Why Didn’t Cadillac Use the Corvette ZR1 LT5 V8 In the CT5-V Blackwing?

The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is a monster, and there’s nothing you can say to make us feel otherwise. When we heard about the CT5-V with a 3.0L twin-turbo V6, we were admittedly a bit shocked, but the Blackwing? It has one of the best General Motors V8’s in existence. However, it’s not the most powerful one.

To date, the most powerful production V8 from the automaker is the 6.2L supercharged LT5 engine that came standard in the C7 Corvette ZR1. The engine made an incredible 755 horsepower at 715-pound-feet of torque. The Blackwing has GM’s 6.2L supercharged LT4 that puts out a still-impressive 668 horsepower and 659-pound-feet of torque.

With as much power as the LT5 produces, why wasn’t it detuned and placed in a car as special as the Blackwing? It seems like the easier route, but like the 4.2L twin-turbo Blackwing V8, the LT5 simply wouldn’t fit in the CT5’s engine bay. The height of the LT5 and dry-sump oil system would have caused the engine to stick out of the hood. That might look cool for some muscle cars, but not one as refined as a Cadillac. Besides, this isn’t the first time a V-series car wasn’t equipped with a Corvette V8.

In 2009, the second generation CTS-V came equipped with a 6.2L supercharged LSA V8, while the base Corvette had a 6.0L LS3 V8. The ZR1 was powered by a 6.2L supercharged LS9 V8. Then, the third-generation Cadillac CTS-V premiered with a 6.2L LT4 V8, which came standard in the Corvette Z06 at the time.

The Blackwing is likely to be one of the best production cars GM has ever produced. A car that boasts 668 horsepower and 659-pound-feet of torque and rides down the highway in deafening silence is a nod to modern engineering. It only takes the four-door to 3.7 seconds to reach highway speeds and would do just fine on the autobahn with a top speed of over 200 miles per hour. In an age where manual transmissions have disappeared, it’s available in the Blackwing, which appeals to many gearheads.

No matter where your brand loyalty falls, it’s hard to dispute that this refined rocket is pretty awesome. With that said, do you think the Blackwing should have found a way to make tit fit?