2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Bombastic fantastic.

Mirza Grebovic’s eyes light up when he talks about brake pad compounds. He’s Cadillac’s performance variant manager, and his passion clearly goes beyond the paycheck.

- Alex Kierstein

You see, this Blackwing is big and exceptionally powerful. Getting it stopped quickly, repeatably, and reliably on track is no small feat, yet it’s one Grebovic obviously relished, as he told us about the roughly 20 compounds his team tested before settling on one that met noise and temperature targets while surviving almost 800 laps during a marathon, 24-hour track testing session.

The anecdote is important because it shows how hungry Cadillac was to get this Blackwing right. As the brand prepares to pivot fully toward EVs, this car is the last of its kind to feature a feral, screaming, torque-drunk 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 V-8, and Grebovic and his associates wanted to ensure the CT5-V Blackwing epitomized everything enthusiasts love about the traditional automobile.