For 2022, the Cadillac CT4 achieves its full potential with a new Blackwing performance model.

Cadillac has spent over two decades trying to reshape itself in the image of the German luxury automakers, blending its traditional focus on comfort and amenities with performance. The 2022 Cadillac CT4 is the end result of that transformation.

The CT4 is the latest in a long line of Cadillac sedans, stretching back to 1997’s Catera, that have tried to embody the sporty handling characteristics of their German counterparts. Introduced for the 2020 model year as the replacement for the Cadillac ATS, the CT4 sits below the Cadillac CT5 in size and price.

As the smaller, lower-priced model, the CT4 is aimed at the heart of the sports sedan marketing, competing against the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Audi A4, as well as Asian rivals like the Acura TLX, Genesis G70, Lexus IS, and Infiniti Q50, as well as the Alfa Romeo Giulia.

The big news for 2022 is the addition of a CT4-V Blackwing high-performance model to the lineup, with more power, a standard 6-speed manual transmission, and race car-style aerodynamic elements. It’s Cadillac’s answer to hardcore sports sedans like the BMW M3, Mercedes-AMG C63, and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.

The Blackwing sits atop the CT4-V and the base Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trim levels. Those other models carry over essentially unchanged, so we grabbed the key fob to a Blackwing for this review.