Earlier this morning, we brought you the most recent 2019 Cadillac XT4 spy pictures that show the upcoming compact luxury crossover testing with production lights in the front and rear. A closer look at the camouflaged prototype, however, shows what might be a new feature – deployable running boards integrated into the vehicle’s body.
Specifically, the 2019 Cadillac XT4 tester has a peculiar cutline a few inches below the bottom end of the front door, above the side sill – potentially suggesting that this area will “pop out” to form an assist step, otherwise known as a running board. By comparison, the Cadillac XT5, along with all current-generation crossovers from other GM brands, don’t have the aforementioned cutline. Instead, they feature a door that runs nearly the entire height of the body (vertically) while being broken up visually by a decorative element running horizontally. The automaker has touted a full-height door as having a convenience advantage, as it prevents occupants from sullying their pants or legs when getting in or out of their vehicle on what could potentially be dirty from snow or rain splash-back.
In comparison to the XT4, the doors of the XT5 run nearly the entire vertical height of the vehicle, and are broken up by a decorative element running horizontally that is purely for aesthetic purposes
To date, no GM product has integrated a deployable running board integrated into the vehicle’s body. Other GM vehicles that have offered power-retractable running boards, otherwise known as assist steps, are full-size trucks and SUVs, including the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, as well as the GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade. We should also note that the 2016 Lincoln Navigator concept featured deployable running boards integrated into the body, but the feature didn’t make it into the production version of the all-new Navigator.
2016 Lincoln Navigator Concept featured deployable running boards integrated into the vehicle body
As rival luxury brands have introduced a barrage of crossover utility vehicles to complement their sedan offerings, GM’s Cadillac luxury brand has been severely in the department. To that end, the compact Cadillac XT4 will slot below the midsize Cadillac XT5 and represent Cadillac’s second crossover utility vehicle to take on the likes of the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and Audi Q5 a from a size standpoint, while being priced starting in the low $30,000 range, in the vicinity of the BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class and Audi Q3.
The new crossover will ride on the GM E2 platform shared with the Chevrolet Malibu and Buick Regal/Opel-Vauxhall Insignia. It will likely be powered by GM’s turbocharged 2.0L LTG inline four-cylinder engine making in the vicinity of 250 horsepower. A plug-in hybrid variant will also be offered. The XT4 will be produced for North America at the GM Fairfax plant in Kansas alongside the current Chevrolet Malibu. In fact, the factory has already commenced production prep of the XT4. A Shanghai-GM plant in China will produce the vehicle for that market.
The vehicle will likely feature several unique-to-segment feature, including a hidden rear window wiper and the aforementioned deployable running boards integrated into the vehicle’s body.
Look for the XT4 to be revealed in April at the New York International Auto Show. It will be the first Cadillac product to be completely developed under the leadership of Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen.
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Yes.. Integrated Deployable Running Boards is one of the first things that every CUV buyer asks their dealer and is the difference between whether a sale is made; forget about interior comfort, the layout of the instrument cluster or whether a diesel engine is available for high mileage.
The first part is getting the basics right, which include such things as exterior design, interior design and comfort/ergonomics, driving dynamics, etc.. You get these right and earn a place at the table and on buyers' shopping lists.
The way you get chosen from the others on that same list is by offering features or characteristics that go above and beyond, such as a diesel engine, integrated deployable running boards, a longer warranty period, more/better technology, etc. This is called a competitive advantage that you can use to market your offering.
This is marketing 101... not rocket science.
Alex, as a Chevy/ Cadillac salesperson, I've earned the right to say with authority that Integrated Deployable Running Boards and other techno gizmo BS are just the kind of features that my customers are avoiding.
"It's just another thing to break," they say. Every. Time.
I've been doing this long enough to know that GM's "marketing 101" assumptions don't often correlate with what us salesmen are seeing and hearing in the showroom. I'll take a hard-leaned truth over any textbook formula any day of the week!
would heated deployable running boards change your mind?
what about running boards that can also clean, sanitize and shine your shoes as you step into the vehicle?
or running boards that can detect various mammalian poop and slam the door shut before the passenger enters?
that is at least three patents right there. the possibilities are endless!!!
I'm going to go ahead and call this bunk. They will not put power running board's on their smallest utility to date. That would just be silly.
As for what it actually is? Maybe some sort of preproduction panel that hides Supercruise sensors. Just a guess.
It may not be "powered". Any mechanical engineer can design a system that uses the main door linkage to pull the running board out when the door is opened, and pull the board in as the door is closed. So it will be "human powered" not electrical.
i think what you are describing is a bit more complex than a lazy boy recliner.
There are European sportscars thst lift a part of the roof when the doors are opened so pulling out a running board is similar. Those who downvoted me have no imagination or mechanical sense!
I would find it difficult to believe that Cadillac would bring out such a feature on what will be one of their more affordable vehicles. The economics and size of the vehicle just don’t make sense for such a feature. If it were Escalade, then it would be more believable.
Unless this will start on the XT4 and propagate across the rest of the crossover range...