Perhaps the upcoming Cadillac XT4 won’t be first model to wear the brand’s new design language inspired by the Escala concept after all, as recent spy shots seem to show a very familiar front face akin to the current XT5 crossover.
However, the rear almost certainly wears Escalade-like taillights that flow from the top of the roof downward. The light fixtures then veer inward similar to the XTS sedan‘s refreshed units. Up front is where we have a hard to judge if the lights are vertical, like the XT5, or horizontal, as previewed by Escala concept. Whatever the case, the XT4 does look pretty similar in shape to the XT5 overall.
We still don’t have many details on the car otherwise. Power will likely come from a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with front-wheel drive standard, or optional all-wheel drive. The car will ride likely ride on General Motors’ E2 platform, which also underpins the Chevrolet Malibu and Buick Regal, notably.
With less cladding and camouflage, a reveal may come sooner rather than later, but we don’t expect the new crossover to show up in Detroit next month. The 2018 New York Auto Show seems like a better bet, seeing as it’s Cadillac’s new hometown. Whenever it is revealed, we expect the new compact CUV to show up for the 2019 model year as the 2019 Cadillac XT4 and go up against the Lexus NX, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, Audi Q5, and Acura RDX, among others.
Comments
Wow! Looks so much better than i could’ve imagined (so far), we haven’t seen the full design yet so I’m still hopeful.
Still too soon to tell.
What also will be important will be just what the engine and HP/Ft Lbs is. It has to be more and better than the general cooperate engines. It also needs to be north of 300 HP.
The key to Cadillac is to make not just better cars but product ps that offer more than the corperate brothers.
I think JDN gets this and was given the money and independent Cadillac engineers to do it so let’s see what they do.
You just can’t dump a Malibu engine in this and expect people to be impressed with better seats.
Headlights look like the refreshed XTS and XT5 to me. If you look back at the spy shots of the refreshed 2019 CT6, the XT4 headlights look close to that as well. I was really hoping for full out Escala headlights. Someone did a mockup of an Escala SUV and the front end was just perfect. Hopefully more of the Escala design cues make it to production. I don’t want to see a baby XT5.
As for engines, 2.0T is likely the base. I’m hoping its a reworked version that is more refined and closer to 300hp/300 lb-ft torque. Plug-hybrid is pretty certain too. Probably a similar set up from the CT6 system, but hopefully with AWD.
Here’s the Escala crossover rendering you’re referring to:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2016/10/cadillac-escala-crossover-suv-photo-rendering/amp/
I’d say there’s a decent chance of this getting a diesel as well. Should have something for everyone, engine wise.
It was said that XT4 will be these first of escala design. Look’s like it will be just that, front cover doesn’t show a lot.
It looks like this car has an export front plate recess in the front bar cover, looks a bit too wide for a US plate.
Good eye. Given that this will be “new Cadillac’s” first vehicle intended to be sold across global markets, it could be that they will use a single recess for all plates. We’ll see 🙂
I am expecting this Cadillac and others to be revealed in January at the NAIAS in NYC. I am also expecting the XT4 to be more of a plug-in hybrid like the Chevy Volt. This will help international sales, including China.
You mean NAIAS in Detroit.
Sorry, I posted the wrong city. I was probably thinking of the show in my home city.
Raymond, that’s not at all accurate. Far from it, actually.
Chinese car buyers have almost zero interest in new-energy vehicles… including plug-ins like the Volt, which is sold in China as the Buick Velite and whose sales are minimal at best.
The only way this will change is if the government gets behind new-energy vehicles with sky-high incentives, something that they have exhibited interest in doing by making an announcement, but have yet to follow through with any real legislation nearly 60 days later.
So yes, the XT4 will probably have a plug-in variant… but it most certainly is not driven by anything related to China.
I cannot wait! Pant, pant, pant.
I’m looking forward to it, although I’m not expecting to be blown away. Looks to be shaping up quite nicely! Definitely seeing some Escala-like cues in the front fascia! The fact that Cadillac has this model testing with the Benz GLC shows they’re approaching this segment seriously! All they have to do is nail the interior design and materials, and make it handle decently!
In one of the pics that shows two cars the one in front with black wheels and the one behind aluminum , the black wheels look bigger like possibly a 19″ wheel and they seem to fill out the wheel arch .
Can see a raised center on the hood and the sides look fairly flat until 3/4’s down on the door looks like a XT5 design / crease .
The tail lights look like they have a hockey-stick type element to them .
If you can trust these mules it looks like a XT5 type headlamp but I too thought this was going to be the ” new ” face of Cadillac for the first time .
I don’t think it will be in Detroit this January at the NAIAS maybe at a show later this winter though !?!
Do the tail lights have a refreshed XTS look to them? I never liked that little bottom tail on the new ones, its odd.
Any idea when this might be revealed? Bearing in mind recent news that suggest Cadillac will be revealing its new models earlier than before, is Detroit next month a possibility?
The 5 DRL lights on each headlight look to be a part of the camouflage package.