The Germans invented the luxury sport sedan segment. Others have simply emulated. Today, some emulators have gotten pretty darn good in the handling and characteristics department, including the Cadillac ATS. However, the BMW trumps the American luxury marque when it comes to the finer things; the ATS was never truly up to snuff.
Thus, Cadillac better be watching as the 2019 BMW 3-Series readies for a debut at the 2018 Paris Motor Show this October. The German make has said it will absolutely retake the luxury sport sedan crown with its new 3-Series with the most refined and dynamic model ever. That’s big talk from a brand that has constantly redefined the segment. And it’s talk Cadillac will have to match with the upcoming CT5 and CT4 sedans.
We don’t have confirmed specs for the 2019 BMW 3-Series, but the brand has shared it will boast the most powerful four-cylinder engine yet. We’re looking at somewhere north of 248 horsepower over the current 3-Series. Underpinning the new 3-Series is BMW’s CLAR architecture, which debuted with the 2016 7-Series. The platform is lighter, more rigid, and will usher in a host of improvements over the current car.
Specifically, the platform has allowed for major tweaks to the suspension, steering, and brakes. Grueling tests at the Nürburgring haven’t only made the car more dynamic, said BMW, but quieter and more refined on the road, too.
All of the buzz around the 3-Series comes as Cadillac continues to test the CT4 and CT5 sedans. The brand plans to reorganize its sedan offerings, so it’s unclear if the CT4 or CT5 will be the most direct competitor to the new 3-Series. Both will more clearly define their segments than the current CTS and ATS. We’ll likely see the first of the sedans, the CT5, debut next year as the 2019 3-Series reaches dealerships.
Comments
The CT5 will be a truly D-segment car. Not a tweener.
That means BMW 3’s/A4/C-class direct rival.
Its good that the CT5 and the new 3 series will have the same life cycle +-. They will debut almost at the same time. 2-3 months difference does not count. SO no excuses here.
I have no doubt, Caddy will outclass its interior.
The A4 will eat this things lunch. Ever sat in a new BMW? Stiff seats, hard matte plastics, 10 year old gauge cluster. Yuck. They’re in a malaise of laziness reminiscent of American cars in the 90’s. They’ve gotten way too complacent.
Hopefully Cadillac can take some marketshare but there is no doubt in my mind the new A4 will be the better car over this new 3 series.
If you like rebadged VW Jetta then you would go for Audi. No matter what magic they do with their quattro system, it still a FWD based car and they can’t get rid of that feel. If you want proper sports RWD sedan you would go for BMW, Merc or Cadillac. Beside i have doubts that you have driven a brand new BMW that is not a base model. There is a reason why 3 series segment is called 3 series segment.
“There is a reason why 3 series segment is called 3 series segment.”
Yes and I’m saying that’s over.
Hopefully becomes the CT5 segment, but without knowledge of the car, it looks like Audi is poised to dominate the segment.
Maybe it’s just me, surprised nobody even mentioned the Tesla in the room. Maybe just writing off those customers as a segment decreasing in size.
People on this blog are strictly only for GM. When there is another manufacturer creating competition that can’t be ignored, they blow it off as Fake News. I strongly believe BMW will create an incredible new generation of its 3-series, with many variants. Also, about the Tesla in the room, the Model 3 has outsold all competitors’ offerings in the same class size segment combined lol. But people here won’t mention that. They’ll okay it off as the buyers being delusional idiots, that are sheep, and taking a bite out of a company that supposedly only has a few months left before failing and filing bankruptcy. When I recall, it was all Major American Automakers with the Exception of Ford, that filed for bankruptcy and needed a Bailout from the US Government… and all of those companies have failed to pay it back. Let’s talk about that.
To clarify, GM paid back their loan. https://abcnews.go.com/WN/general-motors-repays-81-billion-government-loans/story?id=10437944
I think the CT4 will best the Bimmer in certain spots but overall the 3 will stay king but as long a Caddy put thier best efforts forward they will still make a mark in the segment.