Cadillac has moved the nameplate badges of some of its 2016 model year vehicles to the top of the trunk lid, GM Authority has discovered. Prior to the 2016 model year, the badges resided at the bottom of the trunk lid.
Now, the emblems for the vehicle lines (ATS, CTS, etc.) as well as designations for engine displacement and aspiration (2.0T, 3.6, etc.) flank the Cadillac Crest on the outside edges of the trunk lid, being slightly below the horizontal line of the Crest.

The position of the ATS badge on the 2016 Cadillac ATS Sedan

The position of the ATS badge on the 2015 Cadillac ATS Sedan
The changes in nameplate positioning apply to the following Cadillac models:
- 2016 ATS, including:
- 2016 ATS Sedan
- 2016 ATS Coupe
- 2016 ATS-V, including the 2016 ATS-V Sedan and 2016 ATS-V Coupe (along with the CT6, among the first to introduce the change)
- 2016 CTS Sedan
- 2016 XTS Sedan
- 2016 CT6 Sedan (along with the ATS-V, among the first to introduce the change)
- 2017 XT5 CUV

2016 Cadillac CTS Sedan: notice the new location of the CTS and 2.0T badges higher on the trunk lid
Meanwhile, the following 2016 model year Cadillac vehicles continue having their nameplates at the bottom of the trunk lid:
- Outgoing 2016 Cadillac SRX
- 2016 Escalade and 2016 Escalade ESV
- 2016 Cadillac ELR

