After many long months of speculation, anticipation, and perhaps some measure of reservation, we now find ourselves waiting in the wings at the eleventh hour before the 2016 Cadillac CT6 is revealed at the 2015 New York International Auto Show.
But how is it that the CT6 manages to command so much of our engagement? What makes this product so much more definitive for the American luxury brand than the ATS or the CTS?
Because it could very well redefine the Cadillac brand. As Automotive News explains, the 2016 Cadillac CT6 will be perhaps the first car from the GM luxury division in recent memory which doesn’t engage in the fool’s errand of chasing after competitors from rival German brands. While certainly tremendous cars, the Cadillac ATS and CTS are more clearly entities defined by how they measure up to comparable European luxury sedans.
Cadillac’s plans for the CT6 are to be somewhat more disruptive than all that. Or, as Will Churchill, Dealer Principal at Frank Kent Cadillac in Fort Worth, Texas told Automotive News: “We spend our whole life chasing others in this market. For once, we’ll be the ones planting a stake in the ground and sort of creating a new niche.”
We’ve seen some signs of this already, with regard to how much recent press releases have stressed the technology of the CT6’s stiff, lightweight body structure. As a result of this dedication to weight-watching, the CT6 will not only be lighter than the Mercedes-Benz S class, Audi A8, and BMW 7-series, but ought to be 200 pounds lighter than even the BMW 5-series mid-size sedan. That should lend the car inherently better driving dynamics, on top of a considerable boost to efficiency. Going along with the lighter weight is also the optional all-new 3.0L twin-turbo LGW V6 engine, which will send a class-leading 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels of the CT6. Between the low weight and the new engine, the 2016 Cadillac CT6 might be the best driver’s car the full-size segment has seen in a long time.
Says GM Executive VP of Global Product Development Mark Reuss: “We will create with the CT6 the world’s most advanced body structure.” The result will be a car “much more quiet, much more refined, [with] better ride and handling than anybody in the world.” And then there’s the price tag, estimated by GM to hover around $60,000 to start, topping out at around $90,000. Compare that to the Mercedes S class, which can readily top out above $200,000 with the V12-powered AMG model.
For a marque attempting to reinvent itself as a “luxury brand that happens to sell cars,” Cadillac is certainly making a recipe for a true driver’s car — initially at a lower price point, and to a further extent, than bloated rivals from BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz have ever dared attempt.
Comments
interesting how expensive is the most expensive fully equipped CT6.
Story is pretty good so far. Now this is the point that what is the quality of the tiny details. and what is novel systems and accessories.
CT6 have the opportunity to capture the BMW 7 and audi 8
Interesting read. Cadillac thinking outside the box, i like it. A car that big to be able to handle like a sports car? Im listening.
Today audi 8 and bmw 7 is old to
I have already said in other posts here, this car is the first step in what will actually be the real Cadillac GM wants to design.
And it will surprise many people.
Regards from Spain
From the atricle: “As Automotive News explains, the 2016 Cadillac CT6 will be perhaps the first car from the GM luxury division in recent memory which doesn’t engage in the fool’s errand of chasing after competitors from rival German brands.”
What short memories we have. The prior generation (2008-2013) CTS was criticized heavily in the press for being a “tweener” — too big to compete against the 3 series but too small to compete against the 5 series. That being said, the tweener CTS sold lots better than the current generation CTS. So maybe the CT6 will have the right formula for success.
One of the reasons the prior Gen. CTS sold better than the current gens is that the ATS is on the market splitting the sales.
Previously there was only the CTS, so if you add the current CTS and ATS sales together it is actually higher than the prior CTS only sales figures.
Not even just that. Even with the ATS on the market the CTS enjoyed a 30% take rate from its coupe.. as in 30% of all CTS sales were the coupe. Gen3??? No coupe =equals a niche of the market that gave it a pretty good selling point is simply not there. E-Class has a coupe, Sedan, convertible, diesel, a wagon and an AMG. CTS has a sedan, and the VSeries is still months away
Some people still do not understand. cars are different levels. Cars are divided into different levels, and still turn up in different groups. It’s strange that some people still do not understand.
