Mid-engine sports cars carry numerous benefits over a traditional front engine setup. However, that comes at a cost.
There’s a reason the Corvette has remained so affordable after all these years, but that’s certainly looking like it’s going to change in the near future. With the possibility of a mid-engined Corvette coming, the rumors of a mid-engined Cadillac have followed. Should they be true, Jaguar could beat it to the punch.
Road and Track sat down with Jaguar Lead Designer, Ian Callum, and discussed the future of the brand’s sports car. He let it slide that the F-Type was originally imagined as a mid-engined sports car, but in the end, it went with a front-mounted engine.
“Our F-Type, before the one that became the production car, the previous design concept was mid-engine. It never happened. It would have been very different. But I think we’ve got permission to do that because we’re a sports car company,” he said.
Of course, everything we’re talking about here is speculative. Only the insiders at both Cadillac and Jaguar can chart the future of the brands. But, a Cadillac sports car seems quite plausible. A Jaguar sports car is already a reality. Who knows what the future holds, but it’s talk like this that still inspires us to be enthusiasts.
Comments
The idea is great, and I’d like to see it happen, but if we’re talking 2-doors, I’d rather see a 2-door, Omega-based grand tourer to battle with the S Class Coupe and 8 Series arrive sooner.
While Jaguar is a sports car company, Cadillac is a grand sedan and coupe company. Big coupes are just as integral to Cadillac heritage as big sedans are.
But when Cadillac does a pure mid-engine sports car, I hope to god it’ll be The Cadillac of Sports Cars engineered to battle hyper-cars like the Porsche 918, McLaren P1, and Ferrari LaFerrari.
I agree with you but why one or the other.
I think Cadillac quite reasonably could do both.
The pure sports car could be a Cadillac version of the upcoming Corvette mid-engined vehicle. In fact I think that ‘Corvette’ makes more sense as a Cadillac than a Chevrolet but I digress. That would give you your 918, P1 etc. competitor.
The Omega can support a 2 door sport tourer kind of vehicle for sure. It is certainly light enough and can be made a whole lot more sporty with modest re-engineering. Also Cadillac has to putting more models on that platform to make it make financial sense. The 2000-3000 units per month of volume from the CT6 alone does not justify the state of the art billion dollar Omega platforms existence.
Cadillac should have grand touring CUV/SUVs…. utility vehicles is where the money is.
There’s literally no such thing.
Porsche Cayenne GTS
You don;t get much more GT than that.
I don’t see it UNLESS its like the XLR where they take Corvettes offering, add $25k and some bodywork and call it a day.
Agree with you except they would need to do more than the outside conversion to really call it a Cadillac.
Cadillac does not need another ELR fiasco.
I’d like to see a sports car from Cadillac in general, it doesn’t have to be mid-engine imo. I’d like to see a BMW z5 competitor or TT competitor. When people see “mid engine” they think 6 figure, R8 type car but when Ian said the F type was meant to be mid engine what comes to mind for me is a cayman/718 fighter. IMO a mid engine 718 size Cadillac would be great for the brand for numerous reasons.
I agree but what chassis/platform do they put it on?
Alpha has already been played out and Omega is to big for a Cayman/TT/Z5/718 etc. fighter.
Will not be enough sales to be a standalone platform.
The Alpha is far from used up. They are just started on the learning curve. The Camaro shows it is capable and the new aluminum/steel welding from the Omega has yet to introduced to it. I expect to see a major update to the Alpha with the coming ATS and CTS replacement. So as for played out we have only just played the first hand.
The Alpha could make a nice small Convertible roadster with no major investment. Leave out a power hard top and make it with room to travel and fun to drive. A V model also could be added. A removable hard top is fine.
The key to this is if you are going to make a sports car that will be limited in volume make it affordable to the point people will be willing to take a chance on it. Then you can win them over if you make it compelling and right. More people will opt in for a TT V6 at 60 than a sports car at $200K when Cadillac has not even got a sedan totally right at $70K yet,
The real need for Cadillac is first get the core line up correct and world class with no excuses. Once they do that and gain trust and image they can move into the lower profit fun areas.
Fix the ATS, CTS and get a flagship out first. Also get the Crossovers set and then we can worry about the sports cars.
JDN has already said such as he said he would love to do this but they would not be ready till 2025. I took that as a hint that Chevy will get their run and by then Cadillac will have it required models done and money and man power would be free to so such a project properly.
With two already failed sports cars Cadillac is only going to get one more shot to get it right. Better to put the money were it is needed now and take the risk when it would be much less of a risk.
The Omega would make a great crossover. It is still able to be adjusted to Cayenne size and at a much lighter wight. The Cayenne is a nice vehicle but it has the weight of a Panzer over 5,000 going on to 6,000 pounds.
I know everyone wants the cool cars but they are like desert. You first much tackle the true needs and do the required work that will support Cadillac first and then address the fun part later.
A good foundation is what Cadillac needs and we need to let them finish it first.
Jaguar is more know for sports cars and they may be able to pull this off. Cadillac has no image of sports cars and it would be a great risk before they have gotten their house in order.
You do not go to Armani to buy a running outfit.
caddy needs a mid engine car if it wants to compete in racing as all the cars it races against are mid engine and on wet tracks caddy is at a disadvantage.
Yes please, sign me up. Also please hurry up with my improved Escalade that is built approx.1500 pounds lighter and in V version.
The Cadillac rendering looks better than the C8 Corvette test mules.
Rendering actually looks like Cadillac’s prototype entry for IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as in Autoweek’s webpage.
http://autoweek.com/article/imsa/first-photos-cadillac-unveils-prototype-entry-imsa-weathertech-sportscar-championship?utm_source=RacingDaily20161130&utm_medium=enewsletter&utm_term=headline-center&utm_content=body&utm_campaign=awracingdaily