Cadillac needs crossovers, and it needed them yesterday. Fortunately, they’re coming, and we have the first few pieces of information on the Cadillac XT3 to share with you all.
The news comes from Autoline, which reported on the (2018?) Cadillac XT3 in its latest broadcast. According to the report, the small crossover, presumably compact in size and not sub-compact, will be built at the Fairfax assembly plant in Kansas. Currently, the Fairfax plant builds the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, and will finish up its skin with the 2016 Buick LaCrosse before the 2017 LaCrosse heads to the Detroit-Hamtramck facility.
The report also states the Cadillac XT3 will be front-wheel-drive-based, and built on a global variant of E2xx, named ETUL. The report continues to say that the ATS’ name will also be dropped, with sources stating “CT3” will grace the vehicle instead.
Don’t expect much official news from Cadillac over future product this year, however. The brand will now focus on launching the 2016 Cadillac CT6 and 2017 Cadillac XT5, while its future product portfolio sits in development until 2018.
Comments
would that be the name for the sedan and coupe? Not ct4,ct3? Then that only leaves the cts with CT5 then again no room for a coupe, we are running out if number already lol, I guess it will be ct3 for both coupe and sedan
if Cadillac wants to do this right and maximize there new naming strategy they should go with CT2 for ats sedan, and CT3 for coupe. Then the CTS would be the CT4, and if they ever get a coupe CT5.
then CT1 would be your subcompact vehicle.
That’s exactly what I had in mind, because if they name the ats AT3 I don’t think there is room for 2 smaller sedans, 2 coupes 2 sedans below the ct6 sounds like a nice portfolio
Fairfax is a great facility and have consistently turned out some of the most trouble-free cars GM has had to offer. Glad they’re getting the chance to build some Caddy’s.
Not another front wheel drive crossover! Oh never mind, I wouldn’t buy a crossover anyway. How about a mid size rear wheel drive SUV like a Cadillac version of a Trailblazer? V8 please. Bet that would sell.
Man! I concur! I’m disappointed to hear Cadillac will resort to building yet another FWD-based CUV! But at least customers can expect it to be relatively inexpensive, given its E2XX platform and powertrain options most likely to be shared with its future Chevy, GMC and Buick platform mates. Plus I’m SO glad to hear the XT3 will be assembled in the U.S.!
Now that the Buick Envision is said to be coming standard with AWD, then it ought to be a given for the XT3 to also come standard with it! Plus I really hope GM decides to at least tune the standard 2.0T to make more power for its duty in the XT3! The Envision will have 252hp? Let the XT3 produce about 275-300hp!
Agree with your thoughts on the XT3 but I would not rule out a FWD model similar to the FWD on the XT5.
“But at least customers can expect it to be relatively inexpensive, given its E2XX platform and powertrain options most likely to be shared with its future Chevy, GMC and Buick platform mates.”
Like the XT5, Cadillac has no choice but to significantly undercut the competition. Nobody is going to pay BMW/Benz prices for a gussied-up ANYTHING.
Yes. As seen with the ATS and CTS, although they are not gussied-up anything, the brand is not yet on par with BMW/MB to command pricing parity. Yet.
FWD? That saddens me, actually. This, like the XT5 is supposed to be one of Cadillac’s most ubiquitous models. It’s the crossovers that buyers are going to experience the most.
What’s looking like is that Cadillac’s cars will compete with the top-tier luxury brands, while the crossovers will compete with Acura, (cheap) Lexus, and (cheap Audi). Neither of which have the prestige associated with Mercedes-Benz/Porsche/BMW. Even Infiniti got the CUV portfolio halfway right. If that’s the case, I’m quite worried about what else lurks on the other side of that product hiatus.
Cadillac is beginning to remind me of Seattle in Super Bowl 49. You have two of the best chassis out there, yet you choose a budget car chassis to underpin one of the most important future product offerings.
Cadillac, do you want to be considered a second-tier luxury brand? Cause that’s how you get considered a second-tier luxury brand.
During Jalopnik’s ask session, one user asked:
Mr. Ellinghaus, thanks for joining us today. Which of these companies are currently the biggest threat to Cadillac ?
-Acura
-Buick
-Infiniti
-Lincoln
-Volvo
His response:
I haven’t heard of most of those.
We focus on BMW, Audi and Mercedes.
Obviously Cadillac has if they’re designing CUVs to target the MDX/RX/XC90 and now the RDX/NX.
I’m actually not even mad.
I’m definitely not a buyer for small compact SUVs (I hate SUVs anyways) but given most of the players in this segment play with the FWD-platforms (E.g. Audi Q3, BMW X1, Mercedes GLA etc.) due to its cheaper price, I’m fine with that as long as AWD is an option & the chassis/suspension is set up right.
yet another FWD vehicle from Cadillac…..I thought Cadillac is done with FWD.
Maybe just done with FWD cars.
FWD crossovers appear to be a different story.