Ask Away: What Do You Want To Know About The Cadillac CT5?
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This week, GM Authority is in New York City for the New York International Auto Show, where GM is showing the 2020 Cadillac CT5 for the very first time in public.
As is customary during our first time seeing a brand new vehicle, we are opening the comments section on this post for your questions, comments or concerns that you may have about Cadillac’s newest sedan. We are interviewing the leadership team responsible for the CT5, including those in marketing, exterior and interior design, and engineering, and will do our best to get answers for you.
But let this be known: questions like “What about a CT5-V?” or “Will there be a coupe?” typically go unanswered. These folks are here to talk about the CT5, not any future products or variants.
So, go ahead and ask your questions in the comments, but please note that it may be a few hours before we return with relevant answers. So without further ado, ask away.
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Is there a fully digital gauge cluster option? I just can’t believe a luxury car today only offers analog.
Agreed. It’s actually idiotic!!!
GM beancounters are just the worst man. I mean the Ford Brand offers Fully Digital Gauge Clusters and GM’s so called Luxury Division doesn’t. You honestly just cannot make this stuff up. Don’t get me wrong, I like this Gauge Cluster a lot for what it is, but it should be the Base version!!!
Asked. Answer: no fully-digital gauge options. Analogue gauges, two different screen size between them.
Will have a story on this shortly. Stay tuned.
How large is the HUD?
Why real dials for Speed/Tach and/or will there be a full digital dash option?
The HUD appeared to be same as in the CT6. Couldn’t play much around with it because the cars could not be started inside.
I didn’t get an answer as to “why” they used analogue, but here’s my take from what I heard in the conversation: there is no point in having an all-digital gauge cluster just for the purpose of having an all-digital cluster. It needs to add something – show more info, show info better, etc.. It seems that they found a way to do both of those things with the 8″ display between the speedo and tach. It looks good, for what it’s worth.
I personally think this the car is gorgeous , any word on the sound system? An update panaray maybe. And it must have an OLED CLUSTER ? At least led ???
OLED has burnout problems, you wouldn’t want that where the items on screen are in the same position constantly.
Look at the road, not the gauge cluster.
Keep the digital for the center dash. Once the digital dash fails, you have nothing and long-term reliability won’t be good if you intend to keep the car. Gauges perform well over time.
What is the weight of the car?
Cadillac needs to be a tech leader. They need to to skip OLED and go straight to Samsung’s MicroLED displays.
There will be two clusters. Both have analog gauges.
The base cluster has a 4.2 inch screen between the gauges. The up-level cluster has an 8 inch screen between the gauges.
As far as OLED… that only matters when it’s a full-digital cluster, at which point it becomes a display.
Is there going to be red leather seats
Yes. It’s a deeper red. No photos yet, but it’s part of the build sheet.
how does this vehicle compare to the other alpha platforms in terms of ride quality, emphasis on ambient sound and road noise ect
Will there be optional, less stiff springs for those of us over 50 or with loose teeth? Will 17″ wheels fit?
What is the sunroof like? Is it like the previous CTS, the small ATS sunroof, or the very well implemented CT6
It’s a dual-plane sunroof. Not pane, but plane… which is interesting terminology.
It’s pretty much what you get in the CT6. Two sunroofs, with the front one opening up.
Why doesn’t the hood go all the way to the grille? Collisions?
Why is the trunk smaller than the CTS’s?
What’s under the back seat, and why does it impinge on the footwells?
Start/stop disable button?
Interiors without black headliner or carpet? (not even worth asking the cheapskates about the dash)
Seat material for the base model?
Will the head restraints adjust further aft than in the photos, or can they be turned around?
Rear cross traffic alert or braking? Should be standard with all the SUVs & pickups.
Why isn’t the lovely stitched wheel hub standard or at least optional on all trims? Or something besides ugly pebbled plastic?
Were the two CUE knobs added late in the design, and why asymmetrically?
Cadillac announce that the engine noise will be coming through speakers. Is there a way to disable it?
Why go half way, making a sedan that looks like a liftback but isn’t functionally?
Probably because the rear headroom would be even worse, when it’s already half an inch less than the CTS. And they wonder why the sedan market is dying.
Did they even consider a more formal roofline that would improve headroom instead of worsen it?
Because liftbacks are inherently dumb. They’re not as good as a hatchback and you can’t separate your trunk stuff like a sedan, so they’re not as good as sedans either.
About the liftback design… they played around with all kinds of designs for the CT5.
Ultimately, a liftback lost out because people who still are interested in sedans want a sedan. Simple as that.
Also, I was told that a liftback limits how long the decklid can be… which compromises the overall shape from a design standpoint. You end up with a very short rear deck that’s not very attractive or sedan-like… see Audi A7.
Why are they calling it a compact when the size is clearly aimed at the mid-size luxury market.
The CT5 is NOT being aimed at the midsize luxury market. It’s being aimed at the D segment (3 Series, C-Class, A4, Q50). This segment was initially compact in size, but has evolved over the last decade to be somewhere between compact (C-segment) and midsize (E-segment). Call it compact plus.
Now, the CT5 is somewhat larger than those models, but it’s not quite as big as the midsizers (5 Series, E-Class, A6).
It’s also a tweener… China is a big reason for that (no need to make an extended-length L version).
Bottom line; the CT5 is being positioned in the D segment. It’s larger than those models, but not as large as some E segment models.
0-60s
They’re not sharing that yet.
I wonder if it’s a hint that the performance numbers are not class-leading… Tesla models have range, powertrain and 0-60 advertised with every car. WIsh other manufacturers would do that.
Will there be a v model?
Nice
“Will there be a v model?”
Answer from all of the execs I spoke to today: “Stay tuned” (smile)
Was a sport back/lift back considered just like on the Escala or similar? Why the decision to go to traditional sedan with a sport back look?
Will there be a v-sport model with more HP?
Will there be plenty of wheel options to choose from (Sizes and finishes like black or chrome)
Side note, I love the design and thought it was very well done.
1. “Was a sport back/lift back considered just like on the Escala or similar? Why the decision to go to traditional sedan with a sport back look?”
There is a whole story behind this, actually. They played around with all kinds of designs for the CT5.
Ultimately, a liftback lost out because people who still are interested in sedans want a sedan. Simple