Cadillac May Continue the CT5-V Blackwing, but the Manual Gearbox Is Still Uncertain
Cadillac is preparing a successor to the internal combustion-powered CT5, and fresh reports suggest the wild Blackwing variant could also return. However, neither a V8 engine nor a six-speed manual transmission has been officially confirmed for the new model.
The Blackwing's Obituary May Have Been Premature
Production of the current Cadillac CT5 will end in late 2026. Back in autumn 2025, Cadillac confirmed that the model would continue as a new internal combustion-powered sedan, which will also be built at the Lansing Grand River plant in Michigan.
At the time, the company made no promises about a CT5-V, let alone a CT5-V Blackwing. Now, GM Authority reports, citing sources familiar with the project, that a second-generation Blackwing has entered development. Cadillac has not officially confirmed the report and declined to provide Car and Driver with further details about the future flagship model.
So the Blackwing has not quite risen from the dead yet, but at least the unmistakable rumble of a V8 can already be heard from inside the coffin.
The Current Model Is Nearly an Endangered Species
The CT5-V Blackwing is powered by a hand-built 6.2-litre supercharged LT4 V8 producing 498 kW and 893 Nm, sending power exclusively to the rear wheels.
A six-speed manual gearbox comes as standard, while a ten-speed automatic is available as an option. Top speed exceeds 322 km/h. That combination makes the Blackwing one of the last new four-door cars to pair a V8 engine, rear-wheel drive and three pedals.
Its German rivals may be quicker, more electrified or packed with more advanced technology, but the BMW M5, Audi RS 7 and Mercedes-AMG performance sedans no longer offer a manual gearbox. Cadillac still allows the driver to decide exactly when the rear tyres receive the next surge of torque.
A V8 Return Is Far From Guaranteed
The biggest technical questions remain unanswered. Cadillac has yet to reveal the next Blackwing's engine, power output, transmission or launch date.
It is not even certain that the flagship version will continue to wear the Blackwing name. Official statements have referred to continuing the CT5's "legacy", but the company has stopped short of explicitly naming the successor CT5. With the smaller CT4 leaving the range and the CT6 long gone from North America, Cadillac could choose an entirely new name for its only remaining combustion-powered sedan.
Arguments in favour of a V8 include the Blackwing's commercial success and General Motors' ongoing investment in a new generation of V8 engines. Even so, Cadillac has not confirmed whether the next flagship will retain the current 6.2-litre LT4 or feature any V8 at all.
Camaro Links Keep Manual Hopes Alive
According to unofficial information, the new Cadillac will be built on an evolved version of the current Alpha 2 architecture, reportedly known as the A2-2 or Alpha 2-2 platform. The same underpinnings are also linked to the planned successor to the Chevrolet Camaro and a new Buick sedan.
A shared rear-wheel-drive platform would make both a V8 engine and a manual gearbox technically feasible. That does not mean either the Camaro or the Cadillac will necessarily be offered with three pedals. General Motors has not officially disclosed the transmission options for the next Camaro, and sharing a platform does not automatically mean sharing powertrains.
Cadillac is, however, well aware of how important the manual gearbox is to the Blackwing's identity. As proof, the company introduced the 2026 CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series to celebrate the debut of the Cadillac Formula 1 team. Production is limited to just 26 cars, all equipped exclusively with a six-speed manual.
This special edition's upgraded supercharged V8 delivers 511 kW and 912 Nm. Cadillac therefore chose to eliminate the automatic entirely from its most powerful Blackwing. That is not confirmation of the next generation, but it does suggest the brand's engineers have not yet consigned the manual gearbox to the museum.
European Buyers Will Probably Have to Find Their Own Way
Cadillac has not confirmed European sales for either the new sedan or a possible Blackwing. The brand's current European line-up is focused on electric vehicles, and the CT5-V Blackwing has never been a regular officially marketed model here.
If the next Blackwing remains exclusive to North America, European enthusiasts will once again have to rely on individual imports, type approval procedures and substantial taxes. It will be neither convenient nor cheap, but in today's world of four-door V8 sports saloons with manual gearboxes, easy solutions disappeared long ago.
For now, the only confirmed fact is that Cadillac is developing a new internal combustion-powered successor to the CT5. The Blackwing's return comes from well-connected insider reports, but the V8, the manual gearbox and even the model's name are all still awaiting official confirmation.
