GM denies plans to deliver the Blackwing V8 to MAT, but leaves open the possibility of future deals.

With Cadillac's future largely dependent on the success of the upcoming introduction of electric vehicles, the fate of Cadillac's much-publicized 4.2-liter V8 engine, known as the Black Wing, has taken a turn for the worse.

The engine, which was unique in General Motors' V8 world due to its twin-turbocharged, double overhead cam design, managed to appear in the 2019 CT6 model, but was discontinued a year later.

The engine was still considered a possibility for the top-end versions of the CT5 and Escalade, but rumor has it that both of those models will now be powered by existing members of GM's small-block V8 engine family.

The hope for the Blackwing V8 comes after Paolo Garella, head of Manifatura Automobili Torino (MAT), revealed in an interview with Hagerty last week that he plans to use the engine in a new supercar of his own design. MAT is an independent supercar design and manufacturing company based in Turin, Italy, that has so far only built cars on a contract basis. Current projects include the New Stratos and the battery-powered Aspark Owl.

Galera said the engine would be further developed at MAT and at the engine development center located near Punch Torino, which GM had just sold to automotive supplier Punch Group in February. That center, where GM developed many of its diesel engines, will now be used to develop engines not only for GM but also for other customers under the Punch Group. It will also be contracted to produce engines including the Blackwing V8.

Unfortunately, a GM spokesperson told Haggerty on Monday that the company does not have any engine sales or licensing agreements with MAT or Punch Group. However, the spokesperson also said that GM remains open to other options.

"The story about the 4.2-liter V8 Blackwing engine is not true. We do not have an agreement with Manifattura Automobili Torino (MAT) to supply or sell the Blackwing engine. Furthermore, while MAT may partner with Punch Group, we have not licensed the engine as part of the sale of the Torino Propulsion Technology Center to Punch Group. Our team has contacted MAT president Paolo Garella to discuss this misunderstanding. We are considering other options for the Blackwing engine in the future, but we have nothing to report at this time."

Garella has since issued his own statement.

"Thank you GM for the clarification. While the agreement signed between the parties is not final, we are under the impression that the other party is committed to providing this engine to MAT under terms yet to be determined."

This is due to the fact that a MAT supercar with a Black Wing V8 engine is something that is set to happen.

Update: A previous version of this article, which claimed that a deal to supply Cadillac's Blackwing V8 engine to Manifattura Automobili Torino (MAT) had been signed, has been updated to reflect a rebuttal from a General Motors spokesperson.