Sam Krahn 
The Cadillac CT4 has always had a strange place amongst its competitors. The Cadillac ATS was positioned as a more budget friendly BMW 3 series competitor, but the CT4 was introduced in 2019 with a lower base price to compete against the entry level subcompact sedan class instead. Therefore, the CT4 is slightly larger than the rest of the subcompact luxury sedan class, and is the only one to ride on a rear-drive platform. But now, Cadillac have revealed the top of the line model in the CT4 range, the 2022 CT4-V Blackwing, and performance and pricing has it set to compete right where it has always belonged: the BMW M3.
Preorders are now open for the new Cadillac sports sedan, but when it goes on sale this summer, it’ll list for $59,990 before options. This puts it exactly $10,000 less than the non-Competition spec BMW M3, which is the Cadillac’s closest competitor on paper. The 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing pushes out 472 hp from its 3.6 liter twin turbo V6 compared to the M3’s 473 hp inline six. Both are also rear wheel drive only, and offered with a manual transmission. If the new Blackwing is as good as the ATS-V, there’s a good chance it could beat the base level M3 in more than just value.
The CT4-V Blackwing gets numerous upgrades over the regular CT4-V. Styling is beefed up with more aggressive bumpers and fenders, aero components and lots of optional carbon fiber. The handling is aided by a standard rear electronic differential, MagnaRide 4.0 dampers, Brembo brakes, stiffened chassis components and sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. That twin turbo V6 and Tremec manual combination should only add to the engaging driving experience.
But because Cadillac is positioning the CT4-V Blackwing pricing as a less expensive alternative to the compact sedan pack, its stats suffer in comparison to some competitors. The BMW M3 Competition, Mercedes C63 AMG S and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio all produce more than 500 hp, but cost over $70,000 before options. That being said, the old ATS-V started at $68,790 in 2019 when it went out of production, around $9,000 more than the CT4-V Blackwing, and produced slightly less power, at 464 hp.
The Cadillac then is cheaper and less slightly powerful than some of its compact sports sedan competition, but more expensive and powerful than the subcompact sports sedan segment, which includes the mid-$50,000 Audi RS3 and Mercedes CLA 45 AMG. These vehicles are front drive based, however, and don’t offer a manual transmission, unlike the CT4-V Blackwing. This should make the Blackwing a far superior driving experience than the subcompact class, and it’s priced only slightly above them.
This leaves the 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing in between two classes of vehicle, pushing driving dynamics and hp to beat out the one under it, and adding a value component to beat the class above, including its own predecessor. It’s an interesting strategy from Cadillac, and we can’t wait to see how it plays out.
