One of the biggest criticisms of the 2019 Cadillac XT4 has been the treatment of the lower part of the front fascia. Specifically, the all-new XT4 features a gray-black insert on the lower part of the front end, and those that have taken issue with the design have recommended that Cadillac offer the insert in the body color of the small crossover. So, in collaboration with our sister site, Cadillac Society, we have drawn up just that.
Using a photo of the XT4 Sport that we took at the 2018 New York Auto Show, we carefully painted the front clip to match the Autumn Metallic primary exterior color that adorns the rest of the vehicle. The result is what you see on the left, while the original is on the right.
Though the difference is subtle, it does create a sleeker (less rugged) front end appearance. We’ll let you decide in the comments whether that’s a good thing, or not.
About Cadillac XT4
The Cadillac XT4 is a compact luxury crossover utility vehicle (CUV) from General Motors’ Cadillac division. The first-generation model was introduced in 2018 as a 2019 model.
The XT4 is Cadillac’s first-ever compact CUV, a crucial segment for the brand to enter in leu of changing market dynamics that is favoring crossovers over other vehicle types likes sedans. Riding on the GM E2 platform and powered by a new turbo-charged 2.0L I4 LSY engine mated to the GM 9-speed transmission, the XT4 introduces various new-to-Cadillac features and strategic approaches, including a new “Y” trim level strategy, tactile rotary controllers for the Cadillac Infotainment System, and a new design language influenced by the Cadillac Escala concept.
The Cadillac XT4 is built by GM USA at the GM Fairfax factory in Kansas City, Kansas, and goes on sale in the fall of 2018 with a base price of $35,790.
Related News & Info
- GM news
- Cadillac XT4Â information
- Running GM sales results
- Running Cadillac sales results
- Running Cadillac XT4 sales numbers
- Running Cadillac sales results
Comments
Yeah but then the sides aren’t body colored though…
Oh Goody more stone chips in the paint. LOL!
If you are going to do this do it right and color all the black trim or none of it at all.
GMC has done this on the Acadia Denali so use it as a guide.
I would also incorporate a bit of bright trim in this to break it up or you will have too much color. Again refer to the Acadia Denali.
The purpose of this particular render is to show how the vehicle would look with the body-color lower fascia – to give those who have a problem with it an idea of how the XT4 might look with it.
We haven’t heard one person complain about the gray-black trim on the sides or in the rear, so those were not part of the rendering.
As for the idea of using chrome trim to break up the vast amount of paint on the front-end as a result of painting the lower insert body color: that would work for Luxury and Premium Luxury… but would not work for the Sport model.
The more appropriate, elegant and effective solution would be to redesign the front bumper cover by rethinking the interaction between the upper and lower fascias there entirely. That doesn’t mean re-design the entire front end… but redesign the bumper cover treatment.
The lower front fascia is a drawback for me. I think Cadillac should have incorporated more of a gloss black type of paneling, similar to the grill treatment on the sport models. The gray is just so cheap looking. This body color treatment is definitely an improvement over the gray. With a mix of body color and gloss black, I think it could be a real winner.
Indeed, the painted front clip looks much more premium.
Bring back the wreath……then leave the logo alone…….forever.
Seriously?
The wreath would be the first thing I remove on any Cadillac I buy, and replace it with the wreath-less crest logo. The wreath-less crest looks much better than the crest and wreath.
It’s still not enough. The front end still lacks what I would call a premium aesthetic. And if you paint the lower front fascia, you really should carry that look around to the rear. Do that though (paint the rear), and the rear loses all semblance of athleticism and it becomes a minivan.
Adding some bright trim is a thought, but it too should be carried over to the sides and rear.
I would add that any bright trim *might* look good in the spirit of the headlights–angular and somewhat knife-edged. (Notice Cadillac’s own designers incorporated two different looks for the headlights and taillights–one is very sharp, the other more flowing. One could make the argument that the taillights are arts and the headlights are science, but to me it’s just…)
The front end is simply too big and dips too low. They have to break it up some kind of way.
The European crossovers don’t have this problem because they are appropriately proportioned. The Japanese and American crossovers look awkward because they have bad proportions.
It looks okay in the front, but I imagine it would ruin the sides. The black cladding gives it a “thinner” looking height. Making it body colored would make it look way too chunky; like the original SRX. The same thing happens on the Volvo XC40 when you make the body and roof the same color. It looks heavy.
Gray-Black goes better with certain related colors, like dark gray, silver, dark blue or black.
This copper type of color would go better with more of a dark brown earth tone.
Hopefully, they offer some coordinated options or at least color match.
Agreed that some colors go better with the gray-black trim. But this whole topic would be a non-starter had the front end design been better to begin with in the first place.
I actually think they should consider the silver trim plate that the XT5 has. That would help give the lines that they designers intended, but also look more appealing.
It’s fun for us to dream, but it’s plastic for a reason: because painted front bumpers and body panels near the road surface experience a phenomenon called rock chips. Vehicles with less paint damage retain a higher resale value, and the plastic is both durable and low maintenance. It can be reconditioned to keep the vehicle looking new for many years into it’s life, without the need for a paint job.
