2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Precision Package

[See5]

Keeps getting better.



https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a6...kage-revealed/

Spring rates are 70 percent stiffer up front and 60 percent in the rear, there's a stiffer front anti-roll bar, and pretty much every bushing has been replaced. There are bits inherited from the Camaro SS 1LE and ZL1 1LE and—in the most extreme case—one of the rear cradle bushings is now 1000 percent stiffer. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires remain standard, but track-oriented Cup 2R rubber is available, and the 285-section width is 10 millimeters wider than the stock PS4Ss. (Interestingly, in the interest of development time and cost, these are off-the-shelf tires versus the GM norm of having them customized for the vehicle.) The front suspension knuckles had to be revised to be able to accommodate 2.8 degrees of negative camber up front, and a second set of rear toe-control links are provided—they come in the trunk, and are about 0.1 inch longer—to be able to adjust the rear alignment to negative 2.0 degrees of camber (stock track alignment is -2.4 degrees front, -1.5 degrees rear). Finally, to make it all sing, the electronic controls—steering, MR dampers, stability control including Performance Traction Management, and the electronically controlled limited-slip differential—get a retune.

[B58-M340iX]

Nice exterior and interior updates. I like how the comments say that the dash screen is more integrated than BMW's (ID8+) take on the widescreen. While the Caddy's screen edges are curved, it's still slapped on the dash like BMW's screen.

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by B58-M340iX

Nice exterior and interior updates. I like how the comments say that the dash screen is more integrated than BMW's (ID8+) take on the widescreen. While the Caddy's screen edges are curved, it's still slapped on the dash like BMW's screen.

Yeah but the curved edges make it look a lot less lazy.

[whofelt]

Great car, I’d love to own one however, in my area these things are marked up by $15,000-$20,000 🤮

[Alfisti]

All I am reading is harsher ride comfort.

[Equilibrandt]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

All I am reading is harsher ride comfort.

Even my coworker's CTS-V's ride can be plush; and that's with Magnaride.

100% agree with you: "Cadillac" and "harsh ride" seem like an oxymoron, huh? 70% stiffer?

Sounds like a full-fledged track car, coming from a brand primarily purchased by people over the age of 45 for street duty. Maybe this is their attempt to cut into the younger crowd's love for the M3/M340i/RS3/RS5/C43/C63? Weird choice, but it looks great!

[Hit_Apex]

Hat's off to GM for putting this out there. Not my cup of tea but fully support the effort.

[FC4]

Originally Posted by Hit_Apex

Hat's off to GM for putting this out there. Not my cup of tea but fully support the effort.

Exactly. A for effort.

No one who's serious about trackdays cares to track a 4,000+ lb. car.

[Everchosen]

I definitely would love to take one around a track

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by Equilibrandt

Even my coworker's CTS-V's ride can be plush; and that's with Magnaride.

100% agree with you: "Cadillac" and "harsh ride" seem like an oxymoron, huh? 70% stiffer?

Sounds like a full-fledged track car, coming from a brand primarily purchased by people over the age of 45 for street duty. Maybe this is their attempt to cut into the younger crowd's love for the M3/M340i/RS3/RS5/C43/C63? Weird choice, but it looks great!

Over the age of 45? Try over 65 lol, maybe even over 75.

Caddy has been desperately trying to be taken seriously as a performance competition for the M5 and such, but I think they neglected that you can't be "as good as and cost the same" when you're trying to break into a segment.

[HDMI]

Originally Posted by FC4

Exactly. A for effort.

No one who's serious about trackdays cares to track a 4,000+ lb. car.

Such as this Caddy, or the C8 ZR1 (a disappointingly fat pig, albeit a fast one).

[Donatello.]

The price keeps getting worse.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by FC4

Exactly. A for effort.

No one who's serious about trackdays cares to track a 4,000+ lb. car.

Exactly, like the M3 too.

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by FC4

Exactly. A for effort.

No one who's serious about trackdays cares to track a 4,000+ lb. car.

