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GM executive engineer Tony Roma says Cadillac no longer views the CT5-V Blackwing as a direct attempt to match a particular rival. He described the car as a distinctive performance sedan Cadillac builds to its own preferences, while GM has confirmed a next-generation CT5, CT5-V and Blackwing on a rear-wheel-drive platform. The supplied report says the CT5-V is also expected to offer a naturally aspirated V8 and manual transmission.
General Motors executive engineer Tony Roma says Cadillac is no longer trying to match the CT5-V Blackwing against a specific rival, describing it instead as a performance sedan built around what the company wants to drive. His remarks to The Drivecast explain the thinking behind a low-volume model that stands out in a luxury market where, Roma said, many competitors have moved toward heavier, all-wheel-drive and hybrid cars.
Asked how GM sees the value of a V8-powered luxury sedan with a manual transmission, particularly when Blackwing sales are not large, Roma said the company does not necessarily evaluate the car as a direct response to another brand. “We’re not competing head-to-head with anyone anymore,” he said. He described Blackwing as an extension of Cadillac’s V-Series rather than a separate sub-brand.
Roma said Cadillac began pursuing German luxury brands around the time the first-generation CTS debuted roughly 23 years ago. The effort helped reposition Cadillac as a modern luxury marque, he said, at a time when the brand lacked a performance offering across its lineup. But he recalled a shift in the market before development of the current, fourth-generation CT5: competitors had become larger, adopted all-wheel drive and, in some cases, added hybrid powertrains.
“With Blackwing and with CT5 in general, we’re making a car that we want to buy,” Roma said. He argued that the model’s unusual combination of rear-wheel drive, a manual option and a nimble-sedan focus is part of its appeal. GM has confirmed a next-generation CT5, CT5-V and Blackwing on a rear-wheel-drive platform. The supplied report says the next CT5-V is set to offer a naturally aspirated V8 and manual transmission.
A Different Measure of Cadillac Performance
Roma’s comments indicate a change in how GM describes the Blackwing’s purpose: less as a bid to beat a named German competitor and more as a distinctive Cadillac performance car. That distinction matters to buyers choosing among high-powered luxury sedans. Instead of judging the Blackwing only by sales volume or direct comparisons, GM is emphasizing the features and driving character it says make the car unusual.
The approach also speaks to enthusiasts who want a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive in a powerful luxury sedan. Roma said there are many fast cars but challenged listeners to name another nimble, rear-drive manual sedan. That was his characterization, not an independent market survey. Still, the argument helps explain why GM says the car has a reason to exist even without large sales or a one-to-one rival.
For Cadillac, the next generation will test whether that distinct identity can continue as the market changes. The confirmed rear-drive platform gives the company a basis for another CT5 and Blackwing, while the reported V8 and manual plans would preserve key elements of the current formula. GM has not provided detailed specifications or pricing in the source report.
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing manual transmission
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From Chasing Germans to V-Series
Cadillac’s modern performance push began with the CTS era, according to Roma, who said the brand had been trying to establish itself against German luxury automakers for about 23 years. He described V-Series as pivotal to making Cadillac a credible modern luxury brand. Blackwing, in his account, is the highest-performance extension of that lineage, not a stand-alone marque.
Roma contrasted the earlier competitive landscape with today’s cars, pointing to the increasing size and complexity of some rivals. He specifically joked about the weight of the BMW M5 and described the market as one where many competitors have adopted all-wheel drive and hybrid power. Those observations form his explanation for why Cadillac reassessed direct comparisons before developing the current CT5 generation; they do not establish that every competitor follows the same pattern.
The Drive’s report also notes that the outlet named the CT5-V Blackwing its 2026 Performance Car and overall Car of the Year. Those are the publication’s awards, not GM sales or engineering data. The report’s central news is Roma’s account of Cadillac’s positioning and the company’s stated direction for the next CT5 generation.
““We’re not competing head-to-head with anyone anymore.””
— Tony Roma, GM executive chief engineer for Chevrolet Corvette and Performance Cars, speaking to The Drivecast
Specifications and Rival Comparisons
The report does not provide a launch date, price, detailed specifications or performance figures for the next-generation CT5 and Blackwing. GM’s confirmation of a rear-wheel-drive platform does not by itself establish every powertrain or transmission detail. The supplied article says a naturally aspirated V8 and manual option are planned for the CT5-V, but it gives no technical information or timing for those offerings.
Roma’s claim that the Blackwing has no direct rival is a statement of GM’s positioning, not a formal market classification. The report does not compare the car against a full list of current competitors or provide sales figures. It also does not explain how GM will measure the model’s success beyond the value it places on making a distinctive car.
Next CT5 Details to Watch
The next milestone is further information from GM about the next-generation CT5 lineup, including the CT5-V and Blackwing. Buyers will need confirmed specifications, availability and pricing to judge how closely the new cars retain the current model’s rear-drive and manual-focused character.
Until GM releases those details, Roma’s remarks offer a view of the company’s stated philosophy rather than a complete product announcement. The immediate question is whether the next Blackwing can preserve the qualities GM says distinguish it while competing for buyers in a changing luxury-sedan market.
Key Questions
What did GM say about the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing’s rivals?
GM executive engineer Tony Roma said Cadillac is no longer competing head-to-head with a specific rival through the Blackwing. He described it as a car built around Cadillac’s own preferences.
Why does Cadillac say the Blackwing is distinctive?
Roma pointed to its combination of rear-wheel drive, a manual transmission option and nimble-sedan character. That is GM’s assessment of the car’s position, rather than a formal comparison of every competing model.
What is confirmed about the next-generation CT5?
The supplied report says GM has confirmed a next-generation CT5, CT5-V and Blackwing on a rear-wheel-drive platform. It does not give a launch date or full specifications.
Will the next CT5-V have a V8 and manual transmission?
The supplied report says the next CT5-V is expected to offer a naturally aspirated V8 and manual transmission. Detailed specifications and timing have not been provided in the report.
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