2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, CT5-V Blackwing To Receive Magnesium Wheels
The 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing will be available with lightweight forged magnesium wheels when they go on sale next year, General Motors has confirmed.
Cadillac says the optional forged magnesium wheels for the high-performance four-doors “will help reduce the unsprung weight of the vehicle, improving ride and handling, and the overall driving experience.” The automaker did not say how much weight the available forged magnesium wheels will save over the standard aluminum alloy wheels.
There are other advantages to using magnesium wheels versus aluminum alloy wheels beyond weight savings, as well. Magnesium wheels dissipate heat more quickly than aluminum, which can help keep tire temperatures in check when pushing hard on hot track days. This also reduces the amount of heat transfer between the brake rotors and wheels, keeping both cooler and thus improving performance and part longevity. Magnesium also has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of all commonly available metals, enabling Cadillac to deliver a wheel that is extremely rigid yet still very light.
Cadillac did not provide a full photo of the wheels, however GM Authority spy photographers captured prototypes testing with these wheels on public streets earlier this year. The bronze multi-spoke wheels were seen on a CT5-V Blackwing prototype and were wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber. According to the markings on the tire sidewalls, the rear tires measure in at 305/30ZR19, while the fronts are 275/35ZR19.
The magnesium wheels for the 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing were developed using lessons learned from the development of the Cadillac DPi-V.R race car, which also uses magnesium wheels. Many of the world’s top motorsports series use magnesium wheels, as well, including Formula 1, MotoGP and the World Endurance Championship.
Cadillac DPi-V.R with magnesium wheels
It’s not clear how much the magnesium wheel package will add to the base price of a 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing or CT5-V Blackwing. The two hardcore high-performance sedans are expected to debut in the not-too-distant future before going on sale in the summer of 2021.
The CT4-V Blackwing will be powered by GM’s twin-turbocharged 3.6L V6 LF4 engine, which was previously found in the Cadillac ATS-V, where it made 464 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque. The larger, more powerful CT5-V Blackwing, meanwhile, will have a supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 engine, which produces a stout 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque in the 2020 Chevy Camaro ZL1. Both sedans will have a standard Tremec six-speed manual or optional GM 10-speed automatic.
SOURCE: GM AUTHORITY