Cadillac’s modern reinvention is one of those slow-burn redemption arcs that has us intently tuned into their next move. The brand that spent most of the 20th century building chrome-covered cruisers for retired executives now builds the CT5-V Blackwing, an honest-to-god benchmark in the luxury performance sedan world.
And this weekend, with the Cadillac F1 Team taking the grid at the Miami Grand Prix, the brand is closing the loop with a sendoff that feels appropriately overbuilt: 26 units of the most powerful V8 the brand has ever produced.
A Bigger Blower, A Bigger Number
The CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series cranks the supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 up to 685 horsepower and 673 lb-ft of torque, which is 17 hp and 14 lb-ft over the standard Blackwing. The numbers are nice. The how is nicer.
Cadillac swapped in a larger pulley (3.14 to 3.24 ratio) and added 2,128cc of supercharger displacement, which strongly suggests they raided the Escalade-V’s parts bin to source the bigger blower. Whatever the lineage, the result is that this 26-car sedan is now the most powerful V8 Cadillac has ever bolted into anything. Sorry, Escalade.
Three Pedals or Bust
Here’s where it gets good: every single one of these 26 cars ships with a six-speed manual transmission (music to our ears). And even better? No automatic option, no DCT, no flappy paddles. If you want one, you better know how to drive stick.
The Precision Package is also standard, which means carbon-ceramic brakes, track-tuned MagneRide, an 11% stiffer anti-sway bar, and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R rubber. It’s pretty much the same absurd setup from the regular Blackwing, just with a bit of extra grunt.
Stealth Mode, F1 Edition
Every car gets Midnight Stone Frost paint, Carbon Flash wheels, Harbor Gray brake calipers, and a carbon-fiber body kit. The only deviation here is a single Switchblade Silver pinstripe to mix things up just a bit.
That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of F1 callouts throughout. We’ve got it stamped into the doors via Cadillac’s new “autocraft” technique, embossed in the headrests, etched into the supercharger cover, and capped off by a 3D-printed F1 medallion on the shift knob. There’s even an FIA logo hiding under the carbon-fiber clear coat on the center console. Easter eggs all the way down.
Spec Sheet
Model: Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series
Model Year: 2026
Engine: Supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8
Power: 685 HP and 673 lb-ft of torque
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive
Brakes: Carbon-ceramic (Precision Package)
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R
Limited Edition: 26 units
Pricing & Availability
Production kicks off mid-2026, with the F1 Collector Series sold exclusively in the U.S. and Canada. Cadillac hasn’t shared a price, but with only 26 examples on the table, sticker shock is the least of your problems (getting an allocation is). The car will be on display at Jungle Plaza in the Miami Design District during F1 race weekend.
Recap
2026 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series
26 cars, 685 horsepower, six-speed manual only, and a stealth-black livery to mark Cadillac’s first F1 season. It’s the most powerful V8 the brand has ever built.
