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Audi e-tron Electric Crossover Debuts; Where’s Cadillac?

It’s been a big couple of weeks for German premium brands. Mercedes-Benz showed off its EQC electric crossover; BMW revealed its Vision iNext electric crossover concept; and now the Audi e-tron has debuted with a starting price of $74,800.

All of the hustle has us asking one question: where in the world is Cadillac? Tesla can lay claim to being first to market with luxurious electric cars, and it’s taken German premium brands years to develop their own offerings. Without Cadillac, crossovers like the Audi e-tron have a chance at cementing their home brands as leaders in the luxury electric-car space.

Audi e-tron 02

Meanwhile, Cadillac is still playing catch up with crossovers alone. The brand has launched the 2019 XT4 and the 2020 XT6 is rumored to debut in Detroit this January. It’s unclear if Cadillac has an electric crossover in the works, but the brand’s ex-president, Johan de Nysschen, said the majority of GM’s future electric cars coming by 2023 will be Cadillacs.

As for the Audi e-tron, it boasts a 95-kilowatt-hour liquid-cooled battery pack that will net around 250 miles of estimated range. Regularly, the two electric motors send power to the rear wheels, but the front motor will add power to the front wheels when needed. Continuous horsepower ratings are around 265 hp with up to 400 hp when needed for acceleration.

2017 Cadillac XT5 Platinum Rooftop in Detroit 01

Cadillac rivals such as Audi are also working to rival Tesla’s Supercharger charging network. The Audi e-tron will arrive with built-in DC fast charging up to 150 kilowatts, which is higher than Tesla’s 135-kilowatt stations. With the fast chargers, the e-tron will charge up to 80 percent capacity in under 30 minutes. Where Tesla still manages to outdo rivals is its network. The electric-car maker operates hundreds of Supercharger stations across the world.

GM was early to market in the electrification realm with the Chevrolet Volt, and it even launched the Chevrolet Bolt EV ahead of the Tesla Model 3 in the mass-market EV race. But Cadillac? It needs to step up quickly before it’s caught in a continuous game of follow-the-leader.

Former GM Authority staff writer.

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Comments

  1. I put my $1,000 refundable deposit in last night. I figure it is a good spot holder to hedge against other electric debuts between now and January. GM was nearly first to market in mass production electrics but they wrapped it in the shape of a Bolt. If Cadillac had given me a real Escala inspired design, the size and function of the XT5, GM would have my $1,000 instead of VW.

    Reply
  2. Nowhere to be found. GM blew it.

    GM had a lead with the Volt and Bolt, but misread the market for luxury — instead of focusing on good, but not good enough, compact and mid-sized gas powered sedans (a shrinking market), they should have leveraged their tech for Cadillac (which they briefly did with the great looking, but underdeveloped ELR, which they quickly discarded). Caddy was too busy fighting last decade’s battle.

    I think part of the problem is the dealer network wouldn’t know what to do with a Cadillac Model 3.

    Heck, people have been calling for Volt technology in a handsome CUV for about 5 years now. Where is it? That would be a great way to introduce electrification to Cadillac’s more traditional buyers.

    But for now, Caddy will just be focused on pumping out competent, gas-powered CUVs, another market they are years behind. That will take most of their focus.

    Reply
  3. Is it me or does almost every front end of the Audi looks like the front end of the GMC Terrain?

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  4. GM & Cadillac were too busy playing CEO musical chairs.

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  5. Even if Cadillac is late, don’t expect it to make huge waves in the space, its starting price is nearly 80K with no options. Guaranteed with options you could get this mid-sized SUV up to 90K and above. Don’t call Doomsday just yet.

    Reply
    1. Then it should be equally telling if Cadillac can’t command $80K+ for their mid-size SUV’s, but Audi can.

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      1. Your point being? Even if they can charge 80k, it’s not like they are going to be flying off the lots like a Toyota Corolla. And it’s not like the XT5 sells for that much less, top specs can easy reach 70k, and you can only imagine where XT6 will come into play. This is why they are rebuilding Cadillac. It’s not like people don’t view Cadillac as prestigious, it reflects in their ATPs, Cadillac need new product, but that’s coming. The development is already in place. Everytime another manufacturer does something everyone wants to call doomsday, GM has the development in place and if they keep to their promise we will see that be reflected by 2023.

        Reply
        1. The point being that Cadillac and GM management will need to endure many decades of low sales volume if they are able to able to command that kind of money for base models.

          ‘flying off the lot’ descriptions are best saved for discounted, end of MY Chargers.

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  6. Developing IC vehicles is a complete waste of money as the entire market is going electric. Especially at the luxury end. The Germans know this well.

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  7. Yes Cadillac does. XT4/XT6/ PHEV, Escalade PHEV, XT7 BEV, CT7 coupe BEV. No they didn’t blow it, They should have move a lot faster with there electric dive train systems witch there doing now.

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  8. Cadillac gets it, there moving fast on it, Gm get it, don’t blame them for ICE, it’s not them that’s what it.

    Reply
  9. XT7 (BEV) crossover already testing.

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  10. Buick Blue from China with Avenir guise is the best way to approach electric SUV. A Buick E-SUV would complete Buick’s rebranding as a FWD/AWD Lexus/Audi fighter. This vehicle could also compete on the middle ground of price–Chevy is too cheap, Cadillac too expensive and performance-oriented.
    Buick needs a few halo, attention grabbing models of GM wishes to up ATP and desirability in the US.

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  11. BEV Buick( Crossover )Encore next year.

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  12. cadillac is always at least a decade behind the competition.
    The xt4 should have had an electric option, but no.
    They will wait until every other German competitor is very well established in the electric market before releasing a “good enough” product, and scratch their tiny little heads in their coffee shop why they remain irrelevant.

    Reply
  13. What’s behind? There not behind.

    Reply
  14. No, Cadillac is not setting on there hand’s with electric vehicles.

    Reply

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