Maybe you have heard of it, maybe not, but Cadillac recently decided to be the first to enter the electric car market. Not only the upcoming Lyriq SUV, but also all future products. This means that the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is equipped with a 6.2-liter V8 supercharged engine and is the brand's last gasoline-powered high-performance sedan.

do not trust me? This is a quote from Steve Carlisle, Executive Vice President and President of General Motors North America:

"Under the leadership of Lyriq, Cadillac will redefine American luxury with a new and transformative electric vehicle portfolio in the next ten years."

Cadillac said it in August. In October, Cadillac executive chief engineer Brandon Vivian (Brandon Vivian) confirmed to me, "This will be our last gasoline-powered performance car."

Vivienne refers to the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing and the CT4-V Blackwing equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.6L V6 engine, which can produce a very healthy 472 horsepower.

Now you can interpret the news in two different ways. If you feel frustrated, I understand. After all, this is the end of an era, an unknown and possibly less exciting future. Or you can see the positive side like me. Because this Cadillac is the last scene, it allows the company to absolutely fill it with driver-friendly parts. Moreover, in doing so, Cadillac has produced the most creepy, exaggerated and exquisite performance car to date.

Of course, we need to start with the engine. Cadillac chose the LT4 V8 used in the C7-generation Chevrolet Corvette Z06. In that car, it produced 650 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 650 lb.-ft. The torque is 3,600 rpm. But Cadillac redesigned and adjusted the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing to produce 668 hp at 6,500 rpm and 659 lb.-ft. The speed is 3,600 rpm.

More specifically, Cadillac installed a new, more efficient 1.7-liter supercharger and reduced restrictions on intake and exhaust. In other words, Cadillac makes it easier for more air to flow through this thing, thereby generating more power. The long block is inherited from C7 Z06, but the added bits and extra power are unique to Blackwing.

From there, power is transmitted through a standard 6-speed manual transmission. Yes! Despite so many brands giving up clutch pedals and gear levers, Cadillac's 194.9-inch sedan still gives you the opportunity to row your own boat.

Optional 10-speed automatic transmission. And, I must admit, it's pretty good.

This is another victory for fans. Unlike Mercedes-AMG or BMW M models, the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing does not have a "drift mode" or any way to deviate from the all-wheel drive system for use on the track. That's because it only provides rear-wheel drive. Its only mode is "drift mode".

This has two advantages. First, it needs 200 pounds. The weight of the front end of the car. Second, it improves the engineer’s ability to focus more on turning agility without having to make a fuss about half-axes and so on.

In addition to the power system, Cadillac ensures that the rest of the chassis keeps up. You can get adjustable magnetic ride control and adaptive shock absorbers to match the front strut and multi-link rear suspension geometry. You will get an electronically operated limited-slip rear differential.

The Brembo six-piston caliper is clamped on the front 15.7-inch rotor, and the four-piston caliper is clamped on the rear 14.7-inch rotor. You can also get a strong braking force. Cadillac also offers optional carbon ceramic rotors.

Crucially, these brakes can handle track use. I mean multiple heavy loads at an initial speed of more than 130 mph. I know this because I drove one at the Pittsburgh International Speedway and reached it several times in one lap. Despite the arduous use of the whole morning, the brakes are still firm and full of confidence.

In the 2022 CT5-V Blackwing, Cadillac built 4,123 pounds (4,142 pounds in automatic) diamond-studded missiles. This is a luxury car equipped with all the bells and whistles of a luxury car, such as a 10-inch center console touch screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and heated seats. All of the above functions are standard configuration, and there are more functions to choose from.

But it is also a performance vehicle, capable of reaching 60 mph from a standstill in approximately 3.5 seconds — 3.4 seconds automatically, 3.6 seconds manually — and more than 200 mph before stopping acceleration.

But to be honest, these huge numbers are second only to the feel of the car. My speed on the Pitt Race straights reached 138 mph, but I also exceeded 1G on the corners, and I experienced a good and confident feeling along the way. Despite being such a big car, you can actively install steering locks, and Blackwing will respond in an agile and consistent manner.

A typical curve starts with a nice big brake; although all the heat will increase rapidly as the speed drops, your initial bite will be good and the pedals will remain firm. When you start, turn, but not too fast, lest you want the rear end to swing as you enter. Yes, the chassis balance is close to neutral. Then Blackwing makes a set, and then you slide over the apex and pull G around.

Then the real fun begins, because you can turn the car completely with the accelerator when you exit. The 659 pound-feet of torque is enough to overwhelm a 305-mm cross-section tire at any speed. The 305/30ZR19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires cannot match the supercharged 6.2L V8. When you finish playing, straighten the car, release the steering wheel, lower the throttle, and then bounce yourself to the next corner.

Power is abundant, direct, and seems to be eternal. You will find that you are three digits ahead of schedule, and Blackwing is still pulling-it is difficult. Moreover, as the speed increases, the 6.2L will emit sweet music. When you reach the maximum speed at 6,600 rpm, you quickly climb to a wonderful crescendo, shift gears and go to the next choir. This is a real pleasure.

There is also a customizable one. Blackwing includes something called performance traction management. With it, you will get a five-tier driving mode system for the track (wet, dry, sports, race 1 and race 2), which utilizes stability control, electronic differential and those trick shock absorbers Come to tailor the skills and comfort of almost any track for your car.

Compared with the previous settings, each setting allows more wheel slip and vehicle instability. Wetness can help you stay tidy on smooth surfaces, even if your feet are a bit sloppy. The Race 1 and Race 2 settings basically completely abandon the stability control, but subtly reduce the torque here and there. You basically rely on yourself.

In addition, all these outstanding abilities on the track come from sufficient comfort and ability on the road. Thanks again to the magnetic riding to control the impact, you can get enough compliance when bumping. Seats that are sufficient to support the track also provide plenty of adjustability and comfort to swallow miles on the road.

Cadillac has built a great machine for enthusiasts here. It satisfies all the requirements of a modern car, while also providing excellent driving satisfaction when you want it. And its cost is also lower than the competition. The BMW M5 starts at $104,495. You can buy Blackwing from a Cadillac dealer for $85,615.

For more than ten years, Cadillac's performance has been huge: powerful power, sturdy chassis and proper performance-oriented tuning concept. This 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is the best one to date. I admit that losing the engine in Cadillac makes me sad, but this is the last cheer.

To learn more about the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, click here.

As an educated engineer, Robin likes the technical aspects of cars. But he has an insatiable desire for racing, and he also likes the absolute pleasure of extreme driving. Robin combined these two passions when reviewing cars. From a technical perspective, look at how and how to make the car feel like driving.