Cadillac: Other GM Brands Can't Use Blackwing Engine

[Boomer]

Here is an article that indicates rather emphatically that the Blackwing will not make it to the C8. It starts with the comment "Sorry Corvette".

"The CT6-V uses a 4.2-liter twin-turbo V8 engine which is also shared with the CT6 Platinum but this motor will remain exclusive to the Cadillac brand.

When asked whether the marque is open to sharing the so-called Blackwing engine with other automakers under the General Motors’ umbrella, Cadillac’s President Steve Carlisle was pretty direct. "Over my dead body," he told MotorTrend in a recent interview. That’s what we call a solid statement."

https://www.motor1.com/news/313842/c...and-exclusive/

[meyerweb]

Two thoughts: One, Steve Carlisle won't make the decision, GM will. And if GM decides it makes sense to use the Blackwing motor in a Corvette, or Camaro, or a pickup truck, Steve will basically have two choices: go along, or resign.

Two, take the same basic engine, put the exhaust and turbos on the outside (instead of a hot-vee), flip the heads around, and voila, it's no longer a Blackwing. It's an LT9, or whatever GM wants to call it.

[Milliwatt Rob]

With the frequency of top management changes at Cadillac, is he saying the engine cannot be shared, or is he saying he soon expects to be replaced?

[Boomer]

Good points meyerweb. I wonder if this will at least delay the C8's use of the Blackwing beyond what we have been speculating.

Also I recall a while back when GM announced the plant closings, Mary Barra made some sort of comment regarding the increased cross partnerships among the various GM brands being a priority. The Blackwing in the C8 would be a great example of that.

[Milliwatt Rob]

It ain't gonna happen, until it happens. All part of the GM conspiracy to disclose no advance information on the C8

[Boomer]

With the frequency of top management changes at Cadillac, is he saying the engine cannot be shared, or is he saying he soon expects to be replaced?

Or worse. Could be a "dead body" involved.

[Frenzy36]

Here is an article from Feb 25 2019 - Chris Perkins

Last year, GM announced a massive restructuring, with five North American plants to close, including the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly where the Cadillac CT6 is built among other cars. This raised some eyebrows at Road & Track because just this past spring, Cadillac announced two versions of the CT6 (including a CT6-V) that would be powered by a brand-new twin-turbo V8. But with Detroit-Hamtramck scheduled to close in early 2020, the CT6 is officially dead in North America.

This article, originally published November 26th, 2018, originally stated the Detroit-Hamtramck plant would close in mid-2019. GM Has since announced it will delay the plant's closing until January of 2020.

We wondered if we'd ever see V8-powered CT6s in production, given this news. A Cadillac spokesperson told us that both the standard V8 CT6 and CT6-V will be built until the plant closes next year, then no more. That means the V8 CT6 will almost certainly be a very rare machine.

The V8-powered CT6 should be an interesting car because it marries a world-class chassis, with a promising new engine. Called "Blackwing," the motor is a 4.2-liter twin-turbo V8 making 500 hp and 553 lb-ft in base form, and 550 hp and 627-hp in the CT6-V. Serious numbers. It's no modified small block either—this is a thoroughly modern, dual-overhead cam mill with its two turbos nestled in the V for better throttle response. The Blackwing is set to be hand built at GM's Bowling Green, Kentucky plant. A Cadillac spokesperson told us the engine will stay in production after the CT6 is finished. We're not sure what car(s) the Blackwing would make its way in to, but the engine was supposed to be a Cadillac-exclusive.

Cadillac will still make the CT6, but only in China for the Chinese market. If you want a CT6 and you live in North America, you'll likely have until the end of this year to pick one up, at which point Cadillac estimates supply will run out.

We suspect V8-powered CT6s will be future collectibles—it's hard to imagine many will be built in its single-model-year run. Maybe these things will command big money at Barrett-Jackson in 2058.

[John]

I have come to believe that the Blackwing itself will not be used in the Corvette, but not sure that Mr. Carlisle would not wish he had not added his ending comments. All GM would need to do is to change one part on the Blackwing, such as the engine cover, give the motor a new part number and a different name, and Mr. Carlisle would be correct, that the Blackwing is exclusive to the Cadillac line.

My belief is that most of the Blackwing’s design, in one form or another, would be used in a future C8, most probably the Z06. Maybe 5.5L instead of 4.2L, maybe not of a “hot vee” design, but lots of carryover — for one thing GM does very well is to share components among its different brands.

[Frenzy36]

Also I heard there were only 500 made however only 275 were supposedly and you can not order one or buy one anywhere in the country. I tried hard.

[Boomer]

Also there were only 500 made and you can not order one or buy one anywhere in the country. I tried hard.

Think their gonna do some more. 2019 Cadillac CT6-V Gets $4,000 Price Hike For Second Run | GM ..

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2019/03/...or-second-run/

[Shadow]

Potato, po-tat-o. Major parts of the Blackwing will get into the Z06 version of the C8.

[meyerweb]

Good points meyerweb. I wonder if this will at least delay the C8's use of the Blackwing beyond what we have been speculating.

Also I recall a while back when GM announced the plant closings, Mary Barra made some sort of comment regarding the increased cross partnerships among the various GM brands being a priority. The Blackwing in the C8 would be a great example of that.

Right. The cost of developing an all new powerplant is so high it just doesn't make financial sense to limit that engine to only one brand, with only a few models.

[JB]

Dont they build the twin turbo blackwing in bowling green?

[Boomer]

Dont they build the twin turbo blackwing in bowling green?

Think so....

[John]

They do, within the greatly expanded Performance Build Center. They brought on six skilled engine builders to exclusively build the Blackwing.