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Cadillac Rolls Out New Torque Based Alphanumeric Naming Scheme

Cadillac will include a new three-digit badge on its vehicles reflecting torque output, thereby denoting the performance differences between its various models.

According to Car and Driver, Cadillac has introduced the new three-digit number badge to give customers
“a clear understanding of the power differences across the lineup.”

The three-digit badge will reflect a vehicle’s torque output in newton meters and rounded to the nearest 50. For example, the Cadillac XT6 will receive a ‘400’ badge, since its 3.6-liter V6 engine makes 373 newton meters of torque (276 pound-feet). Cadillac opted to use newton meters due to the metric system’s widespread use globally, president Steve Carlisle said. This makes the naming scheme more appropriate for use in China, Saudi Arabia, Russia and other crucial global markets for the luxury brand.

“It’s metric, it’s universal, it’s global, we have to think about all the markets that we’re doing business in,” he told CNET in Detroit Wednesday.

In addition, turbocharged models will receive a capital ‘T’ badge (ex. 350T) while the high-performance V-Series line of models will simply retain the ‘V’ badge and will feature no numbered badge (ex. CT5-V). Cadillac is also planning on keeping its other alphanumeric badges, like XT6 and XT4, for example, but said that real names like “Escalade” will continue for “special” models.

This naming strategy also allows Cadillac to denote the performance output of a vehicle whether it has an internal combustion engine or is purely electric.

Cadillac EV Concept

Cadillac EV Concept

Look for the new alphanumeric badges to appear on all Cadillacs from the 2020 model year onward. The Cadillac-supplied image seen here is of the 2020 Cadillac XT6 400 with the 3.6-liter engine and is the first vehicle we’ve seen with this badge.

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Source: Car and Driver, CNET

Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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Comments

  1. smart. i can see the other manufacturers scratching their heads thinking why they didn’t come up with this first.

    Reply
    1. Others did. Bimmer and Benz used to use engine displacement. But with turbo charging the naming scheme stopped working

      Torque is a funny number to reference. Most people don’t understand what it is, or does, or why more is better and how it relates to horsepower. Even more funny is using metric Newton meters. For north America they could easily badge it with lb-ft (though the number would be much lower and less appealing sounding), even Canada using a mix of metric and imperial, imperiybeing how engine specs are denoted. Other world markets could use what is common to them, ie metric kilowatts and newton-meters.
      I don’t think adding a badge to reference engine specs is wrong, but I do think this approach will be another example of Cadillac throwing shit at a wall and seeing what sticks. It once again shows they are out of touch with the consumer and out of touch with the segment, and even worse out of touch with their own identity and what they want to be.

      Reply
      1. Q
        M
        A
        P.
        P
        U
        B

        Has all the names.

        Reply
        1. LOL, I SAW WHAT YOU DID…..WWG1WGA KAG

          Reply
    2. Oh come on!

      This cant be real, its just too stupid! I love Cadillac, but come tf on!

      They can put 50,000 numbers on the back of the damn car, but they cant come up with a real name or better yet; better reliability?!

      So now the back of the XT5 is gonna say “400” in addition to the “3.6” “AWD” and “XT5”.

      Jesus Christ this is so asinine. Copy BMW and Benz some more why dont ya, meanwhile Lincoln is “rising above” everyone with their new NAMING strategy.

      Reply
      1. Although I can’t agree with you on the reliability thing (after all, I work at a Mazda and Volvo store and see them as well as many other “luxury” brands come in with major issues. Personally, I drive a Buick Encore!).

        Where I do agree with you 100% is on the names. Cadillac must stop chasing after BMW and Mercedes and instead go after their heritage. Caddy needs to be real American luxury. So I give Lincoln total respect for knowing who they are (finally) and what they are going after. (and for using real names again).

        Reply
        1. I disagree on using old names. No faster way to shoot yourself in the foot than muddying up a nostalgic nameplate.

