2018 Cadillac XTS Refresh Revealed In Leaked Images
125Sponsored Links
Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen promised an extensive refresh for the Cadillac XTS, reversing a prior decision to kill off the model, and here it is.
Chinese website Autohome has leaked the 2018 Cadillac XTS refresh, which is much more extensive than we would have originally imagined. The front end receives a new fascia and headlights with horizontal elements akin to the 2017 Cadillac CT6. Changes to the rear are more substantial and include new pair of taillights, a revised trunk lid, and a few styling cues from the Cadillac Escala, helping modernize the XTS’ aged design, which has gone relatively unchanged since the model’s introduction in 2013.
The XTS still rides on Epsilon II platform, which predates E2 platform, meaning that front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive will remain, though we may see the introduction of the GM 9-speed automatic and second-generation 3.6-liter LGX V6 engine. We also imagine updates to the interior.
The refreshed XTS will likely join Cadillac’s sedan-heavy lineup later this year ahead of Cadillac’s first all-new product, the Cadillac XT4, early next year.
Love the rear end, not so sure of the headlights looks more XT5 the led strip is a little thick in my opinion
Like it
Nice rear end. Modern front.
A lot of Escala in the rear end, particularly the trunk creases.
The Escala concept had the (L Bar shaped rear lights) towards the top of the Trunk not the bottom like these.
Looks very weird!!!
The front is nice though and modern looking.
Also, cars with the license plates on the bumper look cheap. Luxury makers always place the license plate above the rear bumper on the trunk.
Yet the Escala has it below the trunk lid…
The Escala is simply a concept vehicle which hints at future Cadillac design cues.
The GS, XF, A6, 5 Series, and E Class all have the plate on the trunk.
There’s been articles written about license plate placement. It is all about the perceived quality and luxury.
The Escala has the horizontal rear light pipes on top part of trunk lid not down low by the bumper. Just looks weird in my opinion.
I’ll wait to see high res pictures or one in person but not a fan as of right now.
I am well aware that the Escala is a concept, and that’s the point: they can do anything with a one-off unit, since it will never see production in that form. So it seems like the license plate placement is an afterthought.
But I think we should take a step back and realize what we are really discussing here: to wit, the location of the rear plate is considered a luxury feature (supposedly).
Really? Is this what we have come to now?
How and why is it a luxury feature? Is it in any way better or worse than placing it on the trunk lid?
I’m asking for the sake of discussion… not necessarily disagreeing 🙂
I completely understand what you’re saying. But luxury is perception. There’s a reason why car manufacturers spend millions on research even for small things like license plate placement. I just think this updated rear of the XTS is way and I do mean way too busy. I hope this isn’t what’s to come in the near future with all models. The L shaped rear lights look extremely off and really look like they were an afterthought to simply make them look different than before. The trunk lid is new so I’m not sure why GM didn’t make them like the Escala rear lights (obviously without the cutout between the lights and trunk)
Not a smooth look but like I said, I’ll withhold final judgement until I see it in High Res photos or in person.
It has amazed me that we are this far along….i.e. self-drive, V2V, self park,etc., and have not yet gone to electronic license pates. The vehicle is assigned a plate number/letter combo,whatever, whether chosen by the driver or given by the state.It is programmed into the computer, and displayed on a screen, front, and rear if necessary, built into every vehicle.
The bugs,location, lighting, intensity, and other features can be worked out…..i.e. the Police could carry a device that illuminates it for ,say, 5 seconds, when checking plates at night when the car is parked.
C’mon folks , it’s the 21st century, if we can produce headlights the size of buttons, that illuminate the road. this should have been a no brainer. I guess we need to get the DMV up to speed.
Then those convicts could do something more productive than stamping license plates, like learn a skill other than crime……
Yes we need even more complication in today’s horribly complex cars. And more price increases too. No thanks
Joe, we need more cheap plastic too.
Momolps – You’re speaking out of a place that’s located in the posterior, starts with an “a” and ends with an “s”.
Automakers do not spend “millions” researching license plate placement. They spend resources (time, human capital, money) on creating designs. License plate placement is never a priority.
I have worked at 3 automakers in my life. How many have you worked for?
First off, I never said millions specifically for license plate placement. I said car makers spend millions upon millions on the smallest things to make sure they get everything correctly, including the placement of the license plate.
Hence when Johan took over, he made them place the name badge at the top part of the trunk lid instead of at the bottom that Caddy was utilizing. It’s more premium looking. So I do know what I am talking about!!!
