Lucas Bell 
Motorsports has long served as the testbed for the technology and materials that automakers use in their sporty production vehicles. Even items that are common today like disc brakes, all-wheel drive, turbochargers, or carbon fiber body panels got their start in one form of racing or another. In a bid to bring a bit more performance to the upcoming Cadillac Blackwing V-Series models, GM has looked to their own racing success to create some unique magnesium wheels.
According to Cadillac, the decision to bring magnesium wheels to the upcoming CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing models was inspired by their championship-winning Cadillac DPi-V.R race car. The optional wheels are made from forged magnesium alloy, which the automaker says has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of all commonly available metals. By removing that excess unsprung weight, the Cadillac Blackwing V-Series models with the magnesium wheels should arrive with sharper handling and a better ride.
The use of magnesium wheels in motorsports is nothing new, with both F1 and WEC teams using them on their cars. It isn’t that common to see them on a road car however, with other automakers opting to use carbon fiber to achieve the same goal. Carbon wheels are tremendously expensive however, and not always the right solution according to Cadillac. The automaker told Car and Driver that the magnesium wheels will be better at absorbing road imperfections than carbon wheels, bringing a more refined ride. They are then a more proper fit for a Cadillac.
These new wheels aren’t the only racey parts that GM has teased for the upcoming Cadillac Blackwing models. The automaker also showed off a set of carbon fiber bucket seats destined for the CT5-V Blackwing, which are reminiscent of those found in proper supercars. Looking at these together, it is clear that GM intends for these sedans to be legitimate competitors in the segment.