The 2016 Cadillac CT6 full-size sport-luxury sedan was first to introduce the new nameplate location
Interestingly, Cadillac did not announce the changes, in any official announcement, press material, or otherwise. And though the changes are subtle, they do represent a new kind of attention to detail at Cadillac, one that might not have existed prior to the new leadership team.
So now question is, do you like the new, higher location of the badges? Vote in the poll and talk to us in the comments below.
Comments
I guess attention to detail is great. But idc much about this.. I will say I’ve seen tons more new cts’s on the road latley saw 8 on the way to work yesterday I counted
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I think it’s a subtle but nice change. Note that BMW and Mercedes-Benz had long placed their model designations (along with xDrive/4matic, Bluetec diesel whatnot) at the top where the line of sight to the eyes is more natural.
The new location is the correct placement for the model designations.
It is a more prominent position and in the sight line for drivers looking from behind.
It makes sense why Cadillac did it because when you look at the model name and you move your eyes from left to the middle, you recognize what make it is by looking at the logo. Too it makes the rear deck a lot cleaner, IMO.
I would like to see GM move emblems from the grill to the hood. Anyone agree? Most brands have already done this. For GM not to do this with a single brand is beyond me.
They may at some point? They changed it and move It up already.
Often like the rear emblem they happen in steps.
It’s not like some Cadillac fans have difficulty with change or anything. LOL!
Repositioning nameplate location on the trunk lids, and a men’s fashion collection – these are the types of major changes that will make Cadillac great again!
Attention to detail will make Cadilllac great again. Moron.
Wow. Moron?
Sounds like someone’s wearing his Cadillac fashion collection man purse a few notches too tight.
Cutting off oxygen affects the thought process, y’know. It’s all about attention to detail.
At least I’m not a complete castrate like you.
Ya, I think I left my rocks in your man purse. Could you check for me?
And, as always, stay classy, my friend.
You are right, this change is not earthshattering but the devil is in the details.
I like the new location better.
It is the ” little ” things like this that show someone is paying attention to the details .
There are some folks that the first thing they do when they get their new vehicle is shave off all the emblems . In some car circles they think it gives the car a much cleaner look . To each his/her own . On some it actually works .
Even GM does it , Their GM logo on the side of their trucks or the flex-fuel emblems as well . One thing it will do , you will be able to tell the model year difference by just moving the emblems .
This will get a thumbs down , but I would like to see a ” classy ” hood ornament on their luxury cars only . JMO
A little too old school for my liking but to each his own.
Much ado about nothing; at least not so much as to thinking as to why the article thinks there should be some press release from GM about this. I think the previous models had a bit higher belt line/design in the back, and, of course, with the old wagon back end, meant that it couldn’t really put the badging as “high” as it is now.
Plus, they’ve done this before, moving the Escalade’s badging in 2008 or 2009 from one side of the hatch to the other.
To address your comment: we don’t “think” there “should be a press release from GM about this”. But as a business/brand (especially an evolving one like Cadillac), any positive chance you get, you take to talk about your product, you should (generally) take. The removal of the GM badge of excellence was caused by a negative (bankruptcy)… the repositioning of the nameplate badges is completely different.
Either way, no one is lambasting Cadillac for not issues a press release on the matter… ya know?
This is just more of the transition of the brand in the segment.
Some things here are ok to do in keeping Cadillac different but also there are some things many expect in this segment and one is that most put the name or brand of the car high up to be seen.
One thing in this class that sells cars is vanity or ego. People pay a lot of the car they want others to know what they have. The bigger the number often the larger the income.
No one needs a $90,000 Benz as they could do everything in their life in a $28,000 Chevy just the same. The fact is image, Ego and Vanity sell.
Why do people pay more for Beat Head Phones? Why do people pay extra premiums for The North Face Jackets, Why so people pay a major premium for a Armani suit or Rolex watch? It is what it says about the owner and the message they want to send to others.
That is the formula Cadillac is trying to generate. Some will be with new things like Styling from Cadillac that will not be stolen from the others like Lexus has tried for years from Benz.. But other things that are a standard on the segment like the name move will be stolen.
Y’know, speaking of attention to detail… It just occurred to me that Johan was running Audi when the whole VW/AudiPorsche diesel rigging thing began.
(Apparently began in 2009 – Johan departed Audi in 2012).
I’m sure he had no idea, as a very hands-on president, that Audi was tricking the system.
I also wonder if the VW products with the TDI issue were any worse than a ‘regular’ Audi that uses standard petrol.
Anyway, just an observation.
Here’s the problem:
It looks great as long as the Cadillacs all have the body line across the trunk at that point. As soon as that body line disappears, it’ll look odd. How long is “Art & Science” Going to be their design language? Maybe quite a while, maybe not?
Overall I kind of like it though, and I also barely care. I know the “details matter” but this is a really small one, like the removal of the chicklets.
I wonder how long the design is going to make it. Pre-2008 cadillacs look ancient. 2008-2014s are showing their age pretty poorly too. The ATS is already starting to look on the dated side and the CT6 looks like its a 2010 model year and its not even out yet. I don’t really understand “why”, but its something I’ve wondered. I like cadillac. Heck I own a cadillac (although I’m 100% sure I’m defecting with my next purchase sometime in the next 12 months). I just remember how cutting edge the original CTS was in the design department, and then the 2008 redesign looked excellent, and held its modern look well into 2013/2014. When the new CTS and ATS came out they “felt” modern, but for some reason that “feel” has become eroded. Maybe its because so many of their cars share the same design cues (which on paper should be good because it builds brand identity) but its effect is that you see so many more of them on the road that they age quicker?
read my post below
this is nice, the arts and science theme will be remembered for starting modern car design because every make including audi stole their long grill and side design from the first cts. every carmaker scrambled to steal a cue from this car, be it the headlights or the simplistic design or flat flush long grille. nissan co, benz, audi etc has slick been following cadillac to incorporate future to their aging designs (mostly based off the benz w140 and first ls400) No luxury make has broke the mold other than cadillac besides offering those two cars rehashed with gm/caddy features. First to night vision, first to mass produce hid lights (i know bmw did it in 88 but the 97 sts made it common practice as in standard) the whole magnetic suspension, electric steering (gm invented this in 87-88-look it up- and axed it for the fiero, gave it to the EV1, then put it into mass production afterwards) etc. I could go on & on but bottom line caddy is trying to innovate on all fronts, the only thing they are finally copying is length – the one complaint over the years, because either caddy went too long, too short, underpowered, or over designed. now they have balance.
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