2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Precision Package: Want Lower Lap Times? Try RPO V8V

Cadillac reckons that a higher percentage of its Blackwing owners regularly take their toys to track days than can be said of folks purchasing BMW M and Mercedes-AMG cars. And when Alex MacDonald transitioned from his job as vehicle performance manager overseeing Corvette and Camaro to become chief engineer of the CT4 and CT5 two years ago, his team implored him to put a skunkworks track-optimized chassis package it had been working on into production. That hard-edged concept, originally demonstrated on a CT4, will indeed come to market on the 2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing as the Precision Package, RPO V8V, in early 2025.

The Goal of RPO V8V

The CT5-V Blackwing is already amazingly capable on the road, offering either supple luxury or sharp-edged response on demand with a flick of a drive-mode switch. But kit one out for track duty in the latest time-attack rubber, and it bumped up against the limits of what’s possible with a road-optimized setup. The goal of the Precision Package, therefore, was to extend the capability envelop in that direction—"to improve path precision and increase corner speeds.” Or as executive chief engineer Brandon Vivian puts it, “We built this vehicle to set records on some of toughest tracks around the world and reward the most discerning driving enthusiast.”(Note that the powertrain remains unchanged.)

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Holistically Stiffened

Cadillac whacks all the moles, front and rear, so as to avoid simply chasing the looseness around. Spring rates are up 70 percent in front and 50 percent in the rear. This sounds like a LOT, but with all the other changes, the ride rate—which better describes what occupants feel—increases 20 percent front and rear. Magnetorheological damper tuning for this MR 4.0 system is also greatly revised to prevent the bounciness of stiff cars like the Ford Focus RS. The upper mounts for the front and rear dampers are greatly stiffened to eliminate uncontrolled motion. The ride link bushings in the suspension are stiffened by 79 percent in front, 63 percent in back, and the front anti-roll bar rate is up 11 percent. And finally, the forward-most rear cradle bushings are 1,000 percent stiffer. We wondered, why not just use solid mounts? MacDonald replies “We did that, and it wasn't right for Cadillac. It wasn't the right balance. Every expansion joint read directly through the car.”

More Adjustability

Two other big changes allow camber adjustment into a realm that only makes sense on the track. The front knuckles allow the adjustment directly, while in the rear there’s a new set of toe-control links milled from billet that add an extra degree of negative camber. They ship with the car, for installation on track days.

All New Calibrations

The software controlling everything from the MR dampers, to the stability control system, to the electric power steering assist is revised to suit the Precision Package’s new hardware. Even the electronic limited-slip differential is calibrated to feel less skittish when getting on the throttle.

Perhaps counterintuitively, the MR damping bandwidth is somewhat reduced, tightening things up a bit from the base configuration to best match the new spring/ride rates. Mike Hurley, a lesser-sung hero of chassis development on the Corvette team, has reportedly worked his magic on the CT5-V Blackwing Precision Package, to preserve an unexpected level of isolation in spite of the elevated spring rates.

No Tire/Wheel Changes. Yet.

At launch, the Precision Package will ship with the same 19-inch Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer performance tires, in the same 275/40R19 front and 305/30ZR19 rear fitment, as other CT5-Vs. But Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires may one day be offered, and customers are likely to fit them for track days—probably upping the fronts to a more available 285/30R19 size. When they do, they’ll find their 2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Precision Package car drives like a smaller, tighter-focused car—like a CT4-V Blackwing with CT5-V-8 power. One that puts power down better, claws through the corners more confidently, and returns a lower lap time. We look forward to assessing what magic Hurley has conjured in retaining the Precision Package’s on-road comfort.

When and How Much?

Cadillac’s RPO V8V Precision Package will become available in early 2025 on any CT5-V Blackwing, with the only forced option being the $9,000 carbon-ceramic brakes. Pricing has yet to be set but is said to align with similar chassis packages (our pricing presumes something akin to the Corvette’s $6,345 Z51 package). That means your personal racing team should budget for a purchase price north of $111,000 out the door, including guzzler taxes.