Hennessey have unleashed their new 1,000 hp Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, taking the luxury sports sedan to heights none of us thought were possible.

Hennessey is no stranger to the world of high-performance vehicles. The American tuning company takes some already hugely potent machines and takes them to whole new heights. The latest to receive the Hennessey treatment is the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. The Blackwing is already Cadillac’s most powerful production car, and it’s now pushing 1,000 hp thanks to the various changes that Hennessey has made to it.

As far as Hennessy modifications go, the list isn’t extensive. But when you already have plenty of power, to begin with, there really is only so much you can do! But the Hennessey H1000 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing takes an already extreme luxury sports sedan and turns it into something totally out of this world.

Various Engine Modifications Push The CT5-B Blackwing To 1,000 HP

Hennessey H1000 CT5-V Blackwing Rear Viewvia Hennessey
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Hennessey H1000 Upgrades List:
1,000 bhp at 6,500 rpm (986hp)
966 lb-ft torque at 4,500 rpm
High-Flow Supercharger Upgrade
High-Flow Air Induction System
Custom HPE Camshaft
Ported Cylinder Heads
Auxiliary Fuel System Upgrade
Upgraded Valve Springs and Retainers
Upgraded Intake Valves and Exhaust Valves
Upgraded Lifters and Push Rods
Oversized Heat Exchanger Upgrade
Long-Tube Stainless Steel Headers
High-Flow Catalytic Converters
All Necessary Gaskets and Fluids
HPE Engine Management Calibration
Chᴀssis Dyno Tuning
Hennessey describes the CT5-V Blackwing as “the hero of luxury sport sedans” and it is hard to argue with that. The CT5-V Blackwing already has a supercharged 6.2-liter small-block LT4 engine under the hood, and Cadillac offer it with a six-speed manual and 10-speed automatic. Hennessey has worked hard on the engine, with multiple upgrades to the LT4. The engine now receives ported cylinder heads, enhanced intake and exhaust valves plus improved lifts and pushrods. The heat exchangers are now oversized, and there are long-tube stainless steel headers too. Next up, Hennessey fit the small block with a high-flow supercharger. This replaces the factory supercharger.

Hennessey’s engineers then upload their Engine Management Calibration (HEMC) to the car. This provides the Hennessey H1000 CT5-V Blackwing with its 1,000 bhp power output which equates to 986 hp, and its 966 lb-ft of torque. Figures that have been proven on the dyno according to the tuning company. The power on show here is immense, and it helps to shave off a full second from the 0-60 mph time. It comes down from 3.5 seconds, to 2.5 seconds. The top speed is well above 200 mph, although Hennessey doesn’t say how much more than the factory 205 mph top speed.

What we do know is that the H1000 will hit the 1/4 mile in 10.1 seconds. Impressive performance figures from a vehicle that, at its core, is a luxury sedan. But a luxury sedan with incredible V8 power and some of the finest sounds a vehicle can ever produce. Hennessey that the power output from their CT5-V Blackwing crushes its opponents from other manufacturers such as Audi, Bentley and BMW. It is hard to argue with that, plus we get the added bonus of its 2-year/24,000-mile warranty as well.

Hennessey Have Retained The Luxury Of The CT5-V Blackwing

While the headline figures are the power that the sedan produces, the CT5-V from Hennessey still retains the luxury you would expect. Inside the sedan, you have a luxurious and flashy cabin and shares the same basic layout as the standard CT5. But Cadillac has made it much more flashy in the Blackwing. Including the addition of very tasteful leather upholstery, heated seats plus ventilated front seats. 1-way power adjustments are another key feature, as are the optional high-performance sports seats. These come with leather and microfiber and are equipped with matching door panel inserts.

One of the most impressive features isn’t related to the Cadillacs luxury, but it is still impressive. Five carry-on cases can fit in the trunk, making this 1,000 hp leviathan a practical family car. Perfect for holidays and weekends away. For infotainment purposes, we get a 10-inch touchscreen display plus CUE infotainment. We also get the now common feature of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A more luxurious and high-tech feature is the addition of a 4G LTE Wi-Fi H๏τspot, and wireless smartphone charging. Climate control is naturally a standard feature, as is the 15-speaker AKG system. An upgrade over the Bose system of the standard CT5.

The Blackwing also has a 12-inch digital gauge display that grabs you. It offers a crystal clear display for the driver, and a neat little V-series startup animation and heads-up display add to the luxury feel of the CT5-V Blackwing. The Blackwing costs a pretty penny, with the Blackwing starting out at a staggering $93,495. For those after the Hennessey changes, they haven’t released pricing yet but that will be on top of whatever you paid for your car in the first place.

Cadillac’s CT5-V Blackwing Is Its Most Powerful Production Car

A key selling point for the CT5-V Blackwing is the power. The fact that this is the most powerful production car that Cadillac has ever produced. It is all thanks to that 6.2-liter V8 engine, and the nearly 700 hp that it produces. Handling that via a six-speed manual transmission is an absolute pleasure for gearheads. For those not so keen on that, the 10-speed automatic allows drivers to relax a bit more while still feeling the huge levels of power that the luxury sedan has to offer.

Something else that the Blackwing has to offer is some impressive styling. The sedan has an aggressive yet somehow sleek exterior, with sharp edges but smooth lines down the side. The blacked out grille adds to the aggression of the sedan while the rear lip spoiler on the trunk lid adds to the aggression of the model. Hennessey doesn’t mention any exterior or interior enhancements and changes to the Blackwing with their H1000. But that isn’t a bad thing, as what the Cadillac comes with as standard is already good enough. The reason we buy a Hennessey is for the crazy levels of power they offer.

Hennessey seems to be churning out some incredible releases at the moment. The H1000 family recently saw the addition of the Dodge SRT Durango Hellcat. Now dubbed the Hellrango by Hennessey and offering 1,000 hp and a wild 969 lb-ft of torque. Upgrades here include high-flow fuel injectors and a filtration system, a heavy-duty supercharger belt plus an upgraded high-flow supercharger. If 1,000 hp from a Durango isn’t what you want, then maybe the 1,000 hp from a Ford Mustang GT500 Shelby is what you really want.

This is one of the best upgrades by Hennessey. With the supercharged 5.2-liter cross-plane crank V8 again chucking out a huge horsepower number, yet offering precise control and handling behind the wheel. Their recent releases have shown how good the American tuners are. And the CT5-V Blackwing takes it to new heights. Here we have one of the most powerful GM products of all time, turned up to 11. We didn’t need that much power from the CT5-V Blackwing. But we don’t think anyone will complain about having that much power!