Cadillac is undergoing a renaissance of late, with a slew of new products and a restructuring of its naming system. One of the new products it’s planning is the CT5, a luxury mid-size offering that will effectively replace both ATS and CTS sedans.
However, what will Cadillac’s 5 Series-fighter look like and what should we expect? That’s what we’re here for.
Art & Science Styling
Ok, so it’s not a dead-ringer of Cadillac’s beautiful Escala concept, though it does carry over some similar styling themes. These include slim LED headlights, trapezoidal ‘shield’ grille and vertical daylight running lamps. The long hood and fastback profile also makes the cut, albeit with a higher roofline and more conventional window frames.
Sheetmetal surfacing is an evolution of Cadillac’s Art & Science ethos, with elegant lines and subtle creases. Rear styling is highlighted by boomerang-finned LED taillights, short trunk lid and sizeable exhaust tips.
The Inside Job
Whilst we’ve yet to set eyes on the interior, expect a good dose of Escala concept to flow into the interior too. Cue large, sweeping digital displays within the dash, highly tailored fabrics, brushed metal trim and ample room for passengers.
On the tech front, the CT5 will be loaded; expect Cadillac’s ‘Super Cruise’ semi-autonomous driving assistant, OLED instrument and CUE infotainment displays, retracting infotainment screens for backseat occupants and remote start/locking/unlocking via smartphone app.
Turbo Torque
Power will come from a range of potent powertrains; these include an base turbocharged, 2.0-litre four-cylinder, a normally-aspirated 3.6-litre V6 and an twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6, pumping out over 404 hp and 400 pound-feet of torque. Power will be feed to the pavement through GM’s 10-speed automatic and rear wheels as standard, with all-wheel drive being optional.
Fuel economy and eco-conscious buyers will also be catered for with a plug-in electric powertrain that combines a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo engine with an electric motor. In the larger Cadillac CT6, this is good for 335 hp and 432 pound-feet of torque.
V-Sport Magic
If none of the above tickles your fancy, then 4.2-litres of twin-turbocharged V8 thunder will. Tipped to appear in CT5 V-Sport format, this all-wheel drive, range-topping powertrain will offer 500+ hp combined with a mechanical limited-slip rear differential, specially tuned Magnetic Ride Control suspension and aggressive styling.
A potential rival to BMW’s M5, Audi RS6 and Mercedes-AMG E63 perhaps? Watch this space.
Sport-Luxury Alternatives
The CT5 will have its work cut out against some seriously formidable competition; the German trio of BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and new Audi A6 are arguable some of the best cars on the road regardless of segment.
Other contenders in the segment include the Volvo S90, Jaguar XF, Infiniti Q70, Acura RLX and – in theory, at least, the Maserati Ghibli.
Pricing and Production
Sitting middle of Cadillac’s new 3-tier sedan lineup between the smaller, upcoming CT4 and larger CT6, the CT5 is expected to start somewhere in the high $30k to low $40k range.
Expect a reveal later this year – possibly at the Los Angeles Auto Show at the end of November, with production at Lansing, Michigan beginning in 2019.
Could a Coupe be in the works too?
Recently, a GM design patent surfaced revealing a two-door Cadillac that some believe might be the CT5 Coupe, though others, have suggest that it could be a more extreme sports model with Corvette underpinnings. Either way, the car pictured here looks like a thinly disguised concept that we should see at an upcoming motor show, possibly as early as this fall in Los Angeles.
Do you think Cadillac’s CT5 has a chance against the established German heavy-hitters? Share your thoughts in the comments below.