Although automakers’ marketing departments will gladly call anything with a taller ride height an “SUV,” there’s a distinct difference. And that’s precisely the reason the Cadillac Escalade doesn’t fit the bill for every Cadillac buyer.
With car-like handling, demeanor, and fuel economy, crossovers appeal to many who can see past the Escalade’s posh attributes—it’s still riding on a truck platform. Cadillac plans to remedy this with a three-row crossover, and Automotive News has the scoop on the forthcoming CUV.
The publication reports Cadillac’s large, three-row crossover will be called the XT6 and it will be based on the long-wheelbase version of General Motors’ C1XX platform. That platform currently underpins the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse and 2018 Buick Enclave. The 2017 Cadillac XT5 and 2017 GMC Acadia use a shorter version of the platform.
Not only will it fill an important product niche for the luxury marque, but it will also fill a glaring price gap, too. The 2017 Cadillac XT5 stickers around $40,000 while the next largest vehicle—the Escalade—can’t be had for another $30,000 atop that.
We don’t know when we’ll see the Cadillac XT6 show face, but we’ll get an idea of Cadillac’s future crossover onslaught with the XT4 crossover coming next year.
Comments
This is not news as the Cadillac rep on stage at the Cleveland auto show said this was coming as well as the XT4. They also stated we will see them by this fall at what I assume will be a show as a preview of the 2019 models.
Take on stage comments by Cadillac representatives with a grain of salt. Most of them are just trained by a panflit on the vehicle they are presenting. They know almost as much as the public on future product. One once told me that the Ciel concept would be going to production. Last I checked, it wasn’t. Only believe what you hear from the top as far as product planning.
Well what was given was from a Cadillac official not a model.
Two it is exactly what had been rumored and also stated here.
I know the difference from a GM rep from a presenter model.
I’m hopeful that the new XT6 will have more horsepower than other similar new GM crossovers. The XT5 has 310HP.
The larger XT6 should have more power versus the new Traverse or Enclave.
330 HP+ would make things interesting, as well as something closer to 400HP in a performance package.
I hope the new XT6 will have luggage compartment similar to Escalade XL and with new diesel engine.
I own a Cadillac CTS V-Sport (Chipped & tuned + exhaust) and can say without hesitation that it is an awesome sedan. Have handily whooped a few Mustang GT and Camaro SS with it. I hate the way Cadillac is going with their vehicle lineup. There is nothing wrong with having vehicles with actual names, Deville, Seville, Catera – Touring Sedans (DTS, STS, CTS). Johann thinks that naming a sedan with a number that denotes its relative size in the lineup is smart, and it may very well sell cars, but ultimately the best thing a manufacturer can do is to make a solid vehicle with the options and features people want. With the addition of new vehicles to the lineup it is ridiculous to make the names so similar. XT3,4,5,6 and CT3,4,5,6. I say they should make all of the sedans even numbers (CT2,4,6) and CUVs odd numbers (XT3,5,7). Then you have the Escalade, and I bet they won’t change that name, even though I would. The Escalade would be ST7 (SUV touring) and the Escalade ESV would be the ST9. Focus instead on what makes Japanese and European manufacturers successful – reliability, and performance. People want a three row CUV and also want engine options. The 2.0l turbo from the ATS with 272HP and 295TQ outperforms quite a few engines from other CUV manufacturers and would fit well in the XT5 and the future XT3. Also, Cadillac should ditch the 3.6l NA engine. Use only turbo engines or a mix of turbo and hybrid power plants. The 3.0l TT engine in an XT5 would make this SUV more competitive with the BMW X4M, Porsche Macan GTS, and MB GLC43 AMG, AR Stelvio, etc. The GM Chassis are great and handle very well for the most part. Stop trying to be BMW and focus on model choices that reflect what people want.