The German luxury marques have more or less dominated the segment for decades, but things are changing. Electrification is on the horizon, and automakers are preparing to launch oodles of new zero-emission vehicles in the coming years. For Cadillac, it’s an “inflection point.”
Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen told Automotive News in a report last Thursday that electric cars and electrification will give Cadillac a major opportunity to redefine itself. The rules for internal combustion engines have been cemented for decades, but with the new technology, Cadillac seeks to lay down some of the fundamentals.
“When it gets to electrification and a whole new set of considerations drive the buying decision, the fact that you made fantastic engines for three decades counts zip,” de Nysschen said of German makes.
Cadillac is poised to receive many new electric cars under General Motors’ plan to introduce 20 electric cars by 2023. Since the technology isn’t exactly profitable yet, de Nysschen said it makes a lot of sense for his brand to usher the powertrains in first. Cadillac will become GM’s technology darling, and most, if not all, major advances will come to the brand first before trickling to other GM brands.
That’s not to say Cadillac will abandon the internal-combustion engine. de Nysschen said fossil fuel-powered cars will stick around for the long run, and the brand he oversees will likely offer multiple powertrains within a particular segment.
GM’s luxury marque will have its work cut out for it. Despite de Nysschen’s words, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche and BMW have all committed to electrification and have plans to introduce dozens of electrified vehicles next decade.
Comments
If Cadillac wants to promote electrification in all their vehicles, they should had begun with the new XT4. Only the CT6 PHEV is “electrified” since the ELR was discontinued.
I’m surprised we didn’t see some kind of electrified powertrain option with the XT4. After all, we did see alleged test vehicles for a PHEV powertrain for the XT4, and the buyers Cadillac is targeting with the XT4 are very open to the idea of alternative powertrains. Hopefully we see such an option come up soon as we move closer to the launch of the vehicle.
Now I know why they have delayed the Presidential Limo for so long…
Trump will debut the world’s first ever ELECTRIC STATE LIMO!!!
I’m so looking forward to Trump getting out of his electric limo and saying “No more MPG limits!”
Way to get Trump into electrification is to tell him the electricity is powered by Bob Murray’s coal…
I’d still expect hybrids to be in the mix. I’ve been reading about electric type of turbochargers, with no lag but a significant bump in horsepower.
I remember seeing articles a year ago that the xt4 would have a plug-in option. The big reveal was a week ago and the plug-in is no where to be seen. As usual Cadillac will probably by late to the party.
Two BEV Plug crossover’s in 2019 one buick crossover, other Cadillac crossover. XT4 will either be a PHEV or a BEV Plug in. XT6 crossover either will be PHEV or BEV Plug in. 2020-2021 All BEV Plug in’s for Cadillac.
I think these XT4 and XT6 crossover will both be a BEV Plug in AWD vehicle.
XT4 crossover starts a $36,000, A Electric drivetrain will be there as of all Cadillac’s model’s will have one.
cadillac will as always be far behind the competition.
By the time they offer an electric car in Europe (2025?), no one will care since the competition will have that fully covered for years.
Volvo will offer an electric CUV next year, 6 years ahead of cadillac.
A good comparison since the xt4 looks like a Volvo but without the reliability and with a lot of cheap black pastic everywhere.
2019 is next year.
It’s already been shown and told to every body about electrification went is starts, and how a all-electric chassis that is being build, for different models to be put on, witch is now. 2019 witch is now.