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Cadillac Says 62 Percent of CT5-V Blackwing Buyers Opted for the Manual

Originally Posted by Road & Track

Cadillac's CT5-V Blackwing and CT4-V Blacking are two of the coolest new sedans on sale. Why? Because they both offer manual transmissions. So few new performance cars on sale today have three pedals, which means Cadillac is able to occupy the niche with its two newest track-ready four-doors. And according to data from the company, the choice is paying off.

Cadillac says a whopping 62 percent of the initial 250 CT5-V Blackwing reservation-holders opted for the standard six-speed manual transmission over the optional 10-speed torque-converter automatic, according to an email sent by a spokesperson to Road & Track. The smaller twin-turbo V-6-powered CT4-V Blackwing has a less shocking (but still impressively high) manual take rate of 45 percent. Combined, 53 percent of the 500 total Blackwing reservation holders have chosen three pedals—insane numbers considering how few new cars are purchased with manual transmissions in America.

That being said, these ratios aren't exactly surprising. Ultra-limited, hard-to-get cars like the Blackwings will often attract enthusiasts buyers who want to experience the best version. And while the manual versions aren't as quick in a straight line, they're no doubt more enjoyable to drive. And as we've seen from CTS-V prices over the last few years, manual-transmission variants of these cars tend to hold their value better.

So if you're one of the 267 initial Blackwing reservation holders who went for the manual transmission, we salute you. You're keeping the manual transmission alive in America, and every enthusiast should be thankful.