We all know the new Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is special, and it’s not just because of the Blackwing badge. It’s the most powerful Cadillac ever, and each of the supercharged V8 engines used for the flamboyant sedan is hand-built.
More importantly, the CT5-V Blackwing and CT4-V Blackwing are the latest V-Series models equipped with an internal combustion engine.
But how does the CT5-V Blackwing compare to other supercharged V8 cars on the market? Sam CarLegion pitted one against a Dodge Hellcat-powered muscle car to find out.
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While a Charger Hellcat muscle sedan is the most obvious competitor to the CT5-V Blackwing on the premise of having the same number of doors, the YouTuber here didn’t get his hands on one in stock. Instead, meeting the Blackwing on the line is a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.
On paper, these two were almost on equal ground. The Challenger was a bit more powerful with 717 horsepower (535 kilowatts) and 656 pound-feet (889 Newton-meters) of torque. However, it was also significantly heavier at 4,436 pounds (2,012 kilograms).
Meanwhile, the CT5-V Blackwing developed up to 668 hp (498 kW) and almost the same amount of torque, but only tipped the scales at 4,123 lb (1,870 kg).
That said, it appeared that the Hellcat’s power advantage was outweighed by its pig nature, but there was one major difference between the two that ultimately favored the Dodge: the drivetrain.
The Challenger SRT Hellcat here came with an automatic transmission, while the CT5-V had a manual gearbox. In a straight-line race, modern automatics always have the advantage, no matter what shifting techniques a driver might use on the MT.
Was that the case with this game? The video at the top of this page was conclusive, so check it out.
