Cadillac is waiting on two factors before launching an electric Blackwing.
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Cadillac engineers have indeed contemplated an electric Blackwing. Torque is incredibly appealing, but don’t expect to see an EV bearing that name anytime soon. You may find yourself waiting a long time.
During the unveiling of the 2026 Cadillac Lyriq V at a lively dinner event, Alex Doss, the chief development engineer for the Lyriq-V, revealed that there is currently no electric Blackwing. However, it is a possibility for the future. The existing obstacles are technological challenges and market demand.
According to Doss, the primary distinction between a V—of which the Lyriq V is the first electric iteration—and a Blackwing is that the former represents a sporty and well-balanced street vehicle, while the latter is designed to be a formidable daily-driven track beast.
Doss noted that today's battery technology is heavy, which is detrimental to any EV in terms of performance and efficiency. High-performance driving on a track generates significant heat and requires extensive cooling solutions to maintain consistent performance. Rapid driving in an EV leads to substantial heat generation in the battery pack, which is currently a limitation of the existing technology.
Future advancements, like solid-state batteries, may resolve these issues. Doss and his engineering team are not alone in their perspective; in 2022, Honda's CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, and Managing Officer Shinji Aoyama claimed that solid-state batteries would be essential for creating an electric vehicle akin to the Type R.
Solid-state batteries are on the horizon, with both Honda and Nissan developing this technology. It has been suggested that a lightweight, Acura NSX-inspired sports car utilizing solid-state batteries might arrive in 2028.
In addition to the technological aspect, Doss emphasized that the second challenge is consumer demand. Currently, there is insufficient market interest to warrant a business case for an electric Blackwing, he noted.
While Cadillac isn't prepared to launch an electric Blackwing, it hasn't prevented other electric sports cars from entering the market. Hyundai has showcased the potential of electric vehicles with the Ioniq 5 N, described as a real-life racing simulator. This impressive electric hot hatch has earned the title of The Drive's Best EV of 2024. The company’s follow-up model, the sleek Ioniq 6 N, is also notable. The Porsche Taycan stands out as a leading electric sports car, although its sales have been declining.
Doss did not dismiss the idea of an electric Blackwing in the future but made it clear that multiple factors need to evolve before the team feels confident in making that investment.
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Cadillac is waiting on two factors before launching an electric Blackwing.
An electric Cadillac Blackwing is likely a matter of when rather than if, but the timeline will depend on various factors.