We Ponder A Cadillac CT8 Flagship: Opinion
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Over the last few months, there has been a significant amount of buzz as a result of reports stating that the rumored Cadillac CT8 was cancelled. The vast amount of attention garnered by the reports was quite surprising for a product whose existence has never been confirmed, denied, or otherwise validated by anyone at GM or Cadillac.
Regardless of whether the CT8 program has been canceled, postponed or, dare we say, still on track, hasn’t stopped us from imagining the direction in which Cadillac could take such a model.
Framing Out A Flagship
Before we get into where the CT8 could go, let’s outline what such a vehicle is very likely to be and have:
- Slot above the CT6 as Cadillac’s flagship prestige luxury sedan
- Ride on a longer version of GM’s Omega platform
- Be bigger and more luxurious than the CT6
- Feature more interior luxury, especially for back-seat passengers, compared to the CT6
- Be powered by the upcoming Cadillac V8 twin-turbo DOHC engine (a Cadillac exclusive) mated to GM’s new ten-speed automatic transmission
From there, the way we see it is that a Cadillac CT8 — still very much unconfirmed and very much imaginary — could go one of the following two ways.
1. A Long-Wheelbase Sister Model To The CT6
The first direction that a CT8 could take is to simply be better, bigger and more luxurious than the CT6. This brings us to market positioning, which is a rather involved topic which begins with the CT6.
The CT6 can be looked at in two ways: as a direct rival to other full-size prestige-luxury sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series, Audi A8, Jaguar XJ and Lexus LS, or as a vehicle that doesn’t rival those segment stalwarts. From a dimensional and feature standpoints, the CT6 is right there with the rest of the full-size sedan segment, but its $53,000 starting MSRP is at least $19,000 lower than the least expensive vehicle in the class (Lexus LS) and at most $42,000 lower than the most expensive vehicle (Mercedes-Benz S-Class).
The CT6’s lower price point is perhaps a lesson learned from Cadillac’s previous pricing strategies, some of which which haven’t gone over well. As such, CT6 pricing appears to be straddling segments — giving customers access to certain size, quality, driving experience, and other characteristics or features found in full-size flagship sedans, but for a mid-sized price. After all, the CT6 is just hundreds off the base price of a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, one of the perennial stalwarts of the midsize luxury sedan segment.
Despite today’s comparatively affordable nature of the CT6, we imagine that the pricing of Cadillac vehicles will steadily increase over time as the brand continues to reinvent itself in the marketplace, improve its image and its products.
And that brings us to the so-called CT8. If the CT6 is positioned against the short-wheelbase versions of the 7-Series, S-Class, LS, and XJ, then a CT8 in the form of a bigger CT6 will simply compete with the long-wheelbase versions of those models.
This means that the rumored CT8 would feature an exterior and interior mostly identical to those of the CT6, but with more luxury amenities (especially in the rear seat) and a much more potent standard powerplant. The biggest selling feature of such a vehicle would be more room, accomplished by stretching the CT6’s Omega platform.
Rivals of such a vehicle would include:
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class or Mercedes-Maybach S600 Sedan
- BMW 760iL
- Audi A8L W12
- Jaguar XL LWB
- Lexus LS 600h L
2. An Entirely Different Vehicle
The second direction that we can see Cadillac taking a so-called CT8 is an entirely different model from the CT6. Granted, it would still ride on an elongated Omega platform, while having vastly different styling and delivering significantly more luxury amenities.
As an example, imagine the relationship between the Audi A8 and the Bentley Flying Spur or what the BMW 7 Series is to the Rolls Royce Ghost. The Bentley shares the overall platform of the A8, while the Ghost shares the architecture of the 7 Series. But you would never know it just by looking at them.
To note, the Bentley Flying Spur has a starting price of $200,000, while the Rolls-Royce Ghost starts at $295,850. These are prices that Cadillac could charge for the CT8, but doesn’t have to.
Cadillac could also up the ante with the CT8 by creating a rival to the even more-exclusive and expensive Bentley Mulsanne (starting price: $303,700) and Rolls Royce Phantom (starting price: $417,825). But that’s an entirely different ballgame, one that would perhaps involve building vehicles entirely by hand, and offering mountains of bespoke options — from custom paint to embroidered seats, and more. It would put Cadillac in competition with the most expensive sedans in the world, but that’s nothing that the brand hasn’t been successful in doing before.
Which direction would you like to see a (rumored and unconfirmed) Cadillac CT8 go? Which do you think is more likely? Talk to us in the comments.
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Measure of the tape.. a CT8 would be in the Maybach class with an overall length of over 214 inches which is about 10 inches more than the current CT6; whether they should build this car depends on how much of the engineering they have done on this project and how many cars would they need to sell to break even.
I remember watching a Youtube video where Cadillac supposedly said of needing to sell 50 CTS Wagons to recoup all of the engineering cost; if this is the situation for the CT8 then it would almost be insane not to build it just as it’s sort of insane that Cadillac decided not to build a CTS coupe or wagon.
I have driven several different DTS sedans and currently drive an XTS. I like this class of car due to it’s size, amenities and price. I will probably lease a 2017 CT6 in December. If you launch a CT8 and charge $15,000 to $40,000 more for it I will have no interest in it. I am very happy with the XTS and the CT6 in the $50,000+ price range. I have always said these cars provide more Bang for the Buck!
they should wait till after the next generation Omega platform lands to build the CT8….. why ???
1 Cadillac will have an all-new Revolutionary design theme
2 the next gen Omega which could be called O2XX could be lighter than the current platform
so they could build a bigger car on it without being too big and heavy.
3 the O2XX could be engineered for better interior packaging so the CT8 wouldn’t have to be too large to meet the right
interior volume…plus engineered to be vary lightweight.
2nd generation CT6……..when : 2024 modal year.
CT8 when : 2025 modal year.
I have a. 2014 CTS 4. Just at 75,000 miles the differential pinion needs to be replaced. I’ve only had it for 2 years and now I have to pay an enormous repair bill. I My argument is I think the maker should be responsible and pay for this repair. The dealership where I bought the car has been doing the maintenance on the vehicle.
To say the least I am very disappointed in Cadallic. Since it’s supposed to be the luxury car!!!