Cadillac revealed one of the ultimate sports sedans to start the month, that being the CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series. Built to celebrate the automaker’s Formula 1 debut in 2026, the F1 Collector Series packs more power and even hotter looks than the normal CT5-V Blackwing. What we didn’t know until now was how much it would cost, especially since it’s limited to just 26 units. Well, that all-important figure has been shared by GM Authority, and it’s a jaw-dropping $260,000 before destination. That makes it more expensive than any other new Cadillac besides the Celestiq.

Related: Cadillac Quietly Made the F1 Blackwing More Powerful Than Before

Regular CT5-V Blackwing Looks Like a Bargain

The standard CT5-V Blackwing starts at $98,900 in manual guise, making the F1 Collector Series roughly 163% more expensive. While Cadillac hasn’t officially announced the $260k price tag yet, GM Authority didn’t announce it speculatively, so it’s safe to assume this is the correct figure.

At $260k, the Cadillac sedan is more expensive than everything in this special group of sports cars and ultra-luxury sedans: Porsche 911 GT3, Bentley Flying Spur, the V12-powered Mercedes-Maybach S680, and the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X. Looked at another way, you could buy two BMW M5s for less than one of these Caddy Blackwings.

We’ve seen this recipe before, which entails releasing a special-edition model with beefed-up looks, a bump up in power, a limited production run—and a drastically inflated price. BMW charged about 40% more for the M3 CSL back in 2003, although many would argue the elevated driving experience made it worthwhile. Late last year, Porsche unveiled the 911 GT3 90 F.A. Porsche, priced at $387,000, about 64% more than the GT3 upon which it’s based.

Related: Inside the Factory Where Cadillac Builds the Last Manual V8 Sport Sedan

Is The CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series Worth It?

For the well-heeled collector, this Cadillac sedan is worth every penny. But looking at the raw numbers and the scope of the upgrades, it’s impossible to make a rational case for it over the regular Blackwing model. Both use a 6.2-liter supercharged V8, with the F1 model producing 685 horsepower and 673 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers make it the most powerful Blackwing ever, but it’s not far ahead of the normal version’s 668 hp/659 lb-ft.

A six-speed manual is the exclusive transmission choice for the F1 model, which also gets the following enhancements:

• Upgraded supercharger
• CNC-machined supercharger cover
• Endorsed F1 and FIA logos throughout
• Carbon Flash wheels
• Lower carbon-fiber bodywork
• Gloss Black exterior badging and monochrome Cadillac crests

Most of these changes are purely cosmetic, and while the sedan looks fantastic, these extras aren’t worth a 163% price jump. You can spec the normal Blackwing with the Deep Ocean Appearance Pack, Precision Pack (including carbon ceramic brakes) and Super Cruise, all for $100,000 less.

Of course, none of the 26 buyers of the F1 Collector Series will care. It’s a deeply satisfying sports sedan and the most potent Blackwing ever, but also one with unmatched exclusivity. In the years ahead, it has every chance of appreciating in value, especially since larger-capacity V8s may not be around forever.

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Cadillac’s long-awaited arrival in Formula 1 is no longer an abstract promise – it now has a face, a form, and a visual language. With the unveiling of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s Special Edition testing livery at General Motors’ new global headquarters in Detroit, the iconic American marque has revealed not just a race car, but a carefully crafted design statement ahead of its historic debut at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 8.

Unveiled by General Motors President Mark Reuss at the Hudson’s Detroit building, the livery will be used during Shakedown Week in Barcelona, Spain, January 26–30, before the team presents its final race livery on February 8. It marks the first visual chapter in Cadillac’s F1 story – and it is unmistakably deliberate.

Developed through a cross-continental collaboration between the GM Global Design team and Cadillac Formula 1® Team, the Barcelona Shakedown livery reflects Cadillac’s broader ambition: blending American luxury, European motorsport rigor, and a design philosophy rooted in heritage but focused squarely on the future.

The unveiling itself was rich in symbolism. An F1 show car wearing the Barcelona Shakedown livery now sits inside GM’s new Detroit headquarters, just miles from Cadillac’s original home in the city. The car will also appear at the Detroit Auto Show until January 25, giving enthusiasts a rare chance to see Cadillac’s Formula 1 design language in person before it reaches the racetrack.

While visually striking, this livery serves a deeper purpose. In Formula 1, testing liveries traditionally disguise aerodynamic surfaces, much like camouflaged prototypes in the automotive world. Cadillac’s designers embraced that challenge, turning functional secrecy into an artistic expression.

“Our new testing livery celebrates Detroit’s design heritage and the power of the global Cadillac Formula 1® team, while keeping our design secrets under wraps,” Reuss said. “The Barcelona test is just the beginning – we can’t wait to share our official race livery with fans around the world next month.”

A Modern Crest for a Global Stage

The monochrome palette creates a striking, premium presence built around a modern interpretation of the Cadillac crest and shield, which anchors the car visually. A large Cadillac crest draped across the rear does double duty – boldly announcing the brand’s arrival while artfully masking aerodynamic surfaces.

Vertical Cadillac precision geometric patterns, rendered in alternating gloss and matte finishes, run through the bodywork, creating a textured, almost architectural skin that conceals form while celebrating brand DNA. It’s a design that feels simultaneously restrained and powerful, more haute couture than camouflage.

The effect is intentional. Clean line work and disciplined color blocking reinforce a technical, future-forward aesthetic, aligning Cadillac’s visual identity with its performance ambitions at the pinnacle of global motorsport.

There is also a deeply human layer embedded in the design. As a nod to the U.S. and U.K. teams building Cadillac’s Formula 1 future, the names of the founding members from both countries are incorporated into the livery – an elegant detail that connects craftsmanship, collaboration, and legacy.

Tradition Meets Tomorrow

For Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac Formula 1® Team Holdings, the dual-livery strategy reflects Cadillac’s willingness to challenge convention.

“Cadillac Formula 1® is committed to innovation on and off the track,” Towriss said. “TWG combined with General Motors allows us to rethink the norm and introduce the team in bold new ways. Debuting our race livery during a globally televised championship broadcast challenges convention and brings Cadillac Formula 1® to a global audience. Paired with this special-edition testing livery designed by the GM Global Design studios, we’re honoring automotive heritage while looking ahead as we build toward the 2026 season.”

The official 2026 Formula 1 race livery will be unveiled on February 8, offering fans the first look at the design that will compete throughout the season. But in many ways, the Barcelona Shakedown livery is already doing something more subtle and arguably more powerful: it’s introducing Cadillac’s design philosophy to the world of Formula 1.

By revealing the car in Detroit – inside a building that symbolizes General Motors’ future while sitting just miles from Cadillac’s original headquarters – the brand has visually linked its storied past to its Formula 1 future.

As Cadillac prepares for Barcelona, Melbourne, and its place on the global grid, this first livery stands as more than a test suit. It is a declaration that American luxury, when filtered through motorsport, can be as precise, disciplined, and globally relevant as anything Formula 1 has ever seen.

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Image Source: Cadillac