Cadillac Confirms Next-Gen CT5-V Blackwing for 2028

They put two Formula 1 drivers behind the wheel and let the CT5 scream. Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas hounded the sedan around a Miami track, and the footage did more than show off speed. It hinted at continuity. At a time when many brands are pruning performance models, Cadillac appears to be keeping its crown jewel.

Cadillac has greenlit a next-generation CT5-V Blackwing.

Why this matters more than the paperwork says

Quiet confirmations are often louder than press releases. The current CT5-V Blackwing, with its 6.2-liter supercharged V8 producing 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque, has been a rare nod to analog driving: a proper V8, a choice of a six-speed manual or a ten-speed automatic, and rear-wheel-drive focus for the track-minded buyer. That car has been on the market since 2021 and is set to leave production at the end of 2026, but Cadillac’s recent moves make it clear the story won’t end there.

Inside sources told GM Authority the new CT5 will ride on an updated Alpha 2-2 architecture, the same foundation likely earmarked for the next Chevrolet Camaro. Platform sharing makes sense, but don’t mistake shared bones for a shared personality. Cadillac intends to keep the CT5’s character sharp, and a Blackwing variant promises to remain the halo of the range.

So what will change? That remains the question. The base CT5 today uses a 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder that delivers 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a ten-speed automatic and offered in rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, starting at about €45,300. The CT5-V begins around €53,600 and currently leans on a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with the same ten-speed box. The Blackwing, however, is its own animal: rear-wheel drive only, big V8, and track-bred hardware.

Will General Motors keep the six-speed manual that purists adore? Nobody has confirmed it yet. Fans hope the row-your-own option survives. If Cadillac drops the stick, expect an outcry from the dedicated core that buys into the Blackwing legend.

Timing is straightforward but tight. The next-generation CT5 family is expected to debut late in 2027 as 2028 model year cars, with production slated to start at the General Motors Lansing Grand River Assembly plant in Michigan before the end of next year. The high-performance Blackwing variant should follow closely after the standard models roll off the line.

Cadillac is also simplifying its lineup. The smaller CT4 is being discontinued in North America, a move that concentrates the brand’s sedan efforts on the CT5 and its performance derivatives.

What we have now is a classic automotive dilemma: go electric, or preserve internal combustion where it still stirs passion. Cadillac seems to be doing both. While the brand explores electrified horizons, it is simultaneously investing in a combustion-powered halo that many drivers still crave. That tension is why the next CT5-V Blackwing will be closely watched, not just by enthusiasts but by anyone curious about how legacy performance will evolve in the EV era.