mobile-menu-icon
GM Authority

Three-Row Cadillac Crossover Coming In 2019

Although the Cadillac Escalade remains a cash cow, the brand desperately needs to bridge the gap from XT5, a mid-size crossover, to the full-size SUV. According to President Johan de Nysschen, such a vehicle is under development.

The chief Cadillac executive told The Detroit Free Press in a report published on Tuesday that a three-row Cadillac crossover will likely debut in spring of 2019. It’s the first form of confirmation we’ve received on a larger Cadillac crossover. Previously, some intel suggested the vehicle was off the table.

Details are still scarce, however, though we’ve referred to this vehicle as the Cadillac XT6 in the past. The nameplate is far from certain.

What is clear is how Cadillac will continue to finance its North American turnaround: China. Sales in China boomed in 2017 and de Nysschen noted the brand’s success in China will help revive the brand in the U.S. “Profits generated in China are funding our development in the U.S.,” de Nysschen said.

Cadillac sold 175,489 cars in China compared to 156,440 cars in the U.S. last year.

For now, we will refer to the three-row crossover as the XT6, and it could take two distinct forms. The less likely form is an Omega-based crossover that would share underpinnings with the Cadillac CT6. Right now, the CT6 sedan is the only GM vehicle that uses the innovative architecture capable of supporting a mixed-material strategy and innovative spot welding techniques.

The more likely form is a full-size crossover built on the C1XX platform, which the XT5 already rides on. C1XX also underpins the full-size 2018 Chevrolet Traverse and 2018 Buick Enclave in the platform’s stretched form.

Former GM Authority staff writer.

Subscribe to GM Authority

For around-the-clock GM news coverage

We'll send you one email per day with the latest GM news. It's totally free.

Comments

  1. As an owner of a 2018 Acadia Denali, this definitely interests me. It will be interesting to see how they position the pricing.

    Reference points:
    Enclave Avenir is a $60,000 MSRP vehicle after adding AWD and Tech Package.
    Escalade starts at $75,000.

    Seems like XT6 would start at $60,000 and run to $75,000 in Platinum trim.

    Reply
    1. Most likely the new and revamped Escalade will problem go up in price and if they do it right way up in price. What they could do then is do 2 SUV’s between the XT5 and Escalade. XT6 on the Enclave platform and XT7 on the Omega platform. Whatever they do the need to put the Omega platform to more use especially considering the time,money and effort they spent developing it.

      Reply
      1. It’ll grow on the top end, but not on the bottom. Not with debut. It’ll expand on the bottom end, so for the same $75,000, you’re looking at a TTV6 or a 5.3L than the classic 6.2L. It’ll also get some version of supercharged LT1.

        It’s not getting the new Cadillac V8.

        Reply
        1. Regarding the downvoting, this isn’t conjecture. I’m telling you what is going to happen with the new model.

          Reply
    2. more like $45,000-$80,000

      Reply
  2. There’s been talk of a 3-row Cadillac for awhile now – it was referred to as the XT9, I believe, and was to be built on the (already existing) Enclave platform.

    It’s good to see them moving forward – but given that there have been rumblings for 12-18 months about it, I wonder why they delayed in giving the (name TBD) the green light …

    Reply
  3. From what I heard a Cadillac rep state it was based on the C1XX and is improved 3 row XT5.

    I am not sure if they will upgrade the engine and other things that the XT5 lacks.

    It has also been stated it has some look more of a Volvo SUV so the styling will differ from the XT5.

    We have to remember the XT5 was not a JDN product and I expect this larger model will carry the changes he has directed since there was time to make them before production.

    I would not be surprised to see the XT5 to get a refresh in a year with JDN changes.

    Reply
    1. C1TL, which is about Acadia-sized with a longer wheelbase, and engine will be LGX from the XT5 and a TTV6.

      Reply
      1. So it’s really Traverse sized… not Acadia sized. It’s essentially the Traverse platform.

        Reply
  4. This confirms what we were all suspecting, and that is a good thing. The part I am most interested in is the platform. Specifically, Omega.

    CT6 is the only car using the highly praised platform. I find it puzzling that GM would put all the time and money into such an amazing platform and only use it in a single, low volume vehicle. You would think they would want to scale up applications of the platform to spread the costs across more units. An SUV would do just that with their booming growth. However, with recent news that GM will begin transitioning to just 4 platforms across all brand, I wonder if Omega will slowly fade out and merge with Alpha to become the future VSS-R platform; the sole rear wheel drive platform projected in the VSS plan.

    The timeline of the XT6 would put it into production around 2020, when the VSS plan would start to bring the platforms to market. This vehicle could be one of the first to present GM’s new platform transition. It would go inline with the precedent of giving the latest and greatest tech to Cadillac first and then trickling down through other brands. I just hope that the vehicle is engaging to drive and a step up from XT5 design and quality. I would really target Q7 and the XC90 as benchmarks.