          Reply
          1. You mean like Camry? Accord? Civic? Continental? Corolla? Silverado? Grand Caravan? And although I still don’t care for these types of “names”, how about S-class and other similar? My point is that name recognition is very important to a brand. Cadillac sadly ran from great names because they decided to chase BMW, Mercedes, Audi and others. I know. I worked for Cadillac at the exact time they made the decision to drop real names and go with the garbage they are using now. I worked with Cadillac for 12 years total. They lost their way when they began chasing the brands from other countries and walked away from their heritage.

            Reply
  2. The only issue with this is that given how many Cadillac vehicles feature the 3.6-liter DOHC-4V V6 engine either as the standard engine or an option, it means that we’re going to be seeing 400 is almost every Cadillac in current production.

    Reply
    1. I expect it to work for international markets, but I think a part of it has to be that people will realize that ‘3.6’ is the same engine as the 3.6 in any Chevy, Buick, or GMC.

      It looks like a superficial effort to separate Cadillac from the rest of GM.

      Reply
    2. If I was Lincoln I would make fun of this because their base engine makes way more than 400nm. Cadillac/GM will regret advertising torque numbers. Yes most people do not know what torque is but people like bigger numbers just like the large displacement days. Once people know about this they will realize how uncompetitive some GM vehicles are minus GM’s performance offerings.

      Reply
  3. Weird.

    Reply
  4. Please won’t someone stop this alpha numeric insanity?

    How many emblems will a Cadillac now carry???

    Memories of the long lamented Chevrolet Caprice Classic Brougham LS.

    Reply
    1. “Memories of the long lamented Chevrolet Caprice Classic Brougham LS.”

      Because “Caprice Classic Brougham LS” wasn’t superfluous or confusing?

      At the very least, Cadillac’s nomenclature is ordered, logical, and can be understood by anyone who can count or read.

      Reply
      1. No

        Coming from the guy who uses the name “Graw….daddy”…Only a Can EH dian would be so freakish and out of touch.

        Cheers, from an A.ussie.

        Reply
        1. Can’t even challenge me with a counter-argument for Cadillac’s names; you only have ad-hominems.

          My comments stand unchallenged by an American pretending to a representative citizen from all over the world (hypocritically, I’ll bet you’re against globalism).

          Reply
  5. Stupid. Absolutely stupid.

    Reply
  6. Newton meters!!!! Ha ha

    Reply
  7. 373 NM magically equals 400? This is some BMW level bullshit.

    Reply
  8. Seems they’re spending more time thinking about what to name the vehicles than to actually make them competitive… over paid morons…

    Reply
  9. My hope is that this is the first step to getting rid of the XT and CT nonsense.

    Reply
  10. While others are crying about a name.. I read this part..

    “but said that real names like “Escalade” will continue for “special” models.”

    That S on the end of MODEL made me smile. Who cares about the names.. I call my CTS-V.. “The Cadillac or Caddy” I have yet to hear any of my colleagues or friends refer to their S560s, 740is, XJs, 335is, etc.. as anything other than .. “yeah that’s my Mercedes, or Benz, or BMW, or Bimmer.. or Lexus.. or Jag.. or Jaguar

    Reply
    1. Exactly! That is a perfect reason behind alphanumeric naming.

      Reply
      1. Agreed. Cadillac wants to elevate “CADILLAC” not end up with another Escalade situation where the model becomes more famous than the make.

        Reply
      2. But it only works if your brand has a strong reputation.

        What’s Cadillac’s reputation among the general public? “Unreliable.” “Old man’s car.” “Overpriced.”

        They need to improve their reputation first and the only way to do it is by engineering and designing great cars that are obviously superior to the competition.

        Reply
        1. Lithium-V: Can I ask what your source is for saying “Unreliable”, “Old man’s car,” and “Overpriced”? Not trying to get into a war of words, but just curious.

