Cadillac’s “Precision Pack” Sharpens The Already Wicked CT5-V Blackwing

I’m not sure what the wild engineers at GM were thinking when developing the precision pack for the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. Two things are for certain: it definitely changes things, and I’m glad they had the guts to make it happen. The precision pack can be seen as something similar to an AMG Black Series, or BMW M’s CS cars. It’s that much of a change in attitude for the entire car. The behavior has changed so significantly, that it deserves to be seen as its own designation.

The Cadillac provided was a CT5-V Blackwing finished in Radiant Red ($1,225) over a Skycool Grey interior ($8,090). The vehicle is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, satin graphite wheels ($600), red seat belts ($400), GM’s performance data recorder ($1,600), the carbon fiber 1 pack ($5,600), and, of course, the brand-new precision package. The options total a whopping $37,615, with $18,000 of that dedicated to the precision pack alone. The total vehicle cost is $134,605.

2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing First Impressions

I must admit my first impression of the updated face on the CT5 didn’t win me over. The more time I spent with it, the more it made sense, though. It’s still a gorgeous-looking car that does stand out from the crowd. The Blackwing treatment only accentuates its good looks. It’s aggressive, but elegant. No wonky proportions, no gimmicky over-styled elements. It just looks like the rapid sport sedan that it is. I appreciate the new details Cadillac added, like the checkered flag graphic on the side of the DRLs. There are now a total of three “Blackwing” badges on the exterior of the car where there used to be one and originally none at all. Finished in Radiant Red and with Cadillac’s carbon fiber pack 1, the curb appeal is quite high with this one.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

You don’t drive the Blackwing so much as you hold on for dear life. Some sports cars allow for the immediate use of all of the accelerator pedal. This is not one of those cars. This is an exercise in restraint and patience. The handling, acceleration, and braking elements of the CT5-V Blackwing have always been of a very high caliber, but now things have been elevated and sharpened up. I always felt the CT5-V Blackwing was the heavier, floaty sledgehammer, whereas the CT4-V Blackwing was the lighter, easier-to-handle, more tossable scalpel. The precision pack helps to close that gap in agility.

The problem is the compromise that comes with the new handling pack. That’s ride quality, which now suffers as a result of the swapped hardware. Spring rates have increased, and stabilizer bars have stiffened. New suspension bushings, front suspension steering knuckles, and rear toe links have been swapped for a more “precise” feel. These changes would inevitably transfer more information to the driver, but at the hefty cost of harshness. It just doesn’t feel very at home out on the road like the normal car does. I’m not sure sacrificing so much comfort is worth the slight increase in agility.

Braking And Acceleration

The “LT4” supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 is an absolute monster. It gives the rear-wheel-drive CT5-V Blackwing a furious acceleration that I honestly haven’t experienced much of in any other performance car. It’s a 200+ mile-per-hour car, and it definitely feels like it. The updated traction management system seems to do a slightly better job at putting the power down, but maybe not.

The power is immense, immediate, and breaks right through most of the traction control, which I can actively feel working overtime with the electronic differential to shuffle power back and forth to keep things moving forward. It’s just on the brink of disaster, but never goes wrong. It’s clever and savage, but I can tell the car is using technology to keep from spinning out with every touch of the throttle. This type of acceleration is scary and requires significant restraint on twisty roads, but that’s the fun part. It’s a car that requires your attention and respect, something I can’t help but applaud.

With its optional carbon-ceramic brakes, which are massive, the Blackwing stops like a racecar that weighs half as much. The bite point is immediate, but never twitchy. The calibration is spot-on for every situation and I honestly believe all performance cars should have this exact equipment and tuning. The brakes alone make the car feel like it weighs far less, and make it far easier to place it more strategically in high-speed situations. No longer am I a brake-by-wire non-believer.

• Acceleration 0-60 MPH: 3.4 Seconds
• Braking: 60-0 MPH: 97 Feet

Performance Specifications

Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Fuel Economy

Hear me out. An onboard average of 18 MPG for a massive, supercharged V-8 sports car is really not terrible. This included all types of driving, and represents a true real-life example of CT5-V Blackwing ownership.

Interior Design And Comfort

The Blackwing’s seats are a stand-out feature of the interior. They are supportive, but not overly firm. They are elegant, but not overly styled. They are also heated, ventilated, and offer a massage function. Not many other carbon-backed sport bucket can offer the same. The cabin is spacious with ample room for all passengers. I love the size of the steering wheel and the functionality it offers with the designated “V” mode button and “PTM” rocker switch. It gives off racecar vibes.

The interior is well-insulated, letting little outside noise enter. It’s easy to carry a quiet conversation inside, with the snarling V-8 producing the majority of external noise, the way it should be. I do miss using a volume knob for the infotainment though. Steering wheel-only volume control proved to be an annoyance over time. The interior materials are all good quality, with a premium feel when interacting with the parts that are leather, metal, or the various carbon fiber trims.

Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

The last thing this car needed was an industry-following mega-wide screen. Some of the functions are cleverly integrated, like the separate menu all the way to the left, which is dedicated to performance metrics/settings. Some information has been shuffled around, but the layout and menus aren’t as intuitive as before. For something that takes up so much real estate, the screen just isn’t designed to display information in an efficient way.

