Here’s Why Cadillac Doesn’t Have A Blackwing-Badged EV originally appeared on Autoblog.
A fully electric Blackwing isn’t off the table
Cadillac’s Blackwing sedans need no introduction. Both the CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing are wildly entertaining sports sedans that are old-school in the best possible way, as they each offer rear-wheel drive and manual gearboxes. In a completely different segment, Cadillac is dominating in the luxury EV space, so much so that it’s luring buyers away from the likes of Audi. It begs the question: Is it time for the Blackwing badge to adorn a Cadillac EV? It’s possible, but two things are standing in the way of that happening.
Heavy Batteries And Consumer Demand Are Hurdles To Overcome
Cadillac already has a few performance EVs, such as the recently revealed Optiq-V and the larger Lyriq-V. Although incredibly quick, the company’s V models are still a clear step below the Blackwings in concept. That’s what Alex Doss, lead development engineer for the Lyriq-V, recently told The Drive.
Whereas V models must still toe the line between sportiness and comfort on the street, Blackwings are all-out track monsters. To earn the Blackwing badge, even an EV should be sufficiently agile, and achieving that with today’s batteries is a huge challenge, since there isn’t yet a feasible way to overcome the weight disadvantage. Cadillac expects its Blackwing models to manage repeatable track performance, which requires more intensive cooling, another challenge with today’s battery packs.
Until tech like solid-state batteries become viable, the technical challenge of developing a proper Blackwing-badged EV is enormous.
Besides this, Doss said the consumer demand for an electric Blackwing model simply isn’t there yet. This makes sense, as while most EV owners enjoy their cars’ effortless straight-line potency, not many are lining up at the Nürburgring to test their handling limits.
Related: 5 Reasons Why the New Optiq-V Might Be Cadillac's Best EV Yet
Regular V Models Still Incredibly Potent
We imagine it would be difficult for Cadillac to create a significant performance gap between the current electric V models and a possible Blackwing—that’s how quick the Optiq-V and Lyriq-V already are.
The smaller Optiq-V makes 519 horsepower and 650 lb-ft from its dual electric motors, and can reach 60 mph in a claimed 3.5 seconds; there aren’t many quicker electric crossovers than that. The motors in the Lyriq-V make up to 615 hp and 650 lb-ft, launching the crossover to 60 in 3.3 seconds. Both are already comfortably quicker than the Blackwing sedans, if not nearly as engaging to drive.
But an engaging EV that’s fun on a track is surely not beyond the realm of possibility for Cadillac’s team. Hyundai has shown us how enjoyable a hot EV can be with the Ioniq 5 N, and a similar package combined with the more luxurious trimmings of a Cadillac will surely generate some interest.
For now, though, the Blackwing name is limited to a pair of gas-powered sedans, but even they may not stick around for much longer.
Here’s Why Cadillac Doesn’t Have A Blackwing-Badged EV first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 12, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
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