. In other words, the Blackwing doesn’t require every drive to be a performance run. You can leave it parked in the garage on a Tuesday, take it to work on Wednesday, and save the more spirited driving for Saturday.

A Few Things Worth Knowing Before Choosing One

There are several details that can be easy to miss when you’re focused on the horsepower figure:

• The six-speed manual comes standard, while the 10-speed automatic is available.
• Super Cruise is available with automatic transmission.
• The Blackwing is rear-wheel drive rather than all-wheel drive.
• Carbon-ceramic brakes are available for drivers who want additional track-oriented equipment.
• The interior still has room for five, so performance doesn’t eliminate the sedan’s everyday practicality.

That final point is simple to overlook. A car capable of exceeding 200 mph on a racetrack can still have a normal errand run on its schedule.

Questions You Might Have About the Blackwing