Cadillac is entering Formula 1, and since it's apparently not enough to celebrate with balloons and a cake, it's instead built the most powerful Blackwing in history. With a manual transmission. In 26 copies. Because why not.
Imagine this scene: It's 2026, half the auto industry has moved to an Excel spreadsheet full of battery cycles, and the other half is explaining how the hydrogen fuel cell will save the world. And in the middle of this circus, Cadillac steps up to the podium, adjusts his tie, and says: “But we have a 6.2-liter supercharged V8, six gears that you have to shift manually, and 26 cars. That's it. Thanks for your attention.” This is the Blackwing.
And honestly – someone has to do it. Otherwise, someday in the future we will be explaining to our grandchildren what clutch, and they will look at us the way we look at our grandfathers who still think the fax machine is the pinnacle of communication technology.
New Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series is basically Cadillac's way of celebrating entering the Formula 1This year, the American brand is on the starting line of the most prestigious motorsport in the world for the first time, and since their first home race is in Miami, they decided to put a sedan alongside it, which will probably be faster than many F1 cars from twenty years ago.
Numbers you'll have to read twice
But let's get to the point. Under the hood is still the famous 6.2-liter LT4 supercharged V8 – that is, the engine that American engineers hand-assembled in Bowling Green, Kentucky, most likely to the accompaniment of country music and a can of iced tea.
However, this time they added upgraded compressor, developed in collaboration with GM MotorsportsThe result? 511 kW (685 hp or 685 PS) and 913 Nm (673 lb-ft) of torque. That's 17 horsepower and 19 Nm more than the standard Blackwing, which formally means that This is the most powerful Blackwing Cadillac has ever built.. And if you're wondering where the extra power comes from - the engineers changed the compressor pulley (from a 3.14 ratio to a 3.24) and added 2,128 cc of compressor capacity. In other words: they stole parts from the Escalade-V and stuck them in the sedan. Classic GM approach that we all have to love.
“The CT5-V Blackwing embodies the best of Cadillac’s racing prowess. With the F1 Collector Series, we’re bringing the energy and innovation of Formula 1 to a road-going vehicle that’s as special as our entry into the sport,” said during the presentation Mark Reuss, President of General Motors.
Six gears. No excuses.
This is where the story gets really interesting. All 26 copies will come exclusively from six-speed manual transmission. No automatic. No dual-clutch transmission. No paddle shifters for those who have trouble with their left foot. If you can't drive a manual transmission, this is a no-brainer for you - which, let's face it, is an incredibly refreshing view in 2026.
The standard CT5-V Blackwing with manual transmission achieves 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in approximately 3.6 seconds, to 160 km/h (100 mph) takes 7.1 seconds. Final speed? Over 322 km/h (200 mph)So technically, it's a sedan that drives faster than most Ferraris from the last decade, except it has a back door and you can fit a child seat in it. The F1 Collector Series will do all of that even faster with the extra horsepower—Cadillac hasn't released exact numbers, but physics is physics.
Precision Package: because high power alone is not enough
Each of the 26 copies comes equipped with Precision Package, which in Cadillac jargon means:
- Carbon-ceramic brakes
- Track-tuned MagneRide suspension that reads the road better than your favorite barista reads your morning zest for life
- 11 % stiffer anti-roll bars
- Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires – that is, those that eat asphalt for breakfast
With the standard Blackwing, this package is an add-on for 18,000 US dollars (approximately 16,700 euros), which sounds like a lot until you consider that comparable German competition has double the amount listed just for carbon details and invisible stickers.
Aesthetics: monochromatic gloom
All 26 cars will be repainted in the color Midnight Stone Frost, which is a marketing way of saying “gray.” Not just any gray – gray, like gray is one of those cloudy Sunday mornings when you don’t know whether to stay in bed or go for a run. It’s combined with the rims Carbon Flash Metallic, gloss-black emblems, monochromatic crests and brake calipers Harbor Gray Metallic. Carbon fiber lower body panels feature silver stripes Switchblade Silver.
The interior is full of F1 and FIA logos: the doors have lit F1 logo, the threshold bears the inscription “Cadillac Formula 1”, the seats have embossed F1 graphics, and the gear lever 3D printed F1 medalThe compressor cover is CNC machined with the F1 logo and laser engraved with the FIA logo. In short: if you don't find at least one Formula 1 emblem inside, you haven't looked hard enough.
Honestly – a little cringe It's all F1 show-off. But compared to some limited edition versions from Munich or Ingolstadt that have the names of race tracks embroidered on the seats where the cars never actually raced, at least Cadillac is honest here: “We are in F1, we want you to see this, pay and be quiet.”
Cadillac and Formula 1: why at all?
For a little context: Cadillac has undergone one of the biggest transformations in the automotive industry over the past two decades, transforming itself from a brand that built chrome saloons for Florida retirees in the 20th century to a maker of some of the most engaging sports sedans on the market. V-Series The brand has existed for over 20 years and represents the pinnacle of Cadillac's offering – the F1 Collector Series is, in this sense, the highest possible performance of the fifth generation of this line.
Entering F1 in 2026 is, of course, a strategic move that should put Cadillac alongside European premium brands. Will they succeed? A tough question. But one thing is certain: if you have a factory F1 race car and a 685-horsepower sedan with a manual transmission in your fleet, no one can say you're not trying.
Price, accessibility and common sense
The standard CT5-V Blackwing with Precision Package and both carbon packages costs $135,175 (approximately €125,000)Experts predict that F1 Collector Series surpasses $150,000 mark (approximately €139,000) – Cadillac has not yet announced an official price, but given that everything will be 26 copies and that the car is only intended for the market USA and Canada, the question of price is essentially academic. There will be fewer cars than there are factory racers in the F1 paddock, and they will all be sold out before the first one hits the pavement.
Production begins in mid-2026.
Conclusion: the last ray of hope for lovers of analog pleasures
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series it is not a car that will save the world, reduce CO₂ emissions or contribute in any way to a more sustainable future. In fact, it is the complete opposite – it is big, heavy, impractical, guzzles fuel at a rate that would get environmentalists sued in international court, and costs more than many people earn in two years.
And that's exactly why he's so wonderful.
In a world that is increasingly becoming sterile, silent and automated, the Blackwing in F1 version is the last big cry of analog motoring. Six gears that you have to shift by hand. A V8 that someone built with their own hands in Kentucky. A supercharger that screams like it's part of a supernatural being. And only 26 examples, which means ownership will be more exclusive than a membership card to some secret club in Monaco.
Yes, the F1 emblems might be a bit too much. Yes, the monochromatic paint job is as boring as a Tuesday afternoon. And yes, 685 horsepower in a rear-wheel drive sedan without an automatic is basically a recipe for a quick spin through the oncoming lane. But when was the last time we said that a car too much fun?
Cadillac has done something with the F1 Collector Series that is becoming increasingly rare: a car that doesn't want to be sensibleAnd for that, it deserves applause – even if you'll never be able to afford it, as all 26 examples are likely already reserved for collectors who have more Bugattis in their garages than you have socks in your drawer.
