General Motors recently announced its plans to spend $175 million to upgrade its Lansing Grand River assembly plant in order to build two new Cadillac sedans, and one of the models was recently spotted by Carscoops reader Greg Craven.
Snapped outside a restaurant in Tennessee, the all-new CT5 will effectively replace the ATS, CTS and XTS.
That’s a lot riding on one model, but the car will have a striking new design that incorporates some styling cues from the popular Escala concept.
Starting up front, the car has a massive grille and a wide lower air intake. The prototype’s headlights are only temporary and in the finished product will be replaced by distinctive lighting units that echo those on the XT5 and CT6.
Previous spy photos have shown the car will have a more athletic appearance than the CTS, and the model looks a bit like the Dodge Charger. Cadillac has embraced this idea as prototypes have been disguised to resemble the Charger.
While the company has done a pretty good job of keeping the car under wraps, the rakish windscreen and sporty roofline are clearly visible. The car will also have a dual exhaust system, a pronounced shoulder line and a gently sloping belt line.
Cadillac has been tight-lipped about specifications, but the CT5’s entry-level engine will likely be shared with the 2019 XT4, which uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 237 hp (177 kW / 240 PS) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque. Rumors have also suggested the CT5 will be offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain as well as a 3.6-liter V6, while ee can also expect a CT5 V-Sport and CT5-V in the future.
The Cadillac CT5 is expected to go into be introduced next year, with sales starting in late 2019. Former Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen had commented that the model will appeal to customers looking for a sedan that costs between $35,000 and $45,000.