Amna Al Qubaisi with Cadillac’s new CT5-V Blackwing. Photo: Courtesy of Cadillac Arabia
The streets of the Middle East are all set to be taken over by Cadillac’s new CT5-V Blackwing. Described as its “fastest, most powerful, and most track-capable sedan,” the Blackwing will start arriving at dealerships across the region from this month.
The arrival of the highly anticipated vehicle in the Middle East called for a launch unlike others, especially given its manufacturer’s rich racing heritage. To that end, Cadillac Arabia enlisted Emirati racer Amna Al Qubaisi, to take the Blackwing for a record-setting drive. At Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit, Al Qubaisi drove the car around the track in just 2:20.98 minutes, setting a record time and achieving the official title of “Fastest Production Sedan around the Yas Marina Circuit”. “The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is a beast on the track. Between the balance, power, and transmission, it’s an absolute joy to drive,” the racer said after setting the record. “The driver feedback is second-to-none and the harder you press it, the more it rewards you. It was a pleasure for me to be able to set a new record at YMC with the Blackwing.”
Photo: Courtesy of Cadillac Arabia
At the age of 18, Al Qubaisi made history as the first Middle Eastern woman to take part in a motorsport test program for Formula E after the Diriyah ePrix in Saudi Arabia in 2018. Her ambition is to be participating in Formula 2 by the age of 23, and that’s not the end goal. “Formula 1 is the main goal, but it’s not an easy journey — and I’m determined enough to reach that,” she says. “The CT5-V Blackwing embodies Cadillac’s showcase of innovation, craftsmanship, and track performance,” says Kristian Aquilina, managing director, Cadillac International Operations and Cadillac Middle East. “And then there’s Amna who is refined, elegant and sophisticated. Remarkably talented, with a strong racing pedigree. Just getting behind the wheel of a race car stirs her passion for performance and the instincts of a competitive champion kick in. That is the perfect representation of the Blackwing.”
Photo: Courtesy of Cadillac Arabia
The manufacturer’s racing history can be traced back to 1950 when it entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans race with two Cadillac Series 61 racers, Cadillac introduced a new prototype racer, the Cadillac Northstar LMP, in 2000, complete with a “race-ready” 4.0L Northstar Twin Turbo V8 engine. Cadillac would go on to enter the Pirelli World Challenge GT series with two Cadillac CTS-V.R Coupes and later claiming back-to-back Manufacturer Championships and three consecutive Driver Championships. The manufacturer’s return to endurance motorsport was marked by the introduction of the first-ever Cadillac DPi-V.R prototype racer, which won its debut race at the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Photo: Courtesy of Cadillac Arabia
What makes the Blackwing the most powerful Cadillac ever produced is an upgraded and hand-assembled 6.2L supercharged V8 engine that delivers 668 horsepower and 893 nm torque. Each engine is also hand-built and signed by the master engine builder on the CT5-V Blackwing. It also has a top track speed of more than 320 kph, with performance settings that have been optimized to the maximum. Car enthusiasts in the region must know that the Cadillac V-Series Blackwing vehicles have limited production and are built to order. The special elements of the CT5-V Blackwing include exclusively-developed Michelin® Pilot Sport 4S tires, as well as the largest factory-installed brakes in Cadillac history.
Commenting on Cadillac’s arrival to the region Aquilina stated, “The lucky few who have driven the V-Series Blackwing find it difficult to put words to the experience, yet the word has gotten around. Cadillac’s fastest production vehicles of all time are powerful, thrilling, and give you goosebumps. So we expect them to quickly move from showrooms to race tracks, where they belong.”
CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing models will be available from Cadillac dealers across the Middle East*. For more information, visit Cadillacarabia.com
*V-Series Blackwing models will have limited availability.
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