The New York Auto Show usually brings in a bunch of Wall Street types to scrutinize cars and provide analysis on the different auto companies that are on display. But year-in and year-out, we get the impression that there is a sense of detachment there, and that their impressions — while influential — are often misplaced. And that could mean that they are quick to assume that the 2016 Cadillac CT6 is going to tackle the Mercedes-Benz S-Class right out of the gate. Or they may get it twisted in the other direction and think it’s meant to tackle the BMW 5 Series and the like. Â We’re here to help alleviate that confusion.
What The 2016 Cadillac CT6 Is
1. A Highly Dynamic Full-Size Sedan
The 2016 Cadillac CT6 is nearly the same length as a BMW 740Li, Â while weighing around an estimated half-ton less than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, let alone the much smaller CTS. Meanwhile, its available four-wheel steering Active Chassis System allows for a turning radius of 37 feet, making it significantly more maneuverable than any of its full-sized rivals at low speeds, while the system allows for more stable motions at high speeds. Couple that with the impressive 3.0L twin-turbo V6 engine with 400 horsepower, and we’re sure to have an impressive power-to-weight ratio when the full spec sheet is published.
2. A Showcase Of GM’s Latest Engineering Techniques
The Omega platform underpinnings of the CT6 is a modern marvel combing the latest use of aluminum alloy and high-strength steel. And GM owns a lot of intellectual property that makes it possible. Aluminum spot welding, for instance, bonds pieces of aluminum together in ways that nobody else can do, while the steel is incorporated in areas where strength and sound insulation are needed the most. And just because it’s lighter than the lightest vehicles in the segment under it doesn’t mean that the CT6 is competing with them. It’s just showing what sort of weight savings has been achieved with no compromises, perhaps other than cost.
3. A Highly Promising Springboard Vehicle
With no V8 option or a long-wheelbase variant at launch, it’s hard to see the 2016 Cadillac CT6 reaching beyond $100,000. But give it time. Let the cadence happen, let the Omega platform mature and let Cadillac continue its climb up the luxury ladder. Because if this is the entry-level Omega Cadillac, there’s going to be a lot for the Germans to worry about in the not-too-distant future.
What The 2016 Cadillac CT6 Is Not
1. A Flagship
Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. If they do, they have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. Again, without any high-end powertrains or a stretched out version, the CT6 is pretty limited as to what it can compete with for now, whether we like it or not. But it would be foolish to think that such variants aren’t coming, as Cadillac hasn’t been bashful in mentioning that it will soon reveal more exclusive engines, including V8s. What’s more, since Cadillac has stopped short of officially labeling the CT6 as a “flagship,” you can bet that the flagship program is still in the pipeline.
2. An S-Class Fighter
Yes, the Cadillac CT6 much lighter than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and yes it has superior V6 engine offerings to the S-Class. But in the US market, where only the long wheelbase S-Class is offered, the German luxury sedan starts at $92,000, and will go all the way up to over $230,000 with the V12-powered S65 AMG. It’s unlikely the Cadillac CT6 will have a similar starting MSRP, despite its engineering breakthroughs. But a short-wheelbase BMW 7 Series, which starts at $72,000, may be a more realistic entry point for the CT6, give or take.
3. The Car That Will “Save Cadillac”
Ultimately, no single car will save Cadillac. Ultimately, Cadillac sticking to its $12 billion long-term plan of elevating its perception among buyers and expanding its product portfolio with home-run products will save Cadillac. Though if we must say, the CT6 seems like a helluva start.
[nggallery id=715]
Comments
What new here, Several of us here have been saying this and warning folks that this is a car that will advance Cadillac but it is not the destination.
The new folks and the $12Billion dollars just got to Cadillac We will see improvements in their engineering, design and marketing in the next few years and the product that will feel the first effects are 4-5 years out.
The CT6 was the flagship for those who were at Cadillac 5 years ago working under GM limitations. They did a very good car. The folks coming in have higher expectations and no limitations on them. It will be interesting to see where this all goes.
So you think I can get one of these for $30k by 2018 or 2019? with under 35k miles?
I am not sure it will be that low but most cars in this segment make a dramatic drop in value as many owenrs who can afford new replace them often and few people want the older car.
Even Benz and BMW drop much as in this segment most buyers want the latest and greatest. These are the cars that drop to the middle class and to those who can not afford them new. But too often they find they can not afford to pay repair cost. I have seen many a second owner BMW owner cry over a repair bill.
Had one buddy who could afford the payment but not the repairs.
Rolls like to really tank from what they originally cost. The worst thing for a person of means to be seen in is an old car if they are image bound.
Why wait? You can pick-up a very lightly used ’14 CTS 2.0T for low to mid $30’s right now! The CT6 cars with the 2.0T will also see huge depreciation right out of the gate. A $20K drop in value after 1 year very likely. Why? It’s just not an acceptable thing yet in luxury cars in the $60-70K price range.
But how many turbo 2.0 CT6 do you think they will sell? Vast majority will be AWD turbo V6 and the 2.0 will be more for China.
Yo find few non turbo 4 ATS here.
