I’m a boomer, but still progressive enough to accept the future without revisiting the past (too much). Sure, electric cars and hybrids are the here and now, but it’s nice to be reminded sometimes of what once was—an era when cars hunkered low to the ground, belched fire and smoke, and made noises that rattled your bones. And the older I get, the closer I come to the inevitable crossing of the plane that separates this life from whatever happens next, the more I savor those simple moments that remind me of what once was.
Lost among a sea of SUVs and crossovers, most of which need to be plugged into a wall somewhere, occasionally—and increasingly rarely—comes a car that jolts me back to those good old days. Such was the case with a recent week I spent with the 2025 Cadillac CT5 V-Series. But not just any CT5 V-Series—this was a Blackwing. For those uninitiated, the Blackwing doesn’t have anything that needs to be plugged into a wall. Instead, it has a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 cranking out a monstrous 668 horsepower. This isn’t some soulless lump of metal assembled by a robot either; it’s built by an actual human, someone with a name like Fred or Robert, certainly not Chad.
It’s also a sedan—a real one—with something you’d never expect in a modern Cadillac: a six-speed manual transmission. That, of course, means someone actually named Chad could never drive it. And, being a Cadillac, it naturally looks stunning, inside and out. It’s like a beautiful woman walking the red carpet at the Oscars in a designer gown worth more than the GDP of some countries.
Sitting in the front seat is like sitting on Margot Robbie’s lap, wrapped in the kind of luxury that makes you question why you don’t demand more from life, all while enveloped in a cabin that feels both cutting-edge and opulent. A massive 33.0-inch curved display seamlessly integrates the infotainment system and instrument panel, providing a futuristic yet intuitive interface. It’s like something out of a sci-fi film where the hero always wins.
The carbon-backed high-performance seats offer supreme support, swathed in rich leather upholstery so fine it feels like it was harvested from cows that lived lives of absolute luxury. The front seats aren’t just comfortable; they are ventilated, massaging, and feature 18-way power adjustments, so you can always find the perfect position to either attack a corner or nurse your aging lumbar. A head-up display ensures you keep your eyes on the road instead of being distracted by the sheer beauty of the cabin, while ambient lighting—including mesmerizing light animations on the climate controls—adds an extra layer of spectacle. It’s less of a car interior and more like the cockpit of a spaceship designed by someone with impeccable taste and a penchant for making you feel special.
Driving it is like trying to keep a wildcat under control—equal parts thrilling and mildly terrifying. On the road, the dress is ripped off, the gloves are thrown down, and the growl rises up through the seats, resonating deep in your loins like a bassline at a rock concert that you feel more than hear.
The Blackwing obliterates 0-60 in just 3.4 seconds, an event that feels less like acceleration and more like being launched off an aircraft carrier. And while GM claims the top speed is north of 200 mph, I never approached that; even I know my limits, and I do enjoy keeping my driver’s license.
Yes, the price comes in with an MSRP of just over $124,000, but let’s be honest—if you’re the kind of person who complains about that, you were never going to buy one anyway. Besides that’s the cost of admission to one of the last great gasoline-powered thrill rides, a snarling, tire-shredding, middle-finger to the EV revolution. It’s not just a car; it’s a statement, a war cry, a reason to wake up in the morning and smile because you know you’ve got 668 horsepower waiting for you in the garage.
During my week for a time, I was lost in the moment. My BMI wasn’t near triple digits, my hairline hadn’t receded toward Antarctica, and I could walk more than ten steps without pausing to take a breath. The Blackwing isn’t just a car—it’s a time machine, a roaring, tire-smoking act of rebellion to an era that increasingly demands we trade fun for efficiency. It is loud, brash, excessive, and utterly intoxicating. And for that, I adore it.
The 2025 Cadillac CT5 V-Series Blackwing
MSRP: $122,015
MSRP (as tested): $124,005
Engine: 6.2-liter supercharged V8 668 horsepower @6500 rpm, 659 ln.-ft. torque @3600 rpm
Fuel Mileage (EPA): 13 mpg city / 20 mpg highway / 15 mpg combined
Fuel Mileage (as tested, mixed conditions): 22 mpg
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive
Curb Weight 4,123 lbs
Exterior Dimensions
Length: 194.9 inches
Width: 74.1 inches
Height: 56.6 inches
Wheelbase: 116.0 inches
Interior Dimensions
Passenger Volume: 98.9 cubic feet
Cargo Volume (rear seats up): 11.9 cubic feet
Cargo Volume (rear seats down): 29.0 cubic feet
Front/Rear Headroom: 39 inches / 39.6 inches
Front/Rear Legroom: 42.4 inches / 37.1 inches
Warranty
Basic: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Powertrain: 6 years / 70,000 miles
Rust Protection: 6 years / unlimited mileage
Roadside Assistance: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Greg has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.