CT6-V

Make
Cadillac
Segment
Sedan

The Cadillac CT6-V has reached the end of its all too short production lifetime. Although it was going to be fairly limited in production numbers from the get-go, the fact that the regular Cadillac CT6 is also being discontinued spelled certain doom. It's a shame but there was still hope for the 4.2-liter twin-turbo Blackwing V8 under its hood. Alas, the future of this 550 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque engine is bleak.

Road and Track spoke with Cadillac president Steve Carlisle about the matter and he confirmed what we suspected: the brand has "no specific plans for that engine, but never is a long time." Unfortunately, the Blackwing is simply too big to fit in the new CT5, hence the decision to power the upcoming version placed above the CT5-V with the familiar and proven 6.2-liter supercharged V8.

This is the same engine found in the also outgoing Cadillac CTS-V and C7 Chevy Corvette Z06. But does the Blackwing V8 still have a future? Could it be used elsewhere in Cadillac's future lineup? The name, yes. The engine, no. Carlisle added that "We learned a lot with Blackwing. It's an idea that's really resonated with people. So there'll be a little bit of Blackwing in other cars going forward."

What we can confirm is that the Blackwing won't be used in a future CT6 successor for one simple reason: there won't be such a sedan. If anything, Cadillac could launch an all-electric flagship sedan, but this is still a few years away.

The all-new 2021 Cadillac Escalade is not a Blackwing V8 candidate because it too has future electrification plans happening instead. Given that Carlisle has committed Cadillac to become a battery electric vehicle brand by the end of this decade, there's no longer room for the Blackwing V8.

Its development costs, however, will hopefully not completely go to waste because various components and design and engineering elements could be used for future performance cars, such as the upcoming Chevy C8 Corvette Z06. Fingers crossed.