2026 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing “Curated by Cadillac” — The Art of Bespoke American Muscle
The 2026 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing “Curated by Cadillac” represents a bold new chapter in the American luxury performance landscape. While the standard CT5-V Blackwing has already earned a cult-like following for blending old-school supercharged V8 muscle with modern precision engineering, this new Curated edition elevates the model into territory typically reserved for Bentley Mulliner, Aston Martin Q, or Rolls-Royce Bespoke. In essence, Cadillac is taking its most powerful sedan—already an icon among enthusiasts—and reimagining it as a hand-built, infinitely customizable work of automotive art. The move signals a clear intent: Cadillac wants to be seen not just as a performance brand, but as a genuine contender in the ultra-luxury space. This is not simply a car you order from a dealer’s options list. It is an experience, a collaboration between you and Cadillac’s master artisans, where every detail—paint shade, stitch color, trim finish—is crafted to your vision. The result is a car that combines the raw, unapologetic power of a 668-horsepower, supercharged V8 with the refinement and individuality of a six-figure European grand tourer, all while carrying the unmistakable swagger of an American performance sedan.
The “Curated by Cadillac” Program Explained
At the heart of this project is the Curated by Cadillac program, a luxury personalization initiative that until now had been reserved for the $340,000-plus, all-electric Cadillac Celestiq. With the Celestiq, buyers could commission one-off creations down to the smallest detail, and now that same philosophy has trickled down to the CT5-V Blackwing—but without losing its mechanical soul. Customers who secure a Curated slot are invited into an exclusive design journey, guided by a personal concierge with a genuine background in fields like industrial design, fine arts, or fashion. This is not a salesman upselling leather packages; this is a design consultant ensuring that your vision becomes reality without crossing into tasteless excess. The choices are staggering: over 160 exterior paint colors, including rich gloss finishes and exotic matte “frost” treatments, all applied by hand at Cadillac’s Artisan Center in Warren, Michigan. Inside, the palette is even broader, with millions of possible color and material combinations. Whether you want a cabin inspired by an art deco lounge or a minimalist, track-ready environment, the tools exist to make it happen. The only limits are your imagination—and perhaps your budget.
Built Alongside Cadillac’s Most Exclusive Model
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Curated Blackwing is its birthplace. Every unit will be hand-built at the same Artisan Center where the Celestiq is assembled. This is a dedicated facility within General Motors’ Global Technical Center, operating more like an atelier than a traditional production line. Each car is touched by craftspeople who specialize in meticulous detailing, from precision paint layering to hand-finished stitching. However, unlike the Celestiq, which is an electric luxury hatchback, the Blackwing retains its role as a super sedan—one built for speed and handling as much as for visual impact. This shared production space creates a rare crossover between Cadillac’s electric future and its gasoline-powered present. The philosophy is the same: no two Curated Blackwings will be alike. Even in a limited run, owners can expect absolute exclusivity. Cadillac plans to produce only about 50 examples for the U.S. and Canada combined in 2026, making this one of the rarest modern American performance cars. The low volume not only guarantees individuality but also hints at future collectability, as hand-built American sedans with this level of personalization are virtually unheard of.
Powertrain: A Heart That Needs No Tuning
While the Curated program focuses on aesthetics, the 2026 CT5-V Blackwing’s mechanical package remains untouched—and that’s a deliberate choice. Beneath the sculpted hood lies the same 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that enthusiasts already revere, producing a thundering 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft of torque. It’s an engine with character, delivering relentless acceleration, a deep exhaust note, and the sort of immediacy that no turbocharged or electric setup can replicate. Power is sent exclusively to the rear wheels, ensuring a pure, driver-focused experience. Buyers can choose between a six-speed manual for ultimate engagement or a 10-speed automatic for rapid-fire shifts. This mechanical continuity is part of the appeal: it means the Curated Blackwing doesn’t just look unique, it drives with the same visceral energy that has made the regular Blackwing the benchmark for performance sedans. There is no “performance compromise” in the name of luxury—Cadillac recognizes that the heart of this car is its ability to combine bespoke luxury with unapologetic, tire-roasting muscle. This is not a softer, diluted variant; it’s the same weapon, dressed in a suit tailored just for you.
