If you are a V-8-manual enthusiast, there’s bad news coming: the CT5-V Blackwing might be the last stick shift V-8 Sedan. We’ve looked at the past and present now, let’s look into the future. It shares a similar cabin with the CT5 but has more high-quality materials, which is expected considering the Blackwing’s higher entry price. The car’s dampers adjust automatically depending on the road surface and driving style. It also enhances traction, facilitating drama-free acceleration on corner exit.ĭespite its sports tuning, the vehicle has a comfortable ride. The vehicle's electronic limited-slip differential facilitates precise handling and improves stability during cornering. It features a chassis and a suspension system tuned to track performance. The most potent and powerful Cadillac ever produced is as comfortable on a track or a winding road as it is on a drag strip. Cadillac seemed to be moving further away from the formula that made the first ‘V’ Caddy a colossal hit. GM stated that it would consider doing a manual if enthusiasts clamored for it they didn’t make enough noise, apparently.įollowing the discontinuation of the CTS-V, the CT6-V debuted, featuring a twin-turbo V-8, an auto gearbox, and, much to the dismay of V-model fans, all-wheel drive. Sadly, the stick shift was gone, replaced by an eight-speed automatic. The third generation’s CTS-V also featured a Corvette-derived V-8 churning out 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet. The new car addressed the shortcomings of the first model and was significantly better through corners. It paid to choose the manual: it had a 191 MPH top speed, while the automatic model was limited to 175 MPH. It transmitted power through a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic to the rear wheels. The second-generation model featured a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 derived from the ZR1’s LS9 engine producing 556 horsepower. It elevates the importance of the incredible CT5-V Blackwing, the last of a breed of vehicles facing imminent extinction. The United States will grieve the hardest when the V-8 engine, a quintessential part of American car culture, leaves the scene. Barring the discovery of a way to make big engines economical and environmentally friendly - an unlikely occurrence - car power units will continue to get smaller, eventually fading away as automakers pursue electrification.įor a generation that grew up listening to and falling in love with ICEs, it is a sad reality. Sadly, the V-8 engine and the manual are on the way out. This unique combination - a V-8 engine paired with a manual gearbox in a rear-wheel drive sedan - is found only on the CT5-V Blackwing, making it a truly special car. Turn the ignition on, and the sound of 668 horses escaping through the exhausts fills your ears. A beautiful supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 stares back at you once you pop the hood inside, a six-speed manual stands majestically on the center console. Its aggressive stance, aerodynamic curves, and sharp lines show that it means business. The Redline that I drove in the accompanying video made approximately 250 hp thanks to some modifications, including 42-lb injectors ported heads, a 3-inch supercharger pulley (stock was 3.6 inches), an intake manifold spacer, and a cold air intake that breathes from the wheel well.When you look at the CT5-V Blackwing, you get the vibe that it’s a fast, hardcore sports car. Stock, the Ion Redline made 236 horsepower and 218 lb-ft of torque. The Saturn Ion Redline was a coupe with mini suicide rear doors and powered by a factory-supercharged 2.0-liter DOHC LSJ inline four, the engine later used in the Chevy Cobalt SS. Ion Redlines can't hold traction, torque steer out of their lanes, and, worst of all, look like they were styled by artists who thought Akira was a documentary. This thing is ridiculous! It's too fast! The Saturn Ion Redline, a bit more than a decade after its inception, has become a car for teenagers who view detention as a validation for their rotten sense of individuality.

That made me feel bad, because in the moment, I knew I was driving one of the best factory sleepers ever made. It's a blast to drive, but the second I got out of it, I remembered I had to pee. The Saturn Ion Redline is already being forgotten.

Saturn ion redline intake