Placement of the license plate is more important than the “right driveways” 🙂
The right driveways are those owned by people young enough to buy a minimum of three future Cadillacs.
In addition, these driveways belong to people who have owned German luxury, and maintain the social status to act as human adverts/PR tools: Professionals as opposed to blue collar folks looking for a treat… that is the purpose of Buick.
JdN’s use of the word driveway is very telling. Luxury buyers garage their cars. Luxury cars are not left out in the elements for obvious reasons.
Your youth obsession is also curious. I doubt I am “young enough” by your standards. If I wanted more Cadillacs I could buy three more tomorrow. I pay cash. Luxury buyers don’t pay in dribs and drabs over multiple years. Lease and rent is the same thing. No lease/rentals.
This garage has garaged Cadillacs, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce and Alfa Romeo. Presently there is a Cadillac and an Alfa in the garage. The Alfa is the keeper.
Social status to promote a product? You’re kidding, right? That status does not include evangelicals. The onus is on the car maker to produce a desirable product. Cadillac has been falling short in that area.
When I bring a new car home the first thing I do is remove the dealer’s license frame from the car. I’m not in the advertising business.
This is a professional household. We have no issue with blue collar workers. That is the mark of a snob (wannabe). I got mine. No need to put others down.
Without blue collar workers there would be no cars.
You may want to take your list back to the drawing board.
Moving the license plate down is one of the best changes they made, imho. In fact, the rear looks much better than the front now–much more expressive–despite being a bit overstyled in comparison to the rest of the car, and the taillights looking a bit… unfinished.
Just because another automaker does something one way doesn’t mean another should follow. That’s not how TRUE luxury works in my eyes.
The XTS in my opinion had by far the best rear lights on any Cadillac. They stuck out and were very old school but modern looking at the same time.
If this is the best rear Johan and everyone is going to come up with, not good in my opinion.
It looks Hyundaified.
This is just a direction. It does not mean that the upcoming caddys will get the same tail lights. They just show us where they are going.. And I really like the direction. Looks promising.
Not too bad….The new tail lights are certainly more striking than the current design on Cadillac’s sedans. I like the front end overall, but it sort of resembles a slightly squished XT5 front fascia. Very curious to see the updated interior and powertrain! I’m not expecting to be blown away by what’s in store for it, but I also hope it doesn’t disappoint.
The rear of this car looks much better then the CT6. The front looks kinda pasted on but all in all not bad.
Personally IMO, you shouldn’t spend the amount of money that a Cadillac costs, on a GM product. If you’re willing to spend 40K+, go for an Audi, BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz. Because in the end, regardless of how much pride you feel by the amount you spent, you’re still driving a GM product, and luxury is not their specialty. Also, Cadillacs are not easy to look at. Same Platforms, different badges. Not much to work with and tweak that can make a meaningful impact, if the platforms do not change. The Chevy Traverse, and the XT5 share the same platform! Come on. Might as well buy an audi Q3, or Mercedes-Benz GLC. Who cares about American made, when almost all parts are imported? Jobs? People will eventually be replaced. All arguments are invalid.
“The Chevy Traverse, and the XT5 share the same platform!”
Every Acura is basically an Accord.
All Audis are based on some VW.
What is your point? Same principal. Keeps costs down.
He’s having a bad day at work.
The Audi R8 it’s not based on a Volkswagen. In fact there’s even a Lamborghini based on the R8.
Yet you suggest an Audi, Lexus or an Infiniti. All of them share parts with their lesser counterparts. -__-
I got news for you Zacko. The two foreign luxury vehicles that I previously owned from this list, a MB S500, and and Infiniti Q45, were complete pieces of junk. Both bought new, the MB was in the shop so many times I lost count, from new water pump, and head gaskets, to numerous other reason, like replacing all door soft closure motors.
The Infiniti was worse, , replacing speakers 4 times, nav screen twice, and a stuck, non functioning sun roof that had to be replaced requiring the removal of the entire headliner.
You can keep your Euro trash. I’ve had 27 Cadillacs, including the 3 I currently own (2016 Escalade Platinum, 2016 CTS-V, and 2017 CT6 Platinum) and the only problem I have ever had was a warped brake rotor on the 2000 DTS….
BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, Audi, and MB are bought by people, mostly people who can’t afford them, to show that “they have arrived”. I saw a guy in sweat pants and shirt taking a new RR through a $2.00 car wash the other day. Now, I have seen everything!
Roller is strictly hand wash preferably at home.
