Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series: 685 hp, a manual gearbox, and just 26 cars
Cadillac has unveiled the CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series at the 2026 Miami Grand Prix — 26 cars, each packing 685 horsepower and a six-speed manual gearbox, built to celebrate the brand's debut on the Formula 1 grid. The number 26 is intentional: one car for every year of 2026, the season Cadillac officially joins the championship. At around $260,000, this is the most expensive and most powerful Blackwing ever made, and it goes on sale in the US and Canada only.
The powertrain
The engine is a revised 6.2-liter supercharged V8, tuned to 685 hp and 673 lb-ft (912 Nm) of torque — figures that make it the most powerful internal-combustion Cadillac in production history. The only transmission offered is a six-speed manual, which puts this car in rare company: no other American V8 sedan on sale in 2026 comes with a third pedal. All 26 units come standard with the Precision Package, which includes carbon-ceramic brakes, a track-tuned suspension, and reinforced chassis components.
The look
The exterior finish is Midnight Stone Frost, a matte black that Cadillac pairs with Carbon Flash wheels and Harbour Grey brake calipers. A glossy carbon fiber skirt runs along the lower body with a thin silver stripe, and an integrated carbon spoiler sits at the trunk. Inside, F1 and FIA badges appear across body panels, headrest embroidery, and — most visibly — laser-etched onto the supercharger cover. A 3D-printed medallion tops the manual gear lever, a detail that reads as a deliberate nod to manufacturing craft in an otherwise analog machine.
The announcement landed at the Autosport Business Exchange in Miami on May 1, timed to Cadillac F1 Team's first home race on US soil. The team — with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez driving — is just four race weekends into its debut 2026 season. Cadillac official launch confirms production begins mid-2026.
Who can buy one
Distribution is strictly US and Canada. The standard CT5-V Blackwing starts at $98,900, so the Collector Series carries a substantial premium — though Cadillac hasn't published an official MSRP, and the $260,000 figure circulating online hasn't been independently confirmed. If you want one, expect to go through a dealership allocation process. All 26 will almost certainly be spoken for quickly, per Motorsport.com coverage of the Miami reveal.
In a market moving rapidly toward electric performance, Cadillac's decision to build a limited manual V8 sedan as its F1 calling card is a deliberate statement — aimed squarely at collectors who'd rather row their own gears than plug in.