Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing 2021: fire-breathing sedan detailed with 352kW and six-speed manual

Cadillac has unveiled the CT4-V Blackwing, which packs almost as much performance as a BMW M3 Competition but for a fraction of the price if it comes to Australia.

Just days after parent company General Motors announced they were going to kill off the combustion engine Cadillac has decided it wants to have a bit of fun before the due date.

The 2021 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing is that fun. The Blackwing serves as the flagship variant of the new midsize sedan and packs a 3.6-litre Twin-Turbo V6 putting out 352kW of power and 603Nm of torque.

Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing 2021 front — Cadillac has unveiled the CT4-V Blackwing which packs a twin-turbo V6 that puts out 352kW and 603Nm of torque

In Cadillac’s line-up, the CT4 takes over where the ATS left off as a competitor for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, Lexus IS and BMW 3 Series.

Incredibly, Cadillac has made the CT4-V Blackwing available with either a 10-speed automatic gearbox or – enthusiasts rejoice – a six-speed manual.

The manual transmission is fitted with an auto-blip function between gears, similar to a Toyota GR Yaris or BMW M2, which should make the stick-shift more approachable for inexperienced drivers.

Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing 2021 driving — The CT4-V Blackwing sends power exclusively to the rear wheels and is available with a six-speed manual transmission

Showing devotion to performance, Cadillac specifies manual Blackwings with high-performance titanium connecting rods and a revised crankshaft counterweights in the engine to reduce the stress placed on the drivetrain.

The engine sends all that power exclusively to the rear wheels with a lightened electronic limited-slip differential installed to try and keep the sedan in a straight line, or not.

While these figures may not beat out the likes of the incoming 375kW/650Nm BMW M3 Competition for outright grunt, the starting price of USD$59,990 (AUD $78,890 at current rate) in the United States is very impressive and is noticeably cheaper than the M3 Competition, which starts at USD$72,800USD (AUD $95,445) in the United States.

Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing 2021 pair — The Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing packs similar levels of performance to its German rivals but for a fraction of the price

Cadillac has fitted Macpherson strut suspension at the front and a five-link independent suspension at the rear. Similar to the Ford Mustang, the CT4-V Blackwing uses Magnetic Ride Control dampers designed to give the CT4-V Blackwing a capable but compliant suspension system.

Forged 18-inch alloy wheels sit at each corner as standard and are wrapped in sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres measuring 255mm at the front and 275mm at the rear.

Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing 2021 wheel — Cadillac has fitted forged 18-inch wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres as standard

Six-piston front and four-piston rear Brembo brakes are fitted as standard with 380mm and 340.5mm front and rear rotors.

Cadillac says it has built the CT4-V Blackwing with track days in mind and has extensively tested the fire-breathing sedan to ensure the hardware can stand up to significant abuse.

The Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing will be rolled out to dealerships in the United States sometime between June and August, with no word yet on if it could be coming to Australia.