You are correct about rock chips being an issue, but there are ways to have designed the front end without the massive gray chin while also making it resistant to rock/stone chips. How? Look at the Volvo XC40. It has the same surface area ratio of body-color to non-body-color… without a massive front chin like on the XT4.
I think slapping a thin polished aluminum or stainless rock shield over it would look best, and give it a two tone/premium appearance. Painting it does look nice, but if this thing is even used once on an unpaved surface or behind a semi truck it is going to suffer some damage.
This is where I put this on the customer, if you dont like the gray insert. Instead of complaining about it to the company why dont you fix the problem yourself by visiting a local paint shop and have it painted for a few bucks? It would complete your car the way you like it and it would set your car apart from the rest who dont have the means to pay for it or dont want to change it for what ever reason.
The factory should not be responsible to cater to everybodies needs, its impossible to take care of everybodies individuals tastes!
So the customer needs to step up and customize their car if they dont like the way it comes from the factory.
I agree. Everyone likes to customize their vehicle so it looks personal, and it does aid to identify it when are parked next to same colored vehicles.
Your solution is for the customer to paint a brand new vehicle. What a joke.
Like others and Alex said above, the better solution is for Cadillac to have designed this better. This entire conversation would not be taking place had they actually done so.
I’m sure to get a down vote.. but I actually like the non-painted front more so than the render. I think Cadillac was being proactive in preventing one of the more annoying factors in owing a vehicle with today’s chrome-less bumper fronts.. ROCK CHIPS. They are the worst. The only solution for most is having a clear protective film professionally placed on the front of the car.. which does cost thousands if done right. Again.. I think they did the right thing.. I am still debating whether to find a bra that fits over my Z06, Yukon, and CTS-V while driving.. as I have sustained a few pings in the last few months especially with all the road construction going on in summer months
Looks nice but I wonder how it would look if all the plastic trim was painted gloss black. I have a feeling that would look real sharp as well.
All the black trim needs to be painted to match body color. Not just the front. If you are worried about rock chips, etc. GM should offer some 3M film protector to be applied to the lower valence. You don’t buy a luxury vehicle to get plastic unpainted trim all around the vehicle. Look at a Lexus crossover, look at a Mercedes crossover, look at an Acura crossover. Very minimal unpainted plastic trim if any at all. This has the most unpainted plastic trim I’ve ever seen. And it makes Cadillac/GM look cheap for not painting it and maybe adding some nice thin chrome/black chrome touches to those areas of the vehicle.
3M film is practically snake oil. Yes it protects against minor chips and scratches but after the first year it fogs, then develops bubbles, and eventually delaminates. The other luxury brands with painted valences ALL look like garbage after 30K miles, unless you like the swiss cheese look…
I owned 6 new corvettes with the 3M on the front bumper and the mirrors and it never did what you posted. I hit a thrown tire recap and the black marks polished right off of the 3M. maybe you saw some inferior product
Haha! Snake oil? You sir are misinformed to the fullest. 3M, Xpel, SunTek, or Llumar. Do your research. They warranty these films for 10 years. So whether or not you actually witnessed bubbles or delamination. Its covered under warranty. So basically you are talking nonsense.
I am sure they get a ton of customers making warranty claims on a piece of tape… LMAO it simply isn’t worth the hassle, and they count on that. It’s snake oil, and you’ve been duped into paying $100+ for 1oz of teflon and plastic adhesive.
Actually you are MISINFORMED again! Haha!
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/post-factory-installation-us/resources/paint-protection-consumer-warranty-form/
https://www.suntekfilms.com/paintprotection/ppf-ultra.aspx
http://www.xpel.com/register/
And its a film not tape. Stop being such a troll! And read a book. Or click on the links and learn something.
Is this going to be another Pontiac Aztek type of debate. Paint the cladding or don’t paint it?
My wife and I are interested in the XT4 and find the painted lower fascia a 100 percent improvement and plan to ask if it can be painted if it still is presented in the black.
With that portion painted body color , the whole design of the front clip doesn’t look very fluid .
But with dark colors lke black or grey that lower black cladding looks good .
That cladding if textured would be difficult to paint as it would chip off very easy .
This same argument came up when the Lexus NX came out. It had those awful black wheel well strips. Lexus never changed it. Some bought expensive after market replacements because painting doesn’t hold up. What about leasers, Mods are not allowed or you pay.
I think the black lower body treatments are not in keeping with the Cadillac look. It’s more like the Aztec look. Cadillac wake up and give us the luxury feel.
Cadillac’s XT4 is a bit on the conservative side as far as styling goes and it’ll be interesting whether it sells better than Chevrolet’s new Blazer which doesn’t look like a GM product.
The XT4 looks fine as is. It was designed like that for a reason. We just need to see it in person before people start having panic attacks of a vehicle costing $35K which is one of Cadillac’s lowest entry.
And the rock chips argument is frivolous since a lot of vehicles don’t have black plastic covering in the front especially the sedans and sports cars.