So what do you drive at track day outside of pure exotics? Boxter/Cayman, Emira, Supra, Miata, BRZ, Civic Type R, Golf R? Everything including Mustangs and the C8 are tipping the scales near 4,000 lbs today. The reality is that 4,000 lbs is the new 3,000 lbs in regards to sports cars in 2024.

[BlkGS]

The VAST majority of cars I've seen at track days aren't high dollar track ready factory cars. There's some, sure, but most people run cars that are cheap enough to replace.

Unless you're a SERIOUS loaded rich dude, most people aren't gonna risk a $70k car to being totalled on track and have to pay for it out of pocket. I knew some guys that drove expensive cars and bought track day insurance, but most guys I knew just drove less expensive cars to reduce risk.

Unpopular opinion, but I think all these high dollar track editions of cars are more about who boosts than actual track use.

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

So what do you drive at track day outside of pure exotics? Boxter/Cayman, Emira, Supra, Miata, BRZ, Civic Type R, Golf R? Everything including Mustangs and the C8 are tipping the scales near 4,000 lbs today. The reality is that 4,000 lbs is the new 3,000 lbs in regards to sports cars in 2024.

In the beginning when starting out you can drive your reg car cuz you don’t know how to drive at that pt. once you get to advanced level like solo you need buckets, cage, bbk and reliability. You can buy already track ready car based on your budget or buy and mod as desired like e36 m3, any e46, e9x, vette, Cayman, Mustang, Miata (but very slow) etc.

Wealthy track drivers will go for gt3 or rs, Lotus, vette and plenty of older modified 911. Stripped f87 is also becoming a good track platform. Often you will see 2 drivers sharing a car and cost esp. in adv groups where more capable car is desired.

Weight is a killer of fun and it’s expensive to eat your tires, fuel and pads like cherios.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

Unless you're a SERIOUS loaded rich dude, most people aren't gonna risk a $70k car to being totalled on track and have to pay for it out of pocket. I knew some guys that drove expensive cars and bought track day insurance, but most guys I knew just drove less expensive cars to reduce risk.

While I agree that most don't, I don't think you have to be a "serious loaded rich dude". I run a group of G80 M3s and have quite a few members in the group who regularly track their $100k M3s. It's an absolute beast on the track and it's a great way to explore its full potential.

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

While I agree that most don't, I don't think you have to be a "serious loaded rich dude". I run a group of G80 M3s and have quite a few members in the group who regularly track their $100k M3s. It's an absolute beast on the track and it's a great way to explore its full potential.

You're pretty damn rich to start off with driving a $100k car, let's not take that out of context . That said, these guys are either rich enough to write the check for a $80k ish loss if the car is totalled on track, willing to spends probably $1k per event in track insurance, or just totally oblivious to the financial risk they're putting themselves in because they think their insurance will cover it.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

You're pretty damn rich to start off with driving a $100k car, let's not take that out of context . That said, these guys are either rich enough to write the check for a $80k ish loss if the car is totalled on track, willing to spends probably $1k per event in track insurance, or just totally oblivious to the financial risk they're putting themselves in because they think their insurance will cover it.

Maybe a mix of all those things. It's all relative I suppose. You might be driving an M3 but look at people with GT3rs and all of a sudden you feel poor.

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

Maybe a mix of all those things. It's all relative I suppose. You might be driving an M3 but look at people with GT3rs and all of a sudden you feel poor.

It is. To a lot of people having any car is rich. Or any BMW. Or any new car. Etc etc

That said, my take is... don't race something you can't throw the keys and title in and walk away from

[whofelt]

or don't race someone who doesn't live their life a quater of a mile at a time.

just sayin'

[RM7]

You find all sorts at the races. All sorts of people and cars.

There's a guy with an ATS-V that shows up here. Great car. Not as good as my SS1LE as far as all out capability (handling, etc.), but still very good and close. Ever see the time for the M5 Comp around a track? It's insane. New M4s even are monsters in that regard and people race those too. Maybe not the people leasing the cars as much.

IME, it's these events that separate the cars you can go out and do this stuff with vs. the ones that are obviously more for show or that have way more fluff than performance. Porsches are usually the standard example of one you can go out and beat on day after day, but these GMs have been serious cars for a while now and there are some other good ones these days.