          I’ve been in the auto business for 15 years now and worked with Cadillac for 12. I now work with Volvo and Mazda. I can personally tell you that Mazda (for being nearly 100% make in Japan) is not that great. Volvo, although stunning to look at and they have fantastic interiors, are certainly NOT reliable! I’ve personally seen many 2 and 3 year old MB/BMW/Audi’s, etc that have issues and are extremely expensive to own/operate. I’ve trained on JD Power and Consumer Reports and how to properly read (understand) the results. My experience with Caddy is certainly not of unreliable and overpriced (compared to other similar luxury brands). In fact, nearly every auto enthusiast magazine ranks the Cadillac models as better or equal to BMW M and MB AMG models. That’s where they lose me. I don’t want a “German” like car for handling or ride or seats. If I did, I’d buy one. If I buy a Cadillac, I want a smooth and super quiet ride with full-on luxury and with a real American-type name.

          Reply
          1. Dan, before you get into a s##t storm on this ” labeling opinion” Unreliable, old man car, and overpriced. I would like to know your numbers on the opposite.

            OK so you have worked on Cadillac for 12 years.
            For GM, because it make a difference, hears why. A Cadillac dealer only sees how many % of repairs out of warranty ?

            How many timing changes have you done on the 3.6 ?
            How many head bolt jobs on the NorthStar ?
            How many transfer case chains on the AWD ?
            How many front facias on the SAME vehicle to change light bulbs ?
            How many Cracked or broken rims ?
            How many rear end leaks ?
            How many new CUE systems installed ?
            How many driveline replacements do to vibrations ?

            These are just my personal Cadillacs I have owned, however know several friends who drove the same vehicle as I.

            Most have went to MB and Audi and have had ZERO – ZERO troubles.
            Not ZERO troubles with the dealer.
            Not ZERO troubles with the manufacturers customer service.
            ZERO troubles with the vehicle.
            And have MORE miles on them.

            Help me make the decision !
            Convince me !

            I don’t want to hear GM/Cadillacs take.
            I don’t want to hear a large corporation who makes money off “reviews” take.
            I want OWNERS to tell me there experiences.
            Owners I can talk to.
            Like Cad***c Fou**s.
            Not 1 year owners of a 15,000 mile Cadillac.
            Not 2 year owners of a 20,000 mile Cadillac.
            Not 3 year owners of a 36,000 mile Cadillac.
            Not 5 year owners of a 50,000 mile Cadillac.
            All fixed by GM but still had troubles.
            I want owners of a 10 year old 150,000 mile Cadillac vehicle.

            Because when I take my NEW GM vehicles to the dealer, the dealer does all kinds of things.
            And never wants to give me any paper work of what is done.
            After all why would I care it was payed for.
            I get copies of it all because I want to know what was done to the vehicle I own !

            Most, MOST people who own a vehicle never out of warranty, could care less if anything happens to the vehicle.
            Leased vehicles the same way. ( unless troubles with the warranty, buts that a different subject)

            But the person who pays cash for a vehicle and drives it 150,000 miles plus wants to know what there buying.
            So after 5 Cadillacs, some with troubles some without, the 2014 ATS we have now has been the worst.
            And I have an invoice of EVERY vehicle repair ever done on every vehicle I have ever owned.
            And when I get a new one I can tell you EXACTLY the cost per mile with each.
            The last 3 GM vehicles, all with under 60,000 miles (today)have already surpassed the last 3 GM vehicles, all with over 140,000 miles.

            Now I know I’m not the typical buyer in that regard.
            But I have personally overheard our Cadillacs called “old people cars” PERSONALLY !
            I have PERSONALLY driven and picked up my 70 year old mother because her Cadillac overheated on the road do to the NorthStar head thing ! ( her brother my uncle now drives MB )
            And I have NEVER called a Cadillac over priced, however todays Cadillac I call overpriced COMPARED to the competition.

