Sam Krahn 
At long last, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is here with a 668 hp 6.2 liter V8, manual transmission, trick aero and more, but its biggest selling point might just be pricing. And while that’s not typically a defining characteristic of the most powerful vehicle Cadillac have ever made, let alone any performance luxury sedan, it’s yet another stat that sets the new Caddy apart from the German competition.
When the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing goes on sale this summer, it’ll carry a base price of $84,990. Again, this might not seem like a budget conscious buyer’s vehicle of choice, but if you just made it big on GameStop, the CT5-V Blackwing price is a compelling option, especially when compared to the competition. Plus, the Blackwing costs $4,300 less than the outgoing CTS-V did in its last year of production, 2019.
The main rivals, the BMW M5, Mercedes E63 AMG and Audi RS7, all carry a base price that begins in six digit territory, with the RS7 most expensive at a massive $114,000. That’s just under $30,000 more expensive, yet the RS7 pumps out a measly 591 hp. The BMW M5 is the most powerful of the European trio, with 617 hp in Competition trim. It’s worth noting, however, that we only know the base price of the CT5-V Blackwing, and with the many options and packages ticked, the price could more closely match the German competitors.
The Cadillac is also the only vehicle in its class to offer a manual transmission, already positioning itself as the driver’s choice. Coupled with standard Magneride 4.0 dampers, sticky Michelin pilot Sport 4S tires, a stiffened chassis, Brembo steel or carbon ceramic brakes, optional carbon fiber aero components and that massive V8, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing will likely be the most engaging super sedan on the market.
Another interesting comparison for Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing pricing is the class below. For around $15,000, you could upgrade from a BMW M3 to get a supercharged V8 with an extra 165 hp. And of course, you’d avoid having to be seen by real life humans with that grille.
But if Germany’s best can’t match the CT5-V Blackwing on paper, America’s can. The Dodge Charger Hellcat and Hellcat Redeye are more of a muscle car than the Cadillac, which calls itself a sports sedan, but there’s no arguing the Charger brings a better cost to hp ratio. Still, these two interpretations of the American performance sedan end in a similar place even if they get there in completely different ways.
The 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing isn’t cheap, and the average consumer could only dream of affording one. But for those that can, it beats out the competition in terms of price and performance, and we’re willing to bet it’ll put up quite the fight when these super sedans are inevitably compared from behind the wheel.
