Despite previous reports of the Cadillac XTS’ death after 2019, brand president Johan de Nysschen confirmed the large, front-wheel drive Cadillac would live to see another day. Specifically, he stated it would see a refresh and soldier on alongside the current lineup of vehicles.
Motor1 has spotted the 2018 Cadillac XTS as it hit the streets in Michigan wearing camouflage at both the front and rear. Up front, it’s easy to see some 2016 Cadillac CT6 cues, especially in the vertical LED lighting treatment. It also seems there is a simple, horizontal style grille underneath the camouflage.
At the rear, differences are more difficult to spot, but new exhaust outlets can be seen. We’d expect both the front and rear bumpers to take on an edgier appearance, much like the refreshed 2017 Cadillac CTS.
With the XTS, Cadillac is able to keep on keeping on in the livery business, as it uses the vehicle as its basis for limousines and hearses. Not to mention, XTS sales jumped 22 percent during the month of September.
If you’re looking for a truly new Cadillac XTS, nothing has been mentioned of it. However, Buick would love to sell you full-size luxury sedan riding on updated E2XX Â architecture in the 2017 Buick LaCrosse.
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Good news for those looking for a ‘traditional’ Cadillac luxury sedan and those in the livery and funeral services profession.
Did anyone notice the opening in the front grille for what looks like a camera that should be the basis of Cadillac’s new Super Cruise system?
Normally I like all things traditional luxury… if they built a bigger car, added a bench front seat and a stand-up hood ornament, I would dream of someday owning one. Heck, I even prefer front-wheel drive -way more than most who consider themselves enthusiasts …but I’m feeling rather “meh” about the XTS living on. I feel that the CT6 is a superior car, and opting for the V6 (and why wouldn’t you?) includes all wheel drive thus negating the traction disadvantage of RWD for only slightly higher price than an XTS. True, the ride isn’t going to be as supple (perhaps a selectable “soft ride” setting should be offered on the CT6), the trunk isn’t as cavernous for livery use, and the rear seat doesn’t even fold down(!) …seriously, a small pass thru only. The Buick Lacrosse Avenir package should be as luxurious as the current XTS, but still lacking in the trunk space area though.
I found that the XTS has the best overall driving experience of the Impala/LaCrosse/XTS trio. Frankly, I couldn’t figure out what all the positive press was about the Impala, to me it was just a large sedan with acceptable ride characteristics that plowed like a MIssouri mule in the corners. The LaCrosse has a better ride and marginally nice interior, but the trunk space of a compact car. The XTS rode as well as the LaCrosse, had an equally nice interior, and the same size trunk as the Impala.
Good point Mac, I don’t understand why Buick thinks the Lacrosse should have a tiny trunk. It was even worse on the prior model, with a very small opening and small trunk. Impala probably got good press because it was the first on that platform, and also a big upgrade to the prior Impala.
I should be a given that the XTS is the best of the bunch since it is the most expensive by a large margin.
As someone that owned a 2009 Impala, I can say that the new one handles like a Corvette by comparison, and the overall ride quality and quietness of the interior have been stepped up quite a bit. My dad bought the 2014 when it came out, and I test drove a few in different configurations before deciding that the 2015 Lacrosse was a better overall fit for what I was looking for. The Lacrosse has some nicer interior features not available on the Impala (head-up display, heated steering wheel), but overall I do prefer the dash layout of the Impala. The Impala also feels roomier in the front seat, and has a noticeably less intrusive console. I considered the XTS only as far as sitting in one at the auto show, pricing out new ones online, and searching auto trader to see how old I’d have to go for it to be priced similarly to the Lacrosse. Yes, the Lacrosse has a tiny trunk and the XTS solves that issue, but so does the cheaper Impala, so that’s not really added value as a luxury that should justify the higher cost. I couldn’t figure out what made the XTS worth $10k more than my comparably equipped Lacrosse. The Caddy had tri-zone climate control and retractable sun shades for the rear doors (neither of which I care about since the rear seat is seldom used in my cars) and a few more speakers in the BOSE system (but still no sub woofer). In exchange, there were no fog lamps, and getting the head up display required stepping up to an even more expensive package. I have the same front wheel drive, engine and transmission, 18″ wheels, heated and cooled leather seats, articulating hid headlamps, led running lamps, adaptive cruise, etc. all for $10k less than the XTS. At least there was a time when the Deville/DTS came with a V8 to justify price over a Park Avenue/Lucerne.
maybe Cadillac will replace the RWD platforms with ultra high-end FWD platforms and have a big FWD flagship with a high powered EV engines that will be $100.000+.
