Cadillac, once known for softly-sprung land yachts, took to performance cars like a duck to water, and was never shy about building loud, unapologetic performance sedans. Now, just when it looked like the V-Series era was winding down, the brand decided to go out with something far more extreme.
At the same time, Cadillac is stepping onto one of the biggest stages in motorsport. Its long-awaited entry into Formula 1 marks a major change in how the brand wants to be perceived globally.
Instead of keeping those two stories separate, Cadillac has mashed them together into one very aggressive statement. The result is a car that feels like both a send-off and a flex at the same time.
Enter the CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series. It’s rare, it’s powerful, and it’s about as subtle as a burnout in a library.
A Proper Send-Off For The Blackwing Era
The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing was already one of the last truly unhinged performance sedans on sale. A supercharged V8, rear-wheel drive, and a manual gearbox made it feel like a throwback in the best possible way.
Now Cadillac has pushed it even further. The F1 Collector Series bumps output to 685 horsepower and 673 lb-ft of torque, up from 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft in the base model, making it the most powerful V-Series model the company has ever built.
That extra power comes courtesy of a revised supercharger setup developed with input from GM Motorsports. It’s not a massive leap on paper, but in a car like this, every bit counts.
More importantly, Cadillac didn’t ruin the formula that made the Blackwing so good in the first place. It still comes exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, which immediately tells you exactly who this car is for.
Limited To 26 Cars, And Good Luck Getting One
Cadillac is only building 26 units of the F1 Collector Series. That number is tied directly to the brand’s 2026 Formula 1 debut. If you’re thinking about buying one, you can probably stop right there. These cars will be spoken for long before most people even see one in person. This isn’t just a car you buy off a lot. It’s a car you get allocated… if you’re well-connected enough.
Pricing is expected to land around $260,000, which sounds steep until you factor in the exclusivity. In reality, the secondary market will likely take that number and run with it.
Formula 1 Influence Everywhere You Look
Cadillac didn’t just slap a badge on this thing and call it a day. The F1 theme runs deep throughout the entire car, both visually and mechanically.
The exterior is finished in Midnight Stone Frost, essentially a matte black treatment that mirrors the Cadillac F1 team livery. Carbon Flash wheels, Harbor Gray brake calipers, and carbon fiber lower bodywork with a subtle silver pinstripe complete the look.
Then there are the details. F1 logos are stamped, etched, or printed just about everywhere you can think of, from the doors and spoiler to the supercharger cover and even the shifter.
It could have easily gone overboard, but somehow it works. The whole package feels cohesive rather than gimmicky, which is not always the case with special editions.
Built To Drive, Not Just Sit
Underneath the styling upgrades, the F1 Collector Series is still a serious performance machine. Every car comes standard with Cadillac’s Precision Package, which sharpens the chassis thanks to revised suspension components, magnetic dampers, carbon-ceramic brakes, and high-performance summer tires.
This thing is built to handle properly on a track, and Cadillac clearly wants owners to use it. The manual gearbox alone is a strong hint that this isn’t meant to be a static display piece.
Whether that actually happens is another story. Cars this rare tend to disappear into collections pretty quickly.
A Collector Car The Moment It Leaves The Factory
With only 26 units built and a direct tie to Cadillac’s Formula 1 entry, it’s a collector item from day one. Between the rarity, the manual transmission, and the fact that it represents the end of an era for V8 performance sedans, it checks all the right boxes.
These are exactly the kinds of cars that quietly double, or triple, in value over time. That said, it would be a shame if every single one ended up locked away. The whole point of the Blackwing has always been the driving experience, and this version turns that dial even further.