He must be from TTAC
If this is China spec then I suspect that the US version might be less dramatic.
Don’t count on it. All global Cadillacs are identical, except for larger side mirrors for overseas export, exported to European and Asian markets.
Great ! Any changes coming for 2018 Cadillac ATS ?
The ATS will supposedly get an all new successor in the next 2½ years with the ATS nameplate replaced with a CTx name.
Ugh…..well so be it. I now have an ATS, had a CTS, have a C7 (and had 6 other Corvetttes)…..am looking to acquire an ’18 ATS-V Coupe which I think is a dandy. Just curious about proposed changes.
If the ATS and the V receive an update I think it’d be more mechanical & power tweaks than aesthetic ones.
The front headlights seem too short, almost like they’re squished. The LED blade should extend a little further like the CT6 does. But this is the only front pic we have and the American version could be different. Hopefully the ATS gets something a little new to hold it over until it’s CT# replacement
Hopefully the ATS finally will get a vsport model. I doubt it but it long overdue
Hopefully the ATS-V gets bumped down to become the Vsport and the V gets an v8 from the SS
I’m screenshotting your comment and sending it to JDN lol
I like the rear end, but it have too many badges. The front is cool, but the plate holder sticks out like a sore thumb.
Overall I like it, but it needs better wheels.
The lower right badge on the rear won’t be on the US spec. Chinese vehicles always have extra badges for some reason.
Full sized front drive Based Luxury vehicles are easy to live with in areas where it rains a lot.
The styling updates look significant and very current.
“Full sized front drive Based Luxury vehicles are easy to live with in areas where it rains a lot.”
That doesn’t make any sense.
love the front……it looks much bolder and elegant than the old one…..it doesn’t look like it was punched in the nose like the old one was.
Looking pretty darn classy. 10/10 classic Cadillac for 2018.
CT6, get out of the way.
What? The long-hooded CT6 wears this look much better.
The new XTS front end has a slightly different look than the CT6. CT6 has an elongated run of LED lights that make the car look like it’s weeping. The new XTS avoids the “weeping” look in a much nicer way, IMO.
It looks good to me.
Oh, uhm, Johann is here and really…..shakin’ things up! Expect great things!
If this is the bold new future of Cadillac, it looks just like the recent past….the recent unsuccessful past. This is the same frumpy, horribly proportioned car we’ve been looking at for too long now.
I’m officially giving up on Cadillac for about the 10th time. All the FWD economy car loving people can go ahead and vote me down but Cadillac is never going to be taken seriously among affluent buyers until they quit building these low-cost cheapo Cadillac derivatives of commodity cars.
Johann….you had it right to start with. This car should be phased out but obviously the GM bean counters won again and you lost. So too did Cadillac.
unfortunately this car hasn’t been phased out yet because people just keep buying them. it is a terrible problem.
Why is it a terrible problem if people continue to buy the car that is printing money for GM? This is a refresh model way past overdue. If no one likes Cadillac’s current line-up, he or she has a problem.
The question would be whether the RIGHT people are buying them. Rental car companies, funeral homes, and octogenarians may well buy them but are they what Cadillac needs to rebuild its tarnished image?
Pray tell who are the *right* people?
You’re not a ‘right’ person if…
– You think that a luxury product is simply just something made bigger.
– You think national identities can be distilled into cars by virtue of those who design and engineer the car.
– You’re distrustful of any foreign national that may contribute to the operation of a multi-national automotive corporation despite them being fully qualified to do so.
– You’re intensely frightened by the prospect of someone younger than you being wealthy.
– You’re still climbing the Sloan Ladder.
– You think a luxury can be value proposition.
– You’re obsessed with past you can hardly remember and expect others younger than you to automatically respect your past.
– You’re content with not being on the cutting edge of anything.
– You use your jingoistic ideals to explain how a car should be and expect it to be the standard.
– You complain about the price of ANY luxury product.
– If you think that everyone else is deluded, and that by only following your understanding of how a luxury product should be, that your nation and its people will be free of those ‘darn Europeans and Japanese’ influence.
If you’ve disagreed with any of the above, you not a ‘right’ person, and not someone who should be looking at any luxury car.
Interesting list.
A person with the purchase price is the right person.
I repeat the question. The endless list of people who do not deserve Cadillac deflects.
Pray tell who are the *right* people?
I just told you.
I guess you’re not the right person.
One more time.
Pray tell who are the *right* people?
You already know you’re not the right person. Change your negative and outdated attitudes, and become the right person.