    Reply
    1. Absolutely agree! I too am curious to see how GM’s strategy of downsizing their number of platforms will be implemented. The Alpha/Omega platforms desperately need more product to be justified! Otherwise they’re pointless, as most of the few cars riding on them are set to be phased out! It’d be a nice thought to see an all-RWD Cadillac lineup! How else can they better distinguish themselves from the corporate siblings’ extensive use of FWD platforms and driving dynamics?! But realistically, I don’t believe it’s possible having an all-RWD Cadillac lineup; nor is it necessary seeing as to how GM’s finally starting to put out some good FWD-based products! I’m all for a C1XX-based Cadillac SUV, as there hasn’t been a genuine, 3-row midsize Cadillac SUV before! I recall the first gen SRX having a 3rd row option, but it was virtually useless!

      Reply
      1. Alpha platform based products are not being phased out. Next products from it are CT5 and CT4/CT3.

        Reply
    2. It will not be on Omega. An Omega-based large crossover will come to market, but not until >2021.

      Reply
  5. About dang time.

    Reply
  6. Reply
    1. No. The large lux sedan and crossover (and coupe) will be, though.

      Their “electric” cars are a powertrain (propulsion) setup adaptable across the VSS-R range.

      Reply
  7. I saw the XT6. It is fwd based. Everything above the XT6(XT7 and +) will be RWD based.
    Also the there is a big chance that the second gens of the XT6, XT5 will RWD based. Even the XT4.

    Reply
    1. For all those interested, this will most likely be the case at Lincoln, as well. Both lineups will most likely be almost entirely RWD by the middle of the next decade.

      Somewhat ironically, Lincoln will probably be first.

      Reply
      1. Even the crossover offerings will be RWD-based? That would be excellent news!

        Is this VSS-R?

        Reply
  8. What RWD chassis will Lincoln be using for there car’s? And went do they plan too started? For Cadillac 2020, 2021 are not that far off. Next Gen Alpha chassis coming up :: CT5,CT4,CT3. Next Gen XT5 (RWD)/ XT7, XT8,XT4, next Gen XT6 will be RWD/AWD. Next Gen omega coming too. 2020-2021:: XT7 (RWD)crossover omega chassis, XT5:: next gen Alpha chassis( RWD).

    Reply
    1. A flex platform capable of FWD and RWD. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, as I believe it will still be a transverse platform from what I’ve heard, and the RWD will mainly be a “technicality” of AWD augmented by enhanced proportions. I’m not sure if the MKZ or Aviator is coming first, but it’s underpinning both of those; I don’t know if the MKC is going RWD.

      Next-gen Omega is no longer “Omega,” but instead part of the VSS-R program. A2xx is not VSS-R. Its “successor,” or more appropriately successor products, will be VSS-R. The earliest completion date for the Cadillac model turnover is the latter half of next decade post-2025. They’re all RWD, so yes, they’re all VSS-R.

      Cadillac’s large flagship car should come around ~2023, and it will symbolize the next turning-point for the brand, preceding the debut of a sports car, the conversion of their crossover portfolio to RWD, and the continued ascension of the brand with a halo SUV. Contrarily, Lincoln will debut a similarly-sized large RWD car around the same time to serve as a capstone for a fully revised lineup.

      The Cadillac is at last I heard still being discussed as a liftback or a four-door cabriolet, the latter being the preference of JdN. It’s conceivable that both will be built, and that is why the large coupe will not have a convertible variant. I understand the Lincoln is “just” a sedan.

      Cadillac’s lineup realignment is a longer process than Lincoln’s, but at the end of the day, I believe it will remain the more exciting brand.

      Reply
      1. Quick note I overlooked: it will not be underpinning the Aviator. It will be underpinning the next MKZ.

        Reply
    2. Rumors point to it being called the D6 platform

      Reply
  9. This sounds very interesting

    Reply
  10. D6 is a new FWD/AWD chassis for Lincoln’s crossover’s.

    Reply
    1. Not quite. D6.2 is for SUVs, and won’t be ready til early/mid-decade.

      I also made another mistake, saying it will be transverse. Future Lincolns will have longitudinally mounted powertrains. I did mean the same thing about the technicality of RWD. Its strategy should more than vaguely resemble Audi’s.

      Reply
  11. a mid sized 3 row Caddy SUV definitely needs to be on the Omega platform, with rear wheel drivetrain and AWD, to set it apart from the other GM SUVs and make to a true Cadillac. I want one ASAP!

    Reply
  12. Cadillac has a 3 row, rwd people mover! It’s called the Escalade. But u assume that doesn’t work for you because your wallet wont allow it?

    Why do people think GM designs and builds cars and trucks specifically for them?

    Reply
  13. Three-Row Cadillac Crossover is the best. Future Lincolns will have longitudinally mounted powertrains. I did mean the same thing about the technicality of RWD. Its strategy should more than vaguely resemble Audi’s in January 2020 Calendar

    Reply

Leave a comment

Cancel