This Is the V8 Swan Song America’s Manual M3 Rival Really Deserved

While Cadillac already gave the CT5-V Blackwing a special sendoff, Callaway’s treatment is what the sedan truly needed.

Callaway Cars

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By Gray Van Dyke

Published 2 hours ago

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2026 marks the last year for the current Cadillac CT5, and that makes for a big loss, as it also sidelines the brand’s M-rivaling, V8-powered Blackwing.

While parent GM does have a successor planned, this amounts to the last opportunity to get your hands on a gas-powered luxury American sports sedan in the meantime.

Red Cadillac CT5-V sedan with black grille and multi-spoke alloy wheels parked on a street. — Callaway’s SC780 package gives the Blackwing a mammoth 3.0-liter supercharger.

Toward that end, Cadillac even delivered a sendoff for the CT5-V Blackwing in the form of the F1 Collector Series. As striking as it was, I’d say Callaway might’ve cooked up something better.

Superior Callaway supercharging

That’s because, even with its improved 685-horsepower output, the F1 Blackwing can’t match the numbers enabled through Callaway’s SC780 Package.

The tuner has managed to take the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 all the way to 780 horsepower and 673 lb-ft of torque, and buyers have the option of either an auto or a manual (we know which we’d choose).

Close-up of a Callaway SC780 engine cover with black and red detailing inside a car engine bay. — The GenFour supercharger delivers nearly 100 extra ponies on even the up-spec F1 Collector Series Blackwing.

Though that means they put out an equal amount of twist, it results in a nearly 100-horsepower improvement. Moreover, the difference is larger still if you compare it to the standard Blackwing.

To accomplish these kinds of gains, Callaway ditches the stock supercharger in favor of its own unit along with a three-element intercooler. At 3.0 liters in displacement, the blower offers a whopping 72 percent more volume than the setup fitted from the factory.

Red sporty sedan with black and silver alloy wheels parked on asphalt near a red and black trailer. — Cadillac’s CT5-V Blackwing should be understated around the outside, despite its rumbling V8.

Granted, the F1 Collector Series treatment does bring other impactful upgrades beyond power. Thanks to the inclusion of the Precision Pack, it rides on specialized suspension and comes fitted with track-ready upgrades like carbon-ceramic brakes and sticky tires.

But track days are ultimately only among many applications for Cadillac’s V8 sports sedan. In that sense, it’s a bit of a deep cut for a vehicle that’s supposed to mark the end of the run.

Matte black Cadillac sedan with vertical LED headlights parked on wet pavement at dusk.

Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series

In celebration of the first Cadillac Formula 1 race on American soil, the brand has created an exclusive, high-performance variant of the CT5-V Blackwing called the F1 Collector Series. As befits the name, then, it brings some top-level refinements from the GM Motorsports division, including an upgraded supercharger, a manual-only transmission configuration, a precision handling package, loads of carbon fiber and exclusive visual touches inside and out. While the Midnight Stone Frost paint makes the CT5-V Blackwing an understated looker, nothing about the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 and its 685 horsepower and 673 lb-ft of torque is subtle. Just 26 examples are set for production.

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A more convincing Caddy look

All the more so when you consider the Collector Series Blackwing’s accompanying visual touches. Because the car doubled as a celebration of its Formula 1 entry this year, Cadillac littered it with F1 and FIA logos on everything from the supercharger cover to the shifter.

Assuming you’re a racing fan, they’re pretty cool touches and they mark a historic occasion for the brand. However, even if you’ve been binging Drive to Survive, it can still come across as a little, well, much.

Red car hood with a carbon fiber vent and a V8 badge near the front wheel. — The red paint on this example stands in stark contrast to the moody livery of Cadillac’s own Blackwing sendoff.

For that reason, Callaway’s SC780 skews the more convincing Blackwing. It might not wear the same fancy carbon ducklid or special livery, but it brings some eye-catching touches.

Most notably in the form of the hand-laid carbon hood scoop. However, pop the hood, and you’ll see that Callaway has given the engine its own dress-up treatment with carbon covers and commemorative badging.

Close-up of a carbon fiber car hood scoop with a black plastic vent insert on a red car. — That hood scoop does break the sleeper vibe, just a little.

Buyers can take things further still with a sport exhaust or a sport pedal set, yet Callaway’s exterior changes remain subtle. As a maximization of the CT5-V Blackwing’s sleeper potential, then, it’s a markedly more appropriate ride.

Availability and pricing

The best part is that it’s far less exclusive. Cadillac is building just 26 F1 Collector Series cars total for North America, while Callaway has not announced production quantities.

You’ll have to inquire about a price, though it’s worth noting that each SC780 package comes with a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty and is sold through authorized Cadillac dealers.

Shiny red Cadillac CT5-V sedan parked on a street with black grille and multi-spoke alloy wheels.

Callaway SC780 CT5-V Blackwing

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About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.

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