You’re not a “right” person if:
– You lie about others in an attempt to reduce their views to a caricature, often stating the opposite of what they’ve actually said.
– You habitually crack raw eggs over your head, in public.
– You build mouse dioramas.
You ARE a “right” customer if:
– You have the money to buy a truly well-built car that meets all of Cadillac’s traditional first-class standards. Rather than one that has been cheapened, downsized, decontented, and built specifically to juvenile tastes, in order to provide “entry level” cars in a misguided attempt to capture “brand loyalty for life” in models that bear little or no resemblance to real Cadillacs.
Pretty much outing yourself as someone who else isn’t ‘right’ for Cadillac, or any luxury car for that matter. Good job. Enjoy your lowered standards as you shop for used Chryslers.
First class standards = luxury. I’d say “good job outing yourself as a jackass”, but we’ve long known that about you Grawbuddy.
And you still have a “cold war America” worldview stuck in your head, where everything from outside the US is wrong and a threat to your life somehow provided you can distort it.
More importantly, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re just a minority consumer that has no chance in changing corporate product planning or marketing tactics for a luxury product.
Also, nobody cares about the CFL, and hockey is Canada’s greatest national disgrace.
Grawbuddy, you sound both bitter and irrational. I thought you were so happy that you were living “Big Time” (like the Peter Gabriel song), and able to show off your status symbols o’ success, unlike your family.
Sorry but lying about what I have written does not cut it here. Cold War mentality, really? I said it makes no sense to have ALL the top positions at Cadillac held by foreigners (with the one exception a 35 year old woman of immigrant parents), because you want SOMEBODY in a top position to understand what Cadillac means to Americans.
I never said Cadillac’s top jobs should be 100% held by Americans. And I said they’d be better off bringing in someone from Japan from Toyota/Lexus to show them how to get reliability right, or someone from China since that’s Cadillac’s 2nd biggest market now. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned the Russians here, so I don’t get the “Cold War mentality”, and that’s over anyway.
The Germans are now our allies, and I’m of German ancestry myself. But I don’t think cars built for short trips on the autobahn are right for American roads and trips. The German/Sport thing is a fad which I believe will soon fade. Cadillac does not want to throw away its history when the tide turns. That doesn’t mean that the US can’t learn something from Germany, Japan, or elsewhere – but outright copying with no understanding of the home market doesn’t make sense. Get it now?
By the way, Lexus is number two now in US luxury, it got there by essentially copying Cadillac’s American luxury, but doing it with greater reliability than had recently been the case for Cadillac. And Lexus had been number one in the US for the first decade of this century, until the German sport-fad came along. Cadillac should be looking at Lexus, not BMW. Copying BMW is just not working, and it’s too far from Cadillac’s history. If GM wants to make a sport-riding division, they should bring back Pontiac. Just kidding there, but they could turn Corvette into a brand instead of just one car.
I’ve know other Canadians who enjoy CFL, and I don’t know what your problem is with hockey. National disgrace? I love hockey. What has Canada given the world that is anywhere close to hockey? Ok, basketball if you want to count Naismith as Canadian, but he invented it in the USA. But without hockey, Canada would just be the too-cold land of fishing and forestry, mining and bad healthcare, doughnuts and ale, and generally nice people (save for the occasional bitter grawbuddy). Graw, if you are going to act like a hoser, then just take off, eh?
“– You’re content with not being on the cutting edge of anything.”
Luxury and cutting edge do not go hand and hand. Having the means to own something cutting edge is often times a luxury, but there are many luxury goods that are about heritage or craftsmanship. Owning a Rolex watch, Armani suit or Stickley furniture is not about cutting edge. In the automotive world, I would say Rolls Royce is about craftsmanship and plush luxuriousness, but they are a rarity where cutting edge (particularly with electronics) is generally equated to luxury. Personally, I could do with a lot more plush, and a lot less CUE, but I guess I’ve already outed myself as the “wrong” kind of person for not only Cadillac, but any luxury good.
I don’t know who the F*#k you think you are Grawdaddy, but you`re wrong. There is no “right” demographic for Cadillac, but even if there was, it certainly would not be the whiny, obnoxious, young-money millennial generation. Trying to cater to the “new” generation was Cadillac’s biggest screw-up, if they had stayed focused on comfort, reliability, and overall quality, instead of RWD sports cars, they would not be in their current predicament.
And no, lack of respect for the past is exactly what is wrong with today’s generation. The millennial generation has absolutely no respect for anyone older than them, let alone the people who built this country. God forbid anyone older reprimands them, it’ll be all over the GD news.