Why offer the 2.0T here at all? No problem to offer in other markets, but here it will not help the car, it will “hurt” the car. Unlike the ATS or even CTS, there is no need here in NA for an “entry level” CT6.
http://www.autoblog.com/2015/04/02/cadillac-ct6-hybrid-likely-shanghai/
neat article, hopefully the V gets the green light, if there is anyone who pulls towards performance at GM its Reuss so im confident, but it sounds like its not even under development so its going to be awhile
“But a short-wheelbase BMW 7 Series, which starts at $72,000, may be a more realistic entry point for the CT6, give or take.”
I agree this is not an S-Class fighter, and will overlap more with the 7-series, but does anyone really think a CT6 will start at anything close to $72k? If so, it will be DOA, like the ELR.
My assumption is the CT6 will be around $55-60k as a starting point. Has anyone heard anything more specific and/or disagree?
I disagree,.
This car will start at near or a little over $70K. How is this car going to be DOA when the ELR was not practical compared to the CT6? The ELR was handicapped in some areas which hurt them in sales.
Wow, you think this car is going to come out at $72k base? I would be shocked if it finds acceptance in the marketplace at that number.
So to make sure I have this right:
ATS: starts at $33k
CTS: starts at $45k
CT6: starts at $72k
That’s a huge jump, esp with ATS and CTS sales doing so poorly lately. I’m rooting for Cadillac but I don’t think the marketplace is ready for a Caddy sedan at that price. Hope I’m wrong.
Cadillac must earn it’s spot in the luxury space meaning price points should be kept low giving the brand a more-for-less import buster reputation for a few years.
From a performance standpoint, this car it’s to notch. GM must promote this.
Lets put the bullshit to rest about this talk about the CT6 NOT being the flagship.
This car is a flagship for Cadillac at this moment. It has the biggest car in the line-up, has the most technology and most likely will have a high price tag similar to the short-wheelbase models.
Just because the CT6 is the standard model without a long-wheel base version of the CT8 does not mean that it is not a flagship. Anyone who wants a long wheelbase model of the CT6 unfortunately have to wait until the car, CT8, is produced or look at the competition.
And to clear up the flagship theory, automakers can have several flagship models in their line-up. Just because Cadillac is taking a different approach from the competition does not mean that the CT6 should be dissuaded as a flagship.
Come on guys, you know better than that. The short wheel base models from Lexus, BMW, Audi, Mercedes Benz, Jaguar and etc are flagship models which they provide a long wheelbase version of the standard model as an option. The CT6 is literally a flagship for Cadillac. When Lexus started with the LS 400, it has the standard wheelbase model only until the fourth generation.
While agree with much of what you say GM is the one that claims this is not their intended Flagship. This is jus their largest car till that car is ready.
The Flagship word is so over uses. Even the so called flagship cars are not the top sellers.
In other words: the STS wished upon a star and became the CT6
This is pretty simple:
What it is:
An amazing, luxurious, and technologically advanced full size sedan to open up the market for Cadillac.
What is isn’t:
The complete deal / top end car model that Cadillac will eventually make, i.e. the CT7/8/9.
That need to bring Buick avenir it will pay Cadillac omega platform cause cad can’t pay the bills fucken tired of Buick getting toss to the side when that sell more cars and look better and that got real names not some dumb number
TThe starting price of the CT6 will depend on how many variants there are . For example , A Base model , Luxury , Perfomance , and Platinum . Look to the XTS for a price point and add $10g’s . In the latest pics so far it seemed the white car may have been the less expensive model and the I noticed on the Grey car there was a crest on the fender near the door . That maybe was the top of the line car . And I would expect the top vehicle to come close to a base Escalade . In a recent article from Kelley Blue Book , it stated that most all luxury cars loose as much as 35% of its value in the first year alone . And that included the German nameplates .
I doubt that Cadillac will offer a base model for the CT6. Somewhere on here there was only three collections from Luxury to Platinum discussed last year about the CT6.
That white CT6 is a luxury model I bet because it did not had the rear executive seat package and the grill, while nice, did not look very bold compared to the gray model. I believe that gray model is the Platinum model.
Truly Definitive a Brand New TTV8 on the Way 😉 …….
Without a proper V8 ( the Corvette motor ? ) it`s just half baked. And that`s a shame given the engineering effort to design this car.
So, the CT6 is a better XTS?…..I can live with this. It carries the same rhetoric as the XTS: a placeholder for the true Cadillac flagship, but with much better substance this time around. The tech sounds promising, but the styling is a tad too conservative; both inside and out. This isn’t to say the car is not attractive. The live photos and vids of the CT6 look wonderful. But, while the exterior styling does have some presence, the face and body lines could use some more distinction from the CTS; I could barely tell the two apart! And the interior styling, while clean and simple, looks a tad too plain; plus the buttons and switches look low grade.
The appeal of this car is most definitely the tech! Four wheel steering, extensive use of lightweight material for the car’s architecture and an all-new 3.0L TT V6 sound awesome! If the price is right, which I expect will compliment the CTS much the same way the XTS does currently (most likely carrying at least a $5-10K premium over the CTS) , should draw some decent sales.
I brought my very first cadillac in 2013 and may be my last. The reason is, I thought the cadillac was the top of the GM luxury vehicle, was I wrong. What a shocker when I looked into a Buick Lacrosse they look just alike in the inside…Why are the Chevy looking better on the inside than a Cadilla, just dont get it!!!