Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series: Manual sports sedan gets brand’s most powerful V8 yet
While HSV may be dead, V8-powered three-pedal sports sedans live in the General Motor’s stable over at the Cadillac division — which has launched its strongest yet powerful one.
This is a 6-year release of the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series, which has been released. A 2-litre ‘LT4’ V8 like the regular CT5-V Blackwing, but in partnership with GM Motorsports its supercharger has been upgraded.
Outputs have consequently been boosted to 511kW of power and 912Nm of torque – up 13kW and 19Nm.
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That makes it the most powerful V8-powered production Cadillac ever, though not the most powerful Cadillac overall.
That title refers to the electric Escalade iQ and Esalade (IQL) which produce 560kW and 1064Nm when flicked to Velocity Max mode; in normal driving, these outputs are still a 505kW with 834NM.
In contrast to the standard CT5-V Blackwing, which is available in the US with a choice of 10-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission (the Collector Series only offers this latter).
Just 26 examples of the Collector Series will be produced, marking the year Cadillac joined the Formula 1 grid.
Cadillac says the F1 Collector Series was developed in close collaboration with F1 and its governing body, the FIA.
A gloss-black finish for each example is Midnight Stone Frost paint with monochromatic Cadillac badges and Carbon Flash metallic wheels, Harbor Grey metallic brake calipers (and carbon-fibre lower bodywork) with a Switchblade Silver pinstripe.
The only interior colourway available is Jet Black.
Under the bonnet, you’ll find a CNC-machined supercharger cover created by GM Motorsports, featuring F1 and FIA logos.
The F1 special edition is not going to be forgotten soon; FIA and F1, as well as the logos of many places throughout the car, will also be in your favourite spot.
This includes on the spoiler, sill plates, head restraints, gear shifter and centre console, while there’s also a numbered plaque.
The Precision Package, usually a US$18,000 (A$24,900) option for the CT5-V Blackwing, is fitted as standard.
This includes retuned suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes with cross-drilled rotors, and 19-inch high-performance summer tyres.
In mid-2026, production of the F1 Collector Series will begin and because the CT5 is produced only in left-hand drive, this is yet another part of a long line of Cadillac sports sedans that Australians won’t be able to buy.
GM Authority reports the price tag of the CT5-V Blackwing swells from US$100,695 (A$139,400) to a whopping US$260,000 (A$360,000) in this special edition.
That makes it the most expensive V-Series performance model yet from Cadillac.
The American luxury brand celebrated 20 years of high-performance V-Series models in 2023, with the lineup now including not only supercharged V8 models like the CT5-V Blackwing and Escalade-V SUV, but also the Optiq-V and Lyriq-V electric SUVs.
The newest CT5 sedan, which was launched in 2019 and has been made facelifted to the 2025 model for its first year, is confirmed by Cadillac as it will be replaced with a new-generation model that features an internal combustion engine.
It’s expected to be based on a version of the same Alpha 2 platform.
The new CT5 will reportedly enter production late in 2027 alongside new Buick and Chevrolet sedans, though it’s unclear whether it will offer the same range of powertrains as the current sedan.
The current generation is offered with turbocharged four-cylinder, twin-turbocharged V6, and supercharged V8 petrol engines.
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