2025 Cadillac CT5 V Anniversary Edition: A Hand-Built Masterpiece
The automotive world is alternately agog or aghast at the audacity of the $340,000-plus price Cadillac is asking for the bespoke 2025 Cadillac Celestiq luxury hatchback. However, in a walk-before-you-run move, the company is trying its hand at hand-building a small run of highly collectible CT5-V Blackwing models, commissioned to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Cadillac’s V-Series. The commissioning process for each was similar, and both are being hand assembled in Warren, Michigan, on opposite sides of 12-Mile Road.
5th Collectors’ Series, 1st to be Hand-Built
There have been 11 special edition V-series models since 2011. The most recent five have been Blackwing Collectors’ Series editions, starting in 2022 with Launch Year Collector Series editions: 250 each of the CT4 and CT5-V Blackwing models. A run of 121 CT5s followed in 2023, commemorating Cadillac’s 120th anniversary, while 99 CT4-V Blackwing Track Editions celebrated the iconic road courses at Sebring, Road Atlanta, and Watkins Glen. This year, there have been 198 CT4-V Blackwing Mondrian Editions, and now this run of 21 CT5-Vs that mark two decades of V-series production. Cars in the first four series were all constructed on the main line at the Lansing Grand River Assembly plant, usually in batches, getting additional gear installed and special quality checks. The fifth in the series is the first to be constructed off-line, by hand.
The Build Process
Bodies are assembled in Lansing, painted black, and shipped to GM’s Milford Proving Grounds. There, they are meticulously checked, panel gaps are fine-tuned, and the body surface is sanded by hand, including the entire engine compartment and trunk inner lid. They are then resprayed in the desired custom color, adhering strictly to paint supplier PPG’s guidance for refinishing. Each car receives three coats of clear with additional sanding between coats. In total, 200 to 250 hours are invested in the paint.
The bodies are then shipped to GM’s Artisan Innovation Center for construction. This facility, formerly tasked with building prototype vehicles for durability and crash testing, now focuses on assembling these bespoke creations. Final assembly takes maybe 80–100 hours of bolting parts on, but this can extend to over 200 hours, including all quality checks and approvals.
What the 20th Anniversary Edition Includes
A palette of 20 unique colors was commissioned for this series, with three unique upholstery designs inside. The serial number appears on the steering wheel and sill plates, along with a unique start-up animation. Other features include a plaque on the B-Pillar, three new wheel designs, and four caliper colors to choose from. Most regular-production options are also available, including the choice between manual or automatic transmission. The VIN plate identifies the special assembly, with numbers serialized from 2004 to 2024.
Additionally, buyers receive a certificate of authenticity signed by Cadillac Executive Chief Engineer Brandon Vivian, a hand-signed photo of the assembly team, and a leather binder containing 70 photos taken of the car during assembly. All Blackwing engines are signed by their constructors in Bowling Green.
When, and How Much?
The final examples are being assembled as we publish this. Each of the 21 collectors in this series spent $36,000 for the option, bringing the “base price” to $132,990 for the six-speed manual, and $133,490 for the automatic. Prices can easily exceed $170K with options like carbon-fiber aero kits and ceramic brakes. This bespoke, hand-painted, hand-built 668-hp super sedan sets a high standard for luxury automotive craftsmanship.
