There, I sat, or rather, there, I gently slid to the side 2022 Cadillac CT4-DRAW Black wing. Woodward Avenue has only an inch of snow on the surface, and this Cadillac equipped with Michelin Pilot Alpin winter tires, but it hardly matters. The CT4-DRAW Blackwing riding on GMAlpha’s platform, like platform Chevrolet Camaroand at this point, Caddy hugging inside of it Camaro.
Right after I made this connection, I came across a wild Camaro SS that seemed to be having an even harder time accelerating. The 0-10 mph time that I just cracked is many times slower than this time CT4time is a quarter of a mile in dry time, and there may be more side-to-side movement than forward motion, but at least I’ve moved.
However, as much as I would like, this Cadillac will never be a daily driver all season long.
In any case outside of a terrible snowfall, the CT4-V Blackwing is an N-class charmer. In winter, its high-output 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6, six-speed manual transmission and system Rear-wheel drive turns from a huge boon to a crippling factor. Although Blackwing makes you want to sell off all your other possessions to put it in your driveway, make sure you always have a winter whisk for those snowy days. A few tenths of an inch, and this Cadillac – a future Woodward king in the warm months – will be stuck on America’s first paved road.
The charm of the CT4-V Blackwing begins as soon as you step into the sturdy sports seats to find yourself in a luxurious yet functional interior. Cadillac has long appreciated low-class luxury interiors compared to the Germans, but the CT4-V Blackwing comes closer to a BMW M3 or Audi RS5’s fair. One thing that is suspicious is the relatively small infotainment touchscreen located on the dashboard. Its screen quality is inferior just because of its small size and it doesn’t match the premium look of the interior. It also doesn’t match the digital gauge cluster, which is of higher quality and moves through the different display modes with elegant fluidity.
That complaint aside, the rest of the interior is smartly designed with great ergonomics. Seating position is slightly higher than an M3 or M2, but it’s good for visibility and helps keep your body in line with the pedals and gearshift. Push both the light clutch pedal and the hard pedal brake step in to start it, and the V6 goes strong, rattling nearby glass if you start it on top of the exhaust. The car will remember and keep the mode you turned off, so make sure to change it to “Tour” for a smooth start. If not, drink it out loud, and it will be a good substitute for caffeine.
Not like terrible things to use ATS-V’s Controlling the CUE central stack, the CT4 uses a simple and user-friendly row of buttons to operate its key controls. Switching driving modes is done via a rather impromptu toggle switch behind the gearshift lever, and the rev matching feature is found next to it. GM’s implementation of the Performance Traction Management system is also the way to go, but a bit later.
These mechanically related elements are very well organized making it much easier to focus on the drive. No gimmicks or bizarre party tricks to be found. It’s just you and what has to be the best chassis in today’s sports sedan world.
Before hitting the good roads, this CT4-V Blackwing is an engaging driver. The gear lever moves through its doors with a satisfying weight, providing positive feedback with each shift – new feature M3/M4 shifter wish it was as good as this. Let the computer handle the revs as you hit the gas around town and the exhaust will reward you with a dull, over-speeding sound with each downshift, as long as you keep the exhaust on silent. its noise. No waiting for torque to leave the lights or any moment when leaning into the throttle. Powerful 472 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque from the large 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 are on the board and ready to be unleashed in full or in part immediately. Fuel economy can be very poor – I averaged 14.6 mpg after 500 miles of driving – but there is never a dull moment.
The Magnetic Ride Control suspension seems magical fitted on top for everyday driving use. Despite being a race-ready high-performance sports sedan, the ride is luxurious and pleasant in full soft mode. It’s refreshing to drive a car that performs as well as it does on a track, but it also has to be realized that it still needs to be driven on America’s crumbling roads. The largest wheels available are only 18 inches in diameter, so the spacious side skirts can help with that.
The docile and friendly sedan quickly transforms into a monster when you want it to, but even with all-out attack, the CT4-V Blackwing makes driving a breeze. Since it’s winter in Michigan, all the roads are covered with melted snow or a thick layer of salt. Not in favor of rear-wheel drive cars close to 500 hp. That said, GM’s Performance Traction Management (PTM) system makes driving easier in these conditions.
Switching to PTM Wet Mode lets the car know what surface it is on, and after only a few turns, it’s clear that this traction control feature is one of the most predictable and useful when it comes to systems. Use on wet roads. It’s smart enough to pull you into the right place where the rear end will start to slide out, no matter how eager you are, it gradually allows more force to the rear wheel as you straighten the wheel. . Corner after corner, it ensures both the safest and fastest acceleration, and it does so in conditions that you would expect to turn this car into a terrifying mess. Switch it to PTM Dry in salt-covered road areas and the CT4 will deliver more power to the rear wheels sooner. Sometimes it jumps around with a bit of uncertainty, but the added freedom is more fun, even if it’s a little dicey sometimes, which requires more hairy legs than a heavy foot.
Perhaps even more important to the experience with PTM is the newly found ease of use. Instead of hiding behind a number of driving modes and traction control buttons, the PTM is just a switch on the steering wheel. This will greatly increase the use of the system, which is great, because owners should absolutely take advantage of it.
None of the above would be worth it if the chassis and other surrounding elements weren’t stellar, thankfully they are. This Cadillac’s steering has perfect weight on the heaviest setting – it reports exactly what I’d expect from its wide set of tyres. And then the brakes! Cadillac has killed it off with a super-hard brake pedal that inspires confidence when stopping this sedan, but is also easy to navigate in traffic when you don’t want too much braking force. One complaint: The 3,860-pound curb weight is relatively light by today’s standards, but the Blackwing doesn’t hide it as well. BMW M3 as you drill in and switch between corners.
And while this engine isn’t lacking in motivation in the least, it’s not the most emotional powertrain available in this class. BMW carThe inline-six revs are higher and harder, and it sounds noticeably better than the Caddy. But don’t get me wrong. The sound at 6,400 rpm of this car is music to the ears of car enthusiasts, and the stage cannon effect when passing at high rpm is a delight. It’s a serious V6, but that doesn’t change the fact that more entertaining engines exist.
However, no other sedan in this segment has more satisfying performance than the CT4-V Blackwing. It combines all the elements – aside from driving in the snow – that are sure to please enthusiasts, and it does it in a package with almost no downsides. Even the price is pleasant, as it starts at $59,990. That is more suitable for BMW M2 higher valuation M3 pricing, and you get an extra set of doors M2. After the selections, my test car’s total value is $77,035, and I’ll erase $4,350 of that total without thinking twice about dropping the unnecessary. carbon fiber exterior decorative bits. The rest is needed to upgrade the interior space accordingly luxury car class, as it legitimately competes with the Germans when you give it epic tri-color sport seats, red seat belts, and extra tech packages.
Our associate editor, Byron Hurd, loves driving the CT4-V Blackwing at the first drive that he went out and bought one, and I totally applaud that purchase. This is a memorable Cadillac for all time, and anyone who pulls the trigger will enjoy an enjoyable drive.
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