The motoring world was a little disappointed when the Cadillac CT5-V was launched as it didn’t turn out to be the CTS-V successor that we were all expecting. Fortunately, it didn’t take long for Cadillac to confirm a more powerful variant was on the way, dubbed the CT5-V Blackwing.

Rather than competing with the top BMW M and Mercedes-AMG models, the CT5-V goes up against cars like the BMW M340i, Audi S4 and Mercedes-AMG C43. The guys over at The Straight Pipes recently had the opportunity to put it through its paces to see if this mid-tier performance model from Cadillac is worthy of a V badge.

Read Also: 2020 Cadillac CT5-V Pricing Announced, Costs Nearly $40K Less Than The CTS-V

Powering the sedan is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 that pumps out 360 hp and 405 lb-ft (548 Nm) of torque. This engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, and while the CT5-V is available with rear-wheel drive, the car tested by The Straight Pipes featured all-wheel drive.

From a visual standpoint, we think Cadillac did an excellent job with the CT5-V. The exterior offers up a nice mix of aggression and sophistication while also sporting a striking overall shape that makes the car stand out on the road. The interior also looks like a very nice place to spend time thanks to a host of carbon fiber accents, some nice leather, and a decent amount of Alcantara.

Will the engine and the design be enough to win over these reviewers? Be sure to watch the whole clip to find out.