Finally, since when is a South-American qualified to lead an American car company, with a long standing American heritage who’s cars are not even sold in his native country. Or a woman who wouldn’t have even bought a car from the company she works for before working there, by that logic, you could say someone who put Americas national security at risk is qualified to be president, or Bill Cosby is qualified to babysit a little girl. I have no problems with foreign nationals, but I do have a problem with said foreign nationals being in charge of a company of which they know nothing about!
Henry, yes – you’ve nailed it. There’s the truth right there, in your write-up. If only GM would wake up and realize what they are lacking, the massive opportunity they are missing. Instead they are throwing away their history/market advantage on nothing.
Pretending Cadillac is a startup and trying to be a cheap BMW clone is not working. And there simply aren’t enough rich millennials to justify re-working the brand in their image. Maybe when enough of them move out of their parents’ basements, say in 30 years or so, they’ll be ready for real Cadillacs. Right now Melody Lee is trying to sell to essentially a market of one, herself. And even she wouldn’t have the money to buy a Cadillac if she hadn’t sold GM a bill of goods on her alleged marketing magic with millennials.
By the way, JDN is South African, not South American (probably a typo on your part). Nothing wrong with getting a little outside input, but replacing ALL the top jobs with foreigners makes no sense at an iconic American brand. I don’t think Cadillac even sells cars in South Africa (where they have right-hand drive cars, left-side of the road driving). It would be as if a Japanese company that sells rice-cookers primarily in Japan decided to fill ALL top management jobs with non-Japanese. You HAVE to have SOMEONE who understands the home market, and has it culturally ingrained in them. That’s not jingoism, that’s simply obvious logic.
“And no, lack of respect for the past is exactly what is wrong with today’s generation. The millennial generation has absolutely no respect for anyone older than them, let alone the people who built this country. God forbid anyone older reprimands them, it’ll be all over the GD news.”
Like your generation, or any generation, ever was respectful of their elders. Besides, respect is always earned and never handed out.
https://ci.memecdn.com/8836058.jpg
Futhermore…
Why would you agree with me, but then tell me to STFU? Bipolar much?
I don’t know about you, but I think the people who raised you deserve automatic respect, same goes for anyone else who works everyday to keep you safe (law enforcement).
Sorry if this is offending you, I forgot that you fellow millennials need your “safe space”.
You didn’t raise me. You don’t protect me. I don’t pay for your salary. You, personally, are underserving of my respect as you have no earned.
First off, I never said that I raised you, and secondly how do you know what I do for a living? Are you 100% positive that I don’t put my a$$ on the line everyday for a bunch of un-appreciative, smart-ass kids?
My age, my job….. God, you millennials make so many assumptions, yet you get so offended when other people assume your gender.
Maybe the people that don’t like the XTS are just anti-Canadian.
i was being sarcastic.
cadillac should build as many of these xts as the market will take. i’d prefer the cts but so what.
the fact that cadillac produces a front wheel drive sedan that is getting a little long in the tooth wouldn’t stop me from getting a cts.
Yeah let’s keep making what people want. Sounds like a terrible problem to me. The terrible problem is the hordes of ATS/CTS and CT6’s that are piling up on dealer lots unsold
agreed.
Cadillac need to fade out xts and move forward.
Move forward with what exactly? 3 RWD sedans that don’t sell. Why is a larger sized comfortable sedan that is selling such a hard thing for your generation to comprehend?
Joe Yoman, so true! Good to have you posting here.
+1
I like it at first look. I also like mine. Agree about the classic old school look of the former’s taillights. I like the third brake light more integrated. Rear license is better on the bumper, not sticking in your face, no two ways about it. The wide mouth lower CT6 like grill, take some getting used to. Give it more color options, like the old days.
Joe B, I tend to agree on all counts. The refreshed look is nice, though I’d have liked it even more with the old XTS taillights instead of the new ones. The front end looks more modern and attractive than the old one (not that it was bad, mainly dated).
The old taillights were meant to evoke the tailfins of old; it’s hard to tell from one back-end photo, but the new taillights might be intended to evoke tailfins even more. Which might not be quite right for a modern car, but it’s good to see Cadillac appreciating their own past. We’ll have to see more photos and in-person to get a better opinion. I always thought the XTS looked better in person than in photos; I hate to play into stereotypes but I have seen a few of these picking people up at airports, and was much more impressed than I thought I would be.