If you told anyone in the automotive industry 21 years ago that Cadillac would eventually produce the most driver-centric and trackable manual transmission super sedan on the market, you would lose all credibility for making such an outlandish claim. Once Cadillac introduced the first CTS-V in 2004, the world started to see the dynamic potential that the brand possessed. No longer was Cadillac perceived as the preferred method of transportation for the folks whose version of excitement was catching the early bird special at the local diner; it was a serious performance luxury car contender. Now, after nearly two decades of continually impressive V-Series models, the updated 2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing takes things to the next level with subtle updates that make a significant difference on the racetrack.
Updates to the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing are relatively minimal overall. It gains new front end styling, more standard features including Super Cruise on cars equipped with automatic transmissions, a 33-inch diagonal screen, a new and hugely impressive Performance Data Recorder (PDR), and a Precision Package that takes the already impressive dynamics to the next level. What does that all add up to? Cadillac brought me out to Atlanta Motorsports Park to find out.
Full disclosure: Cadillac flew me out to Atlanta and gave me several hours behind the wheel of various CT5-V Blackwings on the challenging twists and turns of Atlanta Motorsports Park. I had a hoot and a half slinging this incredible machine around and revisiting my performance driving training. I’m proud of myself for not going off even once.
Cadillac didn’t add any more power to the already beefy supercharged 6.2-liter V8, so it still produces 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque and is offered with either a 10-speed automatic transmission or a spectacular 6-speed manual, the latter of which over 50 percent of CT5-V Blackwing buyers opt for. The big news is that $18,000 Precision Package, which adds new front steering knuckles and rear suspension toe links that give a more aggressive wheel alignment for track usage, carbon-ceramic brakes, recalibrated chassis subsystems, increased spring rates, a larger front stabilizer bar, revised suspension bushings and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires. All CT5-V Blackwings are available with the new Performance Data Recorder designed in collaboration with Cosworth that allows users an unparalleled ability to review all driving data within the onboard systems without ever needing to plug in a laptop.
Does the Precision Package totally transform the car? Not necessarily, but it does elevate the experience. It took me hopping directly between Blackwings with and without the Precision pack to feel the difference on the road, where the chassis and suspension tweaks manifest themselves by making the car feel a bit more alive. You’re more aware of what’s going on between the tires and the road, and it’s nowhere near firm or jarring; the car feels like it’s always ready to dive into any corner at any speed and come out ready for more. Despite the more aggressive setup, the Blackwing still rides beautifully and pampers passengers on the road. On the track, however, the Precision Package properly cranks up the intensity. I suspect that most of the difference comes from the tires, but the suspension calibration and carbon ceramics make the CT5-V Blackwing seem much more capable. The steering seems to lose a bit of feel with the stickier rubber, but it’s still better than most cars.
I kept the traction control in Sport and Sport Plus, which let me have a lot of fun while keeping me safe and on the road. It was my first time driving at Atlanta Motorsports Park, which is a very technical course with lots of tight turns and elevation changes that create blind corners. Jumping out of standard Blackwings and into cars equipped with the Precision Package illuminated the sharpened demeanor. Turn-in felt more immediate, braking was much more confident, front-end response was sharper, and the rear end felt more connected and settled. All of those improvements don’t diminish the car’s admirable day-to-day comfort, either. The CT5-V Blackwing is still at the top of the heap for folks who value the preservation of a connected driving experience, and the Precision Pack amplifies that.
The updated Performance Data Recorder costs $1,600 and provides buyers with detailed in-car telemetry, even offering drivers tips on where they can make up some valuable time on the track. It now shows a lap timer screen that provides real-time data about the delta between your fastest lap and your current lap, which sounds gimmicky, but I promise it’s great for improving your laps. It’s like having your own personal racing coach in the car with you, and you can watch side-by-side onboard camera recordings of different laps all from the infotainment screen. If you want to get more technical, the mobile app AliveDrive allows users to sync data with the cloud to review across devices, and dig deeper into the telemetry of every move. Coaching suggestions are generated after a session of laps, where the computer compares your fastest lap against your others and recommends ways to improve your lap times. It’s a seriously impressive piece of technology that I recommend equipping if you ever plan to track your car.
Along with the addition of the new PDR and the Precision Package, the CT5 gains an updated interior that better aligns it with the rest of Cadillac’s latest offerings. A 33-inch diagonal LED display that incorporates a digital driver’s display and central infotainment touchscreen with Google Built-In. It certainly modernizes and elevates the interior when compared to the pre-facelift model, and its sizable footprint is integral to the new PDR’s many features.
The 2025 CT5-V Blackwing will go on sale before the end of the year, starting at $96,990 including $1,395 destination. It’s one of the best performance sedans currently available for the people who want to be involved in the act of driving, along with its smaller sibling the CT4-V Blackwing. The CT5-V Blackwing is uniquely available with a brilliant manual transmission, and it manages to keep the driver acutely involved in the driving experience.
It’s surprisingly friendly on public roads, and it remains a seriously compelling choice for anyone in the market for a practical car that can drive like a race car. I was skeptical about all the praise that the CT5-V Blackwing receives, but after driving it on the road and on the race track, the praise is completely warranted. It’s the driver’s car of the segment. Period.