It’s not so easy for a single size and power of the cars are all the same and equal competitors. Yes the prices of cars can also set their limits, however, a very large part of the car manufacturers themselves. Large manufacturers offer strong even in a very small and inexpensive cars with high quality and technology.
It’s not so easy to build a big car, and we are the bosses.
I’m a GM fan, and OPEL lover. And I would like that Cadillac would AUDI 8 -MB S-Class and bmw7 league.
That means quality, technology, design and fashion. Every tiny detail. Even though you do not always notice the details. tiny details everywhere. To even Youtube videos can be said that this machine is a competitor.
I so hope there’s a grand touring coupe version in development.
Any news on if the CT6 will be Super Cruise to market? I feel like this would be a great car to debut it in.
Let me translate this car and what GM is stating.
The CT6 is not the 7 series killer we are expecting. This is a car that will be less than the best of Europe but it will be a better car than the XTS.
We have to go into the expectations on this car for what it was and is now. This car was the flag ship of those inside GM that were not willing to go all in to fix Cadillac. This was as good as they felt they needed. Now those who wanted more finally won last summer to get the cars Cadillac really needs and those models are 5 years out.
So this car will not be the uber German sedan killing machine. It will be the best Cadillac yet made but there will still be much more they need to bring to the table. So for now just look at this as the next step and not the destination.
This statement from GM is just their way to let you know this is not the home run car and will be a good double. It will be a more expensive, larger and advanced car than the CTS but there is so much more to come. You will like this car but keep in mind the whole game changed since this car was approved.
Does it remind you of where the STS sat in the lineup?
Well that was pretty much the vision when this car was started. But those who wanted more kept pushing and finally got what they wanted so now this has gone from flag ship to a model that will fill the show room till the new product is ready.
This will not be a bad car but it is not all that those who at GM were not the problem wanted. It will do fine but the next model will get the planning and funding to do what we have been expecting for once.
It will compete with the other brands but it will not be the clear cut leader over them. Those in charge at Cadillac now are not just wanting to be as good they want to be clearly better and now they have the support to go and do that. It is just a shame it took till 2014 to win the approval.
So are you saying that this car is already outdated and not the proper solution to current market needs? The German brands are moving targets and they’re moving too fast?
The Cadillac CT6 will have class-leading technology, materials, and driving dynamics.
This will be the shot across the bow of BMW, Mercedes and Audi.
BMW 7 and audi 8 are not space. BMW7 and audi8 is able to create ct6 . or she does not have to be a killer. This is the same as that which is better either audi8 or bmw 7 .ct6 may be a competitor in bmw7 and Audi A8. But we’ll see.
yes it is a big hope for me but maybe it is possible. BMW 7 Series and Audi 8 is not space. But, of course, a large and complex work. or at least he stays league as BMW and Audi in third place. Japanese and Korean cars is another quality to a large extent. They talked about all the time is still audi, bmw and mb. And they have taken some kind of purpose and determination. here is also said that this is the first serious step in a new direction in the new. yes it is true. Currently, there is hope, and a great hope that the Germans will CT6 league. Now that’s just that when the big leap to be. CT6 be the best but how good cadillac. But we’ll see.
MB-audi-bmw is crazy Materials and Technologies and quality.
Old audi a8
I wonder if this new technology will help Cadillac become FORD, (Fastest On Race Day)?
The new technology will keep GM from being Found On Road Dead like a Lincoln with a babbling nut case actor parked on the side of the road behind the wheel. . God they are in trouble there.
Maybe Cadillac might take a hint and lead rather than follow. The only car I see doing this today is the Rolls Royce and the Kia K900 (and next years Hyundai Equus). The Kia K900 is the car that Cadillac and Lincoln SHOULD be today but they are too busy trying to copy the Mercedes group. The magazines like Motor Trend, Car and Driver and companies all have the same mind set and try to shove it down our throats as though this is the ONLY car we should like. I say baloney. I don’t like that mind set or the type of car that BMW is, and I don’t appreciate that as the ONLY mind set in town. I want a Fleetwood or a Town Car that is brought up to be in the modern times, I don’t want what the BMW is all about. I am sorry, but 25 year old spoiled brats are not the only people who buy cars. Yes – YES, have cars for them – no problem. But don’t expect EVERY car to have to BE THEM. And hence, enter the Kia K900. A Kia K900 with a Cadillac or Lincoln badge on it would wipe the snot off the faces of the age group that thinks every car should be a BMW.
