Back in February 1927, Major Henry Segrave made automotive history on the sands of Daytona Beach, Florida. His massive red Sunbeam, powered by twin 22.5-liter V12 aircraft engines, became the first car to break the 200 mph barrier with a record-setting 203.79 mph run. An astounding 30,000 spectators witnessed this groundbreaking moment.
Production cars took decades to reach similar speeds, but when Poreches, Jaguars, and Ferraris finally cracked 200 mph in the 1980s and ’90s, they dominated headlines worldwide. Even today, with open-top Bugatti Mistrals hitting 282 mph, there’s something almost mystical about that 200 mph threshold. It separates true supercars from everything else – 198 or 199 mph simply doesn’t carry the same weight.
Traditionally, joining the 200 mph club required deep pockets and exotic machinery. But what if that’s no longer the case? While $100,000 doesn’t stretch far in today’s performance car market, one surprising new vehicle breaks this rule entirely. This 200 mph machine costs under six figures and probably isn’t what you’d expect – it offers family-friendly space, generous trunk room, and daily-driving practicality. Your grandfather might have even owned a car from this same manufacturer.
There is no denying that the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is an aggressive sports saloon, but you are unlikely to drop the shopping bags and mouth ‘OMG’ as one comes past you on the high street. That’s pretty much how Cadillac wants the car to be – purposeful but not so wild that it scares off the Caddy faithful. The fact that this sinister sleeper is the fastest car under $100,000 may come as a surprise then.
Even more of a surprise is the fact that it even exists. This is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive saloon, with a 6.2-liter supercharged and intercooled V8, in an era of electrification and hybridization throughout the super saloon segment. Oh, did we also mention that the CT5-V Blackwing also has the option of a 6-speed manual as well as a 10-speed auto? You even get a hand-polished, 3D-printed medallion atop the gear shifter, too.
The CT5-V Blackwing was updated for 2025 and carries over for the 2026 model year, with a redesigned front end with a reshaped and wider grille. The Cadillac has 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft of torque, but the headline figure is a top speed of 205 mph. As you would imagine, acceleration is fairly nippy too. The Blackwing hits 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and will reach 100 mph in 7.3 seconds. The quarter mile is dispatched in 11.4 seconds at 128 mph. Inside the CT5-V Blackwing, it is a mix of luxury and high-performance detailing. All this for a starting price of $95,595.
Under the hood sits a hand-assembled 6.2-liter V8 engine, complete with a signed plaque from its builder displayed proudly on the engine cover. This powerhouse comes equipped with specialized performance features, including custom launch control with line lock and a limited-slip differential to harness all that raw power effectively.
The Blackwing rides on 19-inch forged aluminum wheels, managed by Cadillac’s latest Magnetic Ride Control system. This advanced suspension technology reads road conditions up to 1,000 times per second, making constant damping adjustments to optimize both ride comfort and handling performance. Cadillac claims it’s the fastest-reacting suspension system in the world.
The CT5-V Blackwing has Brembo high-performance brakes front and rear, plus the option of speccing carbon-ceramic brakes with cross-drilled rotors. The Blackwing, which was tested at the Nürburgring, is packed full of functioning aero features, including 11 different heating and cooling exchanges to help feed its hard-working engine.
GM engineers and designers have also created an in-vehicle Performance Data Recorder, which includes a Lap Analyzer tool and a Speed Tips tool, which automatically highlights the most significant lap time improvement opportunities, including side-by-side video playback. Customers can also choose the Precision Package, which includes increased spring rates, a larger front stabilizer bar, and revised suspension bushings. Not convinced that the Blackwing is the ultimate high-speed exec chariot? It also happens to be Mark Zuckerberg’s daily driver.
For those of us who think 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft is not nearly enough in a five-seat mid-sized sedan, then help is at hand. Tuner Hennessey is happy to take your CT5-V Blackwing, rebuild the engine, and fit it with a larger, high-flow supercharger and upgraded calibration. This H1000 upgrade also includes ported cylinder heads, long-tube stainless steel headers, custom HPE Camshaft, enhanced intake and exhaust valves, oversized heat exchangers, and improved lifters and pushrods.
Engine
6.2-liter supercharged V8
Power
1,000 hp
Torque
966 lb-ft
0 – 60 mph
2.5 seconds
The result of all this is a dyno-proven EXORCIST model with 1,000 horsepower and 966 lb-ft of torque. Hennessey says the Cadillac sedan will now reach 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and has a top speed of ‘well above 200 mph’. The only catch is, these upgrades will take you well over $100,000. That and the fact that fuel economy can drop to as low as 6mpg.
Getting into the 200 mph club is even cheaper if you consider a used CT5-V Blackwing. The Blackwing has been around since 2022, so there are some used bargains out there already. The KBB Fair Purchase Price for a 2022 CT5-V Blackwing is $73,028, whereas a 2023 model will cost $83,406, and finally, a 2024 model costs $91,464. We found a 2024 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, with a 6-speed manual gearbox and just 2,400 miles on the clock, which sold for $89,500. Not a lot of money for a heck of a lot of performance.
Sources: Bringatrailer.com; Cadillac.com.
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This car could easily turn my head away from BMW — the CT5-V Blackwing feels raw, unapologetic, and thrilling in a way BMW hasn’t in years. For under $100k, you’re getting a hand-built supercharged V8 with a manual gearbox, 200+ mph capability, and track-honed engineering — wrapped in a sleeper sedan body. BMW makes incredible machines, but lately they’ve leaned more toward refinement and digital polish, while Cadillac here just punched through with pure mechanical soul. 