            In your 12 years of Cadillac repairs, help me out here. Give me some tangible evidence. We are talking the same language here.
            Because my cousin, that same uncle who drives the MB son, now is on his second A7 with the 3.0T.
            Buys the same way I do. Drives the same way I do. Keeps them the same timeframe I do.
            And has had ZERO troubles – ZERO.

            Reply
            1. Ok. So I spent some time doing a response that was well thought out and informative. Got to the end and clicked on the “I’m not a robot” box and then hit send. It didn’t post the message. I’m not going to bother again as it was longer and I’m not taking the time again. Too bad, seems like this site isn’t well set up.

              Reply
              1. Yep that’s what I thought.

                Nothing !!!

                I truly mean nothing negative here, but the REAL PEOPLE who need to respond to these questions are few.

                Like US Cadillac owners few.

                Maybe if GM-Cadillac owned up to these missteps and spent some of that all mighty cash on there loyal CUSTOMERS there would not be so few.

                Also in my opinion why we know the Escalade, Accord, Camry, Silverado, Etc., is because they are the among the longest lasting vehicles on the road and have the longest lasting name tied to that long lasting vehicle.

                In years to come no one will know or care what an ATS is or was, and rightfully so, and that’s what GM/Cadillac hopes.

                The old Cadillac cut and run with failures.

                Basically what I would like GM to do overall is improve.
                Keep all the names the same forever.
                Keep all the looks long enough to spend the money on the longevity of the vehicle.
                Once the vehicle is on the road forever just keep making it better.
                Then change the look “hopefully” better but that’s subjective.
                People make fun of the Camry because it was looking so, so, dated, but the owners did not care all the way to the bank.

                Just like the Cadillacs of old, pay more up front and get a better value.
                Not overpriced compared to value !!

                Reply
                1. I did reply and for some reason it didn’t post. Obviously unlike you, I don’t have all day to sit on here and type a book. Here’s what I said in a nutshell:

                  Proof: JD Powers. Personal experience. My nephew who personally worked on ONLY German brands for nearly 15 years. I’m not (nor would any sane person) list names/numbers for you to call. Your request is silly at best because you know people won’t do it. However, you (lie) say that your family/friends or whomever have ZERO trouble with the German brands they have purchased? BS. And yet your “proof” is your word? Any time anyone says a comment that is 100% (as in your ZERO trouble claims), there is no credibility because nothing is perfect. Personally you sound like a disgruntled angry person. Good day sir.

                  Reply
                  1. I don’t need names and numbers.
                    If you and your nephew have 30 years of experience you both should be able to list several troubles that are easily searchable in the world we live in today.
                    Just like the well known Cadillac troubles I listed are well known to most long term Cadillac owners.
                    I have searched a lot and yes you can find a problem with every brand of vehicle made.
                    Cadillac however has been a special kind of troubled brand.

                    And to your no vehicle is perfect.
                    Our 2004 CTS made it 140,000 before needing ANYTHING, just tires and breaks.
                    Our 2007 Duramax LBZ Classic was 140,000+ , again tires not even breaks on a HD truck and I pull trailers,
                    So there is that.
                    And the ones I talked about are true also.

                    The beauty is – I say – you say – same thing.
                    I listed several well known early failures and have several letters from GM in my vehicle files of customer satisfaction for known parts just waiting to fail yet.

                    All you can do is name call, sorry. Who is disgruntled and angry ?

                    Good day sir.

                    Reply
            2. You lost me when you said customers went to MB or BMW and had ZERO problems…

              Have you hung out with Euro car owners, ever owned one yourself. There’s no such thing as ANY European car from any era that is trouble free. Well except when it’s under warranty, because you don’t pay and they give you a loaner while repairing it.

              Reply
              1. No such thing.

                There is such thing.

                However I am NOT hear commenting on this one or that one because there are vehicles from ALL brands that have GREAT life and those that have TERRIBLE life.

                And no, I personally have never owned a Euro vehicle yet.

                So this is my rub, I am not angered, disgruntled, sad, lonely, or all that jazz.