If the CT6 starts in the low 60K realm this car will take off. I was worried Cadilac was going to start it in the mid to high 70K range which i tjink would of had mixed success. I guess they are saving that higher price tag for the CT8 which is fine by me. GM originally wanted two flagships back in 2012 but as Scott pointed out the beancounters won and the ultra flagship was put on ice. Somewhere down the road it was decided to expand Cadillacs linup and keep this car as a near flagship while work would start on a true full size S Class killer.
Aaahhaaaaa.
It is not for copying. The thing is perfection. Some may be thinking or wrong, that some people here want the cadillac Reproduction in whole different car manufacturers.
Korea is one of the largest car manufacturers will be copied. Korean modern cars look pretty good from afar. But it seems that some people oin the demands of a very small which is logical.
I want to be as perfect as the Cadillac BMW-Audi-mb.
Some wants to be a competitor to the Cadillac or Lexus Kia.
Currently, we are already seeing CT6 silhouette. Now, this is important as this car is perfect.
60’s Cadillac was also normal today it would produce the same car.
Some people have been very happy with the car is a big, big engine, RWD, and that’s all.
Cadillac car should be those people who are very challenging.
and it is also very foolish talk of slaughter. This is still a very tough and hard to say that one car to another car killer. and childish as well.
CT6 could be a competitor to the Audi-BMW-mb. belong to the same league. I’d be proud and happy.
KIA or hyndai lexus or not some competitors. Who is this feeling of mine. even if he does not have the MB-BMW-AUDI league. Can CT6 much closer AUDI BMW-MB-League. MB is more complicated. However, current models of BMW and Audi are not extra-terrestrial space
I see the CT6 is going to have the same looks as the BMW 7…audi 8 Lexes LS….I wounder what the CT8 is going to look like.
I haven’t had hope for Cadillac since forever. I do now. Even if this is a bean counted car as Scott suggested. I think the best is yet to come. The Cadillac Company appears to be getting their long lost mojo back.. This whole aura around and about them recently has a 1920’s-1940’s feel about it. World class, World domination. What the leader once was and looks to be on it’s way to becoming again.
Really, just looking at what we haven’t seen of the upcoming Malibu, I’m cautiously starting to get that same vibe from the Chevrolet Company as well…. Has GM been working overtime in the war room on Chevrolet & Cadillac?
the CT6 is going to be better than the XTS….I’m looking forward to a longer and lower look than the XTS.
some people are lucky if the iPhone has a fake. Some car manufacturers are also such as fake iphone. Anyone can be copied but can not be carried out. Some of them make a wooden fake iphone copy of the phone which is pretty appearance.
I hope that Cadillac fans are people who know what is perfect. which are tiny parts of the design, material, quality.
Cadillac is not much to ask to be a competitor to the BMW-AUDI-MB. This should be an obligation even GM. This is demonstrated by the GM’s own attitude.
did not want to believe that GM will produce a worse car than XTS aahhaaaaaa.
New GM, I do not believe it. Never could it be possible. Although the current GM has also made all sorts of different moves.
Cadillac cts is far more fantastic than a audi 8 or bmw 7 class, great look great personality full tech, noble history, fun…
What i got from the article is that the CT6 will create a segment. A car able to handle and perform like a sports car while being large and spacious. Having all the luxury and tech you could ask for.
I was beginning to get sick of Cadillac always mentioning the German 3 in their press releases, commercials, interviews, etc. I think its a great idea that they are taking a risk and trying to create a segment. If sales are in the 1500 a month range it will be a success and others will follow. Pricing to start in the 60k range is brilliant. Judging by Escalade sales, people have no problem dropping close to 100k on a Caddy.
That my friends is DARING GREATLY.