The Paint: Art in Motion
If there’s one area where the Curated Blackwing truly differentiates itself, it’s in the paintwork. The 160+ available colors go far beyond standard automotive palettes. Cadillac’s Artisan Center allows for deep, multi-stage gloss finishes that shimmer under sunlight, as well as matte “frost” treatments that give the car an aggressive, modern edge. Metallic flake, pearlescent layering, and even bespoke pigments can be commissioned. Unlike mass-produced paint jobs applied by robotic arms, these colors are sprayed by hand, with artisans carefully controlling the depth, layering, and finish. The process is slower and more expensive, but it allows for visual richness and individuality impossible to achieve on a high-volume production line. For the owner, this means that even if another Curated Blackwing leaves the factory in a similar hue, the precise application and finish will make each one subtly different. Cadillac is positioning this paintwork as an art form—one where motion, light, and color merge to make the car as captivating at a standstill as it is in motion.
Interior: A Million Possibilities
Step inside a Curated Blackwing, and you’re met with a level of personalization more commonly associated with bespoke British luxury brands. Cadillac claims there are millions of possible combinations of colors, materials, and trims. That’s not marketing hyperbole—it’s the result of allowing customers to mix multiple leather hues, stitching colors, seat piping, inlays, and more. High-grade leather, suede microfiber, carbon fiber, open-pore wood, and even metal finishes are on the menu. Each cabin is crafted to order, meaning you could have a Blackwing with a rich burgundy-and-tan grand-touring aesthetic or a monochrome black, Alcantara-lined cockpit built for a track-focused vibe. The concierge’s role is critical here: they can help balance bold choices so that the final product feels cohesive and timeless. This is where the artistry of the Curated program shines—anyone can pick options, but it takes a practiced eye to ensure a personalized car also has aesthetic harmony. For many buyers, this interior experience will be where their vision truly comes alive, as it’s the space they’ll inhabit every time they drive.
Exclusivity and Pricing Strategy
The $158,000 starting price of the Curated CT5-V Blackwing is a significant leap over the roughly $101,820 base price of the standard model. But as Cadillac is quick to point out, this figure is only a starting point—final pricing is set by the dealer, and with bespoke colors, special interior materials, and exclusive trim options, it’s easy to imagine some examples approaching or even surpassing $200,000. While this might seem ambitious for a Cadillac sedan, the pricing aligns with the brand’s intent to compete in the bespoke luxury segment. The limited production run—only about 50 units for North America—means demand will likely outstrip supply, and the exclusivity factor will help justify the premium. For collectors, the combination of rarity, hand-built craftsmanship, and the fact that this could be one of the last high-performance V8 sedans from Cadillac may make it a highly desirable future classic. The Curated Blackwing is as much about owning a piece of Cadillac history as it is about enjoying a unique, personalized car today.
Cadillac’s Position in the Bespoke Luxury Market
For decades, bespoke automotive luxury has been dominated by European brands. Rolls-Royce has its Bespoke Collective, Bentley offers Mulliner customization, Aston Martin has Q, and even Ferrari operates a Tailor Made division. With the Curated program, Cadillac is stepping into this rarefied arena, but with an American twist: combining performance muscle with high-art customization. This move is strategic—while Cadillac has historically been seen as a luxury brand, it has spent much of the last two decades rebuilding its identity in the performance space. The CT5-V Blackwing was a turning point, earning praise from journalists and enthusiasts for outperforming European rivals. Now, with the Curated edition, Cadillac is saying it can offer the same personalization experience as those European brands—without abandoning the raw character that sets it apart. If successful, this program could pave the way for other bespoke Cadillac models, blending craftsmanship and individuality with American design bravado.
The Driving Experience Remains Pure
All the bespoke paintwork and hand-stitched leather in the world wouldn’t mean much if the driving experience fell short, but the Curated Blackwing is mechanically identical to the standard CT5-V Blackwing—which is to say, it’s one of the finest sports sedans on the planet. The 6.2-liter supercharged V8 delivers relentless acceleration, and with rear-wheel drive, it offers a purity of handling rarely found in modern sedans. Magnetic Ride Control suspension ensures it’s both agile on a twisty road and composed on a highway cruise. The manual gearbox remains one of the best in the segment, and even the automatic offers sharp, decisive shifts. This combination of mechanical excellence and bespoke artistry creates a car that is as thrilling to drive as it is to own. You’re not just commissioning a showpiece for your garage—you’re building a machine designed to be enjoyed on the open road.
