Tag Archives: Cadillac

News

2026 CT5-V Blackwing: The Fastest Way to Spend $158k on Paint and Leather

Cadillac has just announced something rather dangerous for your bank account: Curated by Cadillac, an exclusive new program that lets you spec your 2026 CT5-V Blackwing like it’s a hand-made Italian suit. And yes, they mean exclusive — limited numbers, all hand-built, and all offering more colors than a Skittles factory explosion.

Here’s the pitch: you get the same ferocious CT5-V Blackwing underneath — a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that roars out 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft of torque, with your choice of a 6-speed manual (proper) or a 10-speed automatic (for the people who use “Gran Turismo” as a verb). This means it’ll still scare you in a straight line, shred your tires into molecular dust, and make your neighbors reconsider their property values.

But the real news here is that Cadillac wants to turn your Blackwing into a rolling piece of bespoke art. There’s an expanded color palette of more than 160 shades, including high-gloss, frost, and finishes so refined they’re hand-painted by actual humans. Yes, real people. Not robots. This is essentially the automotive equivalent of a Michelin-starred chef personally seasoning your fries.

Inside, the level of customization borders on lunacy: millions of possible combinations of colors, materials, and finishes. You could spend days pairing navy leather with copper stitching, carbon trim, and Alcantara headliners — and still have room to argue about it with your concierge, who, by the way, has a background in things like fashion, fine arts, and luxury home design.

Cadillac calls this an “elevated client experience.” Translation: you’re going to have someone who’s dressed better than you helping design a car you can barely believe you own. It’s a bit of CELESTIQ magic — Cadillac’s six-figure hand-built halo sedan — trickled down into the Blackwing.

All of this opulence is assembled at Cadillac’s Artisan Center in Warren, Michigan, where the cars are hand-built by people with an eye for microscopic imperfections and probably more patience than a Buddhist monk.

The cost of all this bespoke glory? A cool $158,000 to start (before you add the kind of paint job that probably makes insurance companies cry). Production starts mid-2026, and they’ll only be sold in the U.S. and Canada.

So, what you’ve got here is a 668-horsepower missile that’s been dressed in Savile Row tailoring and sent to charm the world. It’s loud, it’s luxurious, and it’s likely to be the most personal Cadillac you’ll ever see — unless you’re Jay Leno.

Source: Cadillac

News

GM Faces Legal Heat Over Faulty L87 V8 Engines

General Motors is facing growing scrutiny as a series of lawsuits and owner complaints converge around its L87 6.2-liter V8 engine—an optional powerhouse found in many of the automaker’s top-selling full-size trucks and SUVs. Alleged defects in the engine’s internal components are fueling frustration among owners, and the backlash is intensifying despite a broad recall earlier this year.

The latest class action lawsuit, filed in a Pennsylvania federal court, accuses GM of failing to adequately address a critical flaw in the L87 engine. Specifically, the suit alleges that a defect in the connecting rod or crankshaft can result in premature bearing failure—an issue that can lead to catastrophic engine damage, including full engine seizure or a rod breaching the engine block.

Affected vehicles span a wide array of GM’s premium and volume-selling models from the 2021 to 2024 model years, including the Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, as well as the GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL.

A Recall That Raises More Questions Than It Answers

In January 2025, GM issued a recall affecting over 597,000 vehicles equipped with the L87 engine. The remedy varied by vehicle: while some were slated for full engine replacement, others were only given an oil change—switching to 0W-40 oil, a new oil filter, and an updated oil cap.

However, this fix has not quelled public or legal concern. Plaintiffs in the latest lawsuit, along with those in at least two other ongoing legal challenges, argue that the recall doesn’t go far enough. They claim the campaign offers an “inadequate and incomplete” remedy, failing to permanently resolve what they see as a serious safety and reliability issue.

Real-World Fallout

Among the plaintiffs is Farrah Forrest, who alleges her 2022 Cadillac Escalade experienced a major engine failure in late 2024. Although her vehicle’s engine was replaced under warranty, she reports that the repair process took three weeks—during which she was not provided with a loaner vehicle.

Interestingly, the two other named plaintiffs in the case, Mezanur Rahaman and Gerald Reed, haven’t experienced failures themselves but say they’ve lost confidence in the reliability of their vehicles and criticize GM’s response as lacking transparency and urgency.