                I am simply stating that a person who has supposedly worked for Cadillac or in Cadillac service for 15 years can’t understand why there reliability and Customer satisfaction numbers are or have been terrible.

                Really – Really !!

                Don’t give me that.
                In the last 15 years I have owned them, and the troubles I have had are WIDE SPREAD.
                Not a one or two trouble, WIDE SPREAD.

                Are they getting better, I would hope so.
                If your at the bottom its hard to go lower. (at times it seems like Cadillac tries)

                So again 15 years, the last 15 years you have been associated with Cadillac and cant figure out why they are or were at the bottom of these scores.

                If so, this is the trouble, you didn’t see the troubles.
                Maybe that’s why you don’t work for Cadillac any longer.

                Reply
          2. Sorry man, Cadillac models aren’t better or equal to BMW/Mercedes. Cadillac has NOTHING to compare to the responsiveness and refinement of BMW’s silky smooth I6 turbo, and Mercedes Benz interiors are in a whole other league compared to Cadillac’s.

            German cars tend to at least hold together well for the lease period. Cadillacs don’t even go that long. Differential leaks, CUE problems, moldy AC evaporators, LTG piston ringland cracks, the list goes on and on. Their twin turbo V6es are so bad that most owners are happy to get rid of them. It’s obvious that GM is too stingy with Cadillac’s development budgets and “that’s good enough” still reigns supreme. The German cars are least fantastic in every way except long term reliability, so owners put up with the problems. Cadillacs always seem to have enough design shortcomings to fail to charm owners enough to forgive the reliability issues.

            “I’ve trained on JD Power and Consumer Reports and how to properly read (understand) the results.”

            Yeah ok, just summarily dismiss third party reliability surveys. I have issues with CR’s survey methodology but most of their results are fairly representative of reality.

            Reply
            1. Lithium-V,

              Isn’t a problem still a problem? I’m referring to where you say “The German cars are least fantastic in every way except long term reliability, so owners put up with the problems.” So what I don’t understand is why (how) people will give passes on German or Japanese brands but hang American brands out to dry when there are similar issues? I’m genuinely asking a question here and would appreciate your view on this.

              As for JD Power and CR, I’m with you on those. I at least give JDP credit for having more accurate information and useful to people in general. But CR’s stuff is not much to me. At the Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Honda store I worked at for 11 years, I was the product training coordinator. I had to do the training AND make sure all the sales people were certified! Not fun. What got me was how I could pick up a CR magazine and within minutes would find several mistakes in the specifications charts alone. If they can’t accurately report those, how “reliable” is the rest? haha.

              My best and favorite way to monitor a car’s reliability is by talking directly to the techs who work on them every day and the service writers who do the intake on service cars. That’s all real and unfiltered!

              Reply
    2. Although I agree with calling the car Caddy or my Benz or Bimmer, etc., I just like real names better. People could easily say my Eldo or my Fleetwood and have it mean something. But I’m certain nobody will ever say that’s my XT6 400! lol

      Reply
  11. While others are crying about a name.. I read this part..

    “but said that real names like “Escalade” will continue for “special” models.”

    That S on the end of MODEL made me smile. Who cares about the names.. I call my CTS-V.. “The Cadillac or Caddy” I have yet to hear any of my colleagues or friends refer to their S560s, 740is, XJs, 335is, etc.. as anything other than .. “yeah that’s my Mercedes, or Benz, or BMW, or Bimmer.. or Lexus.. or Jag.. or Jaguar”

    Reply
  12. Odd but I’d it sells more cars more power to em.

    Reply
  13. Early April fool’s? Mercedes and BMW used to denote engine displacement in their monikers but torque output seems odd.

    Reply
    1. Funny you mentioned April Fool’s.
      I read that Cadillac cleared out of Cadillac House in NYC.

      They’re in the process of moving everything to Warren.MI – grand opening/ribbon-cutting of Cadillac’s (old) new home is – you guessed it – April 1.

