The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing needs no introduction. It’s one of the great V8-powered sports sedans on sale today, combining neck-snapping speed with superb handling. It also represents the last of the great old-school sports sedans to combine rear-wheel drive, a V8, and a manual gearbox. For fans of the hot Caddy, a new Deep Ocean Package has been introduced in limited numbers. Although it doesn’t add more power, it gives the sedan an even more alluring look and feel, but it all comes at an eye-watering price.
A Menacing Look For Cadillac’s Best Sedan
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The Deep Ocean Package costs an incredible $26,995, according to GM Authority, which is more than you’ll pay for a new Chevrolet Trailblazer crossover. Although official images of the package haven’t been released yet, it does sound like a rather enticing upgrade for the sedan. Besides Deep Ocean paint, it gets the following upgrades:
- Black mirror caps
- Gloss Black Cadillac and model nameplates
- Black lug nuts
- 19-inch forged alloys in Satin Graphite
- Carbon Fiber 1 and Carbon Fiber 2 packages
- High-performance semi-aniline leather seats with carbon fiber backs
- Santorini Blue seat belts
- Blue-painted brake calipers
Production of Blackwings with the package will only begin in March, so it doesn’t currently show up on Cadillac’s configurator. The Carbon Fiber packs mentioned above are currently available separately, though. The first one costs $5,750, adding carbon fiber items like a front splitter and rear extra aero spoiler. The second Carbon Fiber pack includes a grille header, rocker moldings, a rear valance diffuser, and more—all finished in the lightweight material.
The cheapest CT5-V Blackwing already costs $98,900, so the Deep Ocean Package increases its price to $125,895. That’s more than BMW charges for a new M5, which starts at $123,300. The BMW’s plug-in hybrid powertrain is more powerful (717 horsepower to the Blackwing’s 668 hp), but it’s also far heavier and doesn’t come with a manual.
Only 200 units of the Deep Ocean Package are available, so we expect these to be snapped up quickly when they’re officially available for sale.
Related: Inside the Factory Where Cadillac Builds the Last Manual V8 Sport Sedan
Cadillac Pushes Deeper Into Luxury Territory
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The $26,995 package is the kind of attention-grabbing option we’re more accustomed to seeing from Porsche, where money is often no object. But it’s just another example of Cadillac pushing deeper into ultra-luxury, exotic territory with the models and experiences available to its clientele.
As an example of this, the brand introduced the Curated by Cadillac personalization program for the CT5-V Blackwing last year, offering a level of bespoke customization typically reserved for the likes of Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Speaking of those brands, Cadillac already has an ultra-luxury model to challenge them in the form of the majestic Celestiq—and it has a price tag to match.
Cadillac has also electrified its largest SUV, the Escalade, with the Escalade IQ and IQL. The latter costs well over $150,000 when fully specified.
The American brand is clearly on a mission to challenge the industry’s best and recapture the magic of its heyday.