A History of Complaints

While the lawsuit is new, GM has been aware of the issue for some time. An internal investigation reportedly unearthed more than 28,000 customer complaints or related incidents in the U.S. tied to the L87 engine. Despite this, the automaker closed the investigation in February 2022, and sales of vehicles equipped with the engine continued without interruption.

Moreover, L87 owners have reported a host of related performance issues, including abnormal shifting, reduced power, and hesitation during acceleration, suggesting that the defect may be symptomatic of broader drivetrain instability.

What’s Next for GM—and Its Customers?

GM has yet to publicly comment on the most recent legal action, but the growing list of lawsuits underscores a potential reputational risk for the brand, especially among buyers who prioritize reliability in the high-end SUV and truck market.

If courts find in favor of plaintiffs, GM may be forced to revise its recall strategy or provide broader compensation. Meanwhile, owners are left in a state of uncertainty—some waiting for failure, others wondering whether their engine is a ticking time bomb.

For GM, a brand that has heavily leaned into premium truck and SUV offerings in recent years, the stakes are high. The L87 engine was meant to symbolize performance and durability. Instead, it’s become the focal point of a legal and technical headache that shows no signs of going away.

Source: GM

News

Cadillac to Launch in UK as GM Expands European EV Line-Up

General Motors is gearing up for a major return to the UK market, with Cadillac set to spearhead a broader push into Europe. The move marks a pivotal step in the company’s electric vehicle strategy, with a multi-model launch planned and more brands to follow.

Speaking exclusively to Autocar at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, GM Europe CEO Pere Brugal confirmed that right-hand-drive versions of the all-electric Cadillac Lyriq are in final testing stages in Ireland. The Lyriq, priced from €79,000 (£68,000), has so far been limited to a handful of continental markets including Germany, France, Sweden and Switzerland. Now, the UK is next in line.

“We have a plan for these to come,” Brugal said. “It is one of the markets we’re focusing on right now. It’s coming close.”

But Cadillac won’t arrive alone. GM aims to launch with a two-model portfolio, signalling a more serious commitment than a one-off release. While Brugal stopped short of naming the second vehicle, the upcoming Optiq—another premium electric SUV—appears to be the most likely candidate. Due for global release in early 2026, the Optiq’s timing would align well with a UK rollout.

Beyond the Lyriq and Optiq, GM has broader ambitions. Brugal hinted at the potential arrival of Chevrolet models such as the Blazer EV and Equinox EV, depending on regulatory harmonisation between the US and Europe. Emission standards and safety regulations currently pose hurdles for certain American models entering the European market.

“If the regulations between the US and Europe harmonise, it will make our life easier,” Brugal said. “That will increase the range of options for customers.”

Looking further ahead, Brugal did not rule out the possibility of a Europe-specific GM model. With GM already tailoring cars for regional needs in South America and Asia, the logic could soon extend to European buyers.

“In the future, can it be that we create a car just for Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan or Korea? Maybe it can be,” he said.

GM’s new European division, based in Zurich, was established in 2021 as a clean-slate operation to focus exclusively on electric mobility. While progress has been measured—Cadillac’s current offering is still limited—the strategy is gaining momentum, especially in the UK.

Notably, GM is opting for a split retail strategy. Corvette, already available in the UK in Stingray, E-Ray and ZR1 variants, will continue to be sold through traditional dealers such as Arnold Clark. But Cadillac will take a different route, relying on an agency-based, direct-to-consumer (D2C) model in major markets.

“We don’t envisage a future where we’re going to be mixing Cadillac with Corvette,” Brugal explained. “Corvette has its own DNA, and it’s going to be staying as a standalone brand.”

Cadillac’s European presence will be bolstered by pop-up “experience stores” and an online-first retail approach designed to immerse buyers in the brand and its electric identity. Smaller markets like Ireland and Norway will follow a traditional distribution model, while larger territories—including the UK—will lead with D2C.

“Our D2C is focused on creating impact and explaining who we are as a brand,” Brugal said. “It’s about making sure that people understand Cadillac and explore the car.”

With right-hand-drive Lyriqs nearly ready and more models in the pipeline, GM’s long-anticipated European return is finally accelerating. For UK buyers, that means the wait for a truly American luxury EV alternative is almost over.

Source: Autocar