      Reply
  14. I don’t get it. If the naming is tied to torque then it should have 400 newton meters of torque to match the name. Never understood how they’re tied together when they clearly don’t match

    Reply
  15. Weird, I agree.

    I wonder if they follow that 400 up with a scream, do to the fact, to get that 400 torque number that 3.6 is screaming.

    But not much different than a HP number I guess.

    So the 2.0T gets a 350 ?

    So I’ll agree, at this point whatever they think will sell a vehicle.

    I think they just don’t want to put a CC number on there because of the GM CC reputation.

    Hard to explain when someone wants to buy a vehicle but we don’t want that 3.6 because the timing chains go bad that this is the new 3.6 GM fixed that trouble.

    All marketing. Trying to make the same thing different. Chevrolet, same as Cadillac, same as GMC, same as Buick.

    Reply
  16. I remember those GM badges on the cars years ago. Now this. Well I guess with all the money saved from tax break and laid off employees this is smart of GM/ Chevyollac to invest in this instead other things.

    The SUV line is warmed over Chevys. Yeah world class all the way to the best in the world – a Chevy.

    Reply
  17. Sounds like the marketing folks at Cadillac must be pretty bored these days.

    Reply
  18. Very Stupid, Dumb and Very Misleading.

    People will think the 400 is 4.0 Cubic inches or 400 HP way before Newtons, which they don’t know about or
    never heard about. Or they will think model number, like a Chrysler 300, Ford F150.

    Reply
  19. Let’s put the number 400 on the back to let people know much torque this XT6 with 276 ft lbs of torque has.

    You can’t make this crap up.

    If they wanted global, they could have done 373. Who in the US even knows what Newton meters of torque is, 4%?

    Reply
  20. I’m guessing that’s the rear of the CT5….I don’t think anybody really cares about the badging of this. They just want the vehicles to come competitively in the segment and be all they can be. Cadillac needs to be the best in the segment, or go home.

    Reply
    1. XT6 IMO

      Reply
  21. In other words they are making the system they’ve been using in China world wide. Stupid idea, you’d think GM beancounters would be the first to object lol.

    Reply
  22. “Will round to the nearest 50”??? Last I checked 373 would then round to 350. So Cadillac thinks we can’t do math either?

    Reply
    1. Actually, they say it will be “rounded up” to the nearest 50. Haha. So in other words, if it was 351 they would still round up to 400. Pathetic!

      Reply
  23. Well that’s one way to make 276 lb ft sound like a lot for a luxury car.

    Reply
  24. Yet another move to appease the Chinese. It would be so refreshing if one time, just once, one of these GM execs would be honest and say……we are doing this because we think it will add appeal in our #1 market for Cadillac vehicles, China.

    Reply
    1. Nah, that’s just them halfassing it.

      If they really wanted to appease the Chinese, the CT6 would’ve had a proper 4 seat executive package with reclining massaging rear executive seats, a proper rear center console, folding tables, a fridge or a cooler, a front passenger seat that can be controlled from the back & a higher quality fit & finish.

      Reply
  25. There will be people thinking it stands for horse power.

    Reply
  26. This is the dumbest thing I’ve read in a long time.
    Who’s the dumbass that dreamed this up??
    Did he/she come from Briggs & Stratton or Tehcumseh?

    Torque is meaningless to most people.

    And then to use Nm instead of ft lbs, and THEN to round it way up??
    WTF

    It’s a meaningless badge.

    Reply
  27. On a totally different note: PLEASE, can anyone tell me how to STOP getting email notifications from here? I’ve clicked on the manage and tried different things, but I am still getting tons of notifications in my work email. Talk about annoying. Oh, and it certainly isn’t easy to figure out. Thanks.

    Dan.

    Reply
  28. I prefer a name folks will remember. I’ll bet more people will remember Coupe deVille or Eldorado years from now, but CT6 400 not so much.

    Reply

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