Some of it is even cut off because of the steering wheel. New graphics that display real-time info like power output, boost pressure, and many others are fun to play with, but good luck finding them within the updated display. works well, as always, but the screen is thinner than before, so it actually displays less map area. After a while, you get used to the mess of information that’s plastered in front of you, but it feels less elegant, and cheapens the interior.

Cargo And Storage Space

The cargo area of the CT5-V Blackwing is accommodating for multiple carry-on-sized suitcases, and other items that might fit within its designated cubby space to the right, and ledge on the left. Total capacity is 11.9 cubic feet and, with a wide opening, offers plenty of space for baggage or a hefty grocery run. The rear seats do fold to offer a larger flat space.

2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Vs. Its Competitors

Fast large sedans have been around for quite some time, but none have been quite the monsters that manufacturers are offering today. Cadillac, BMW, and Audi all offer insanely powerful super sedans that seem to defy physics. Here’s how they stack up!

How The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Compares To The BMW M5

This isn’t exactly an apples-to-apples comparison, considering the CT5-V Blackwing emerged during the peak of BMW’s previous M5 lifecycle. That being said, the Blackwing, now with the precision pack added is even more focused than before. Where BMW has just thrown power and weight at the M5, Cadillac made the Blackwing more corner-capable.

Performance

If you want to go fast in a straight line, go with the German-engineered M5. If you want a better handler, then the American CT5-V Blackwing is the car you need. Funny how the tables turn. While the new M5 is certainly impressive in the corners (for its weight), the Caddy is an impressive performer, period. In fact, the better performance comparison would be the F90 M5 CS, but that ship has sailed.

Comfort

The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing without the precision pack would be just as comfy as an M5, but the G90 just oozes plushness, while the precision pack-equipped Blackwing will rattle you significantly. It’s here that you really get the sense these two sedans have parted ways in terms of philosophy. Where the Cadillac has become ultra-focused on delivering a true sports car experience, the M5 leans into luxury with true GT qualities. The seats are more supple on the M5, it’s more isolated from the road, and the size of it has grown to accommodate more of your everyday life.

Technology

This is a mixed bag for me. Modern BMWs have so much tech baked into the infotainment, but the clever folks at GM made sure the Blackwing models had a different type of technology edge. Things like line-lock, multi-stage traction control, and electronically-controlled differentials that actually work better than BMWs, which used to be the gold standard. Combining all the car’s performance-minded technology with a chassis that was built for it is just as impressive of a technological feat as throwing a bunch of apps at you on a silly large screen, perhaps a bit more.

How The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Compares To The Audi RS7 Performance

Both the Blackwing and RS7 benefit from added dynamics-enhancing packages. Audi has brought back the “performance” name while Cadillac has labeled theirs “precision.” Both offer impressive results, but arrive at a similar point in very different ways.

Performance

It’s a turbocharged, eight-speed automatic versus a supercharged, six-speed manual, yet again. The RS7 is closer to that of the BMW M5’s recipe, but dynamically is more in line with the Blackwing. They are both priced similarly and offer an extra level of engineering focused on just going fast in every situation. The Audi might out-corner the hefty BMW, but it’s still the Cadillac that offers the widest breadth of capability. The RS7 does whoop the Blackwing to sixty miles per hour, but that’s hardly a use case for both cars’ enhanced handling packs.

Comfort

While the RS7 is closer in ethos to the Blackwing than the M5, it does sit happily in the middle of the two. Still sportier than the BMW, but more supple than the Cadillac, the Audi RS7 offers a striking balance of speed and comfort. The seats and interior are examples of the next level of luxury compared to the Blackwing. For a similar price, the Audi might be mistaken for being a whole class ahead in terms of interiors.

Technology

Technology is a wash between the two. The Audi offers some performance-minded tricks like the Cadillac, but it’s not as gimmicky as the BMW. Both are less about nonsense, and more about providing the crucial information a sporty driver needs. Both infotainment systems have a great level of connectivity, but perhaps the Audi’s preservation of a volume knob gives it the win here.

Our Recommendation For Which Model You Should Buy

The CT5-V Blackwing is a stellar performance car, and the precision pack makes it even more of a weapon, especially if you’re considering tracking the car (which you should). The problem is that with that ultra-sharp handling comes a chatty ride. The greatness of the Blackwing models shows through their dual personalities. The ability to be a great road car and be track-capable is a wonderful automotive trick. This updated CT5 with the precision pack is just a little too far oriented toward track duty. You lose much of the car’s open-road smoothness. It is a Cadillac after all. It also costs an arm and a leg ($18,000).

I’d much rather just option the brilliant carbon-ceramic brakes, which make up most of the package anyway. That way you can save $9,000, stop on a dime, and still have a great driving, but more importantly, a great riding Cadillac performance sedan. The “normal” Blackwing is still a massively capable performer, so only the most avid of track enthusiasts should consider the precision pack. Do go out right now and buy a CT5-V Blackwing with a manual, though. You won’t regret it.