Ha ha Rye, that’s not going to happen. The US automotive press has succeeded in denigrating FWD and putting it in the same category as hatchbacks/liftbacks: functional advantages but viewed as “cheap” because auto writers want you to think that way. In the future if you want a luxury car, get used to paying more for RWD and slip-sliding all over the place in winter, with a legroom/interior robbing drive shaft. All for some alleged “superior balance” of RWD that 90% of drivers will never notice (except when they try to go through snow).
Are there pictures here, that I am missing? All I see is one picture, of part of a taillight and the XTS badge.
Drew, click on Motor 1 in post.
GM Authority likes to make you hunt for a link in their article to find what it is they’re talking about. I like you guys at GMA, but can’t you just post the photos or whatever here and credit the appropriate site/people? Or at least put at the bottom of the article, “Source: [insert link to source here]” so we don’t have hunt for it?
Chris,
We can’t simply take the photos because we do not own them and do not have permission to use them. However, I will definitely take note of changing the format to make the links easier to find in the story.
Thanks for your input and most importantly, thanks for reading!
Cheers,
-Sean
I believe the current RWD Omega platform isn’t as good as S-Class…the Caddy CT6 tend to have less interior room and less cargo space and a harsher ride than the S-Class….maybe the next generation Omega platform will better and it would be time for a CT8.
I am happy to see the XTS staying around but for the life of me I don’t see how anyone can make out much from those pics. I can see some sorta difference but can’t relate it to the CT6.
hopefully Cadillac will make the RWD platform roomy and soft riding just like the glory days…..so we won’t have to rely on the fat and and stubby FWD XTS for soft riding and comfort….but that won’t happen overnight.
Cadillac’s President, Johan De Nysschen, has made some mistakes; but to cancel production of the XTS is like sitting your team’s best player as it’s something that can get you fired.
The XTS is hardly Cadillac’s best player. It has good volume for sedans these days but remember that a good chunk of that volume is fleet, livery and the funeral home markets.
right now the XTS needs to stay in the lineup…. but I’m pretty sure the XTS won’t live to see 2025.
Looks like the XTS is getting very similar headlights to the CT6. Notice the bumper fill in between the DRL headlight housing
Good catch I guess but the heading in the article is ‘2018 Cadillac XTS Refresh Spied With Subtle CT6 Cues’ so CT6 styling cues are what was expected.
My bet is that this model is just staying in the lineup until roughly 2020 when the overall portfolio has been filled out. We will se radical changes with the new product that has been under direct control of JdN. The Escala is our best look at what will come from Cadillac between 2018 and 2020 and moving forward. The 2018 XTS will adopt the outgoing design for now until its end of production in 2020 when all other models have adopted the new design.
I’m glad it is sticking around for a bit longer.
the Escelad is the only Cadillac that looks like a real Cadillac…eveything else is just cheap, soft or uninspired BMW wanabees.
For me, this car (Cadillac XTS) should either die or degrade to a lower level to compete directly with Lexus ES. XTS price is almost in tie with CT6.
Cadillac XTS is based on Impala which is Avalon’s rival. And Lexus ES is based on Avalon.
Which concludes that XTS should be head to head with ES in term of price, features, target buyers, etc. ES price is much lower than XTS.
ES is about $37,000 while XTS starts with $45,000 for the base and goes up to $66,000 for the Platinum.
The dealer in my country (Saudi Arabia) bring the Platinum only and sell for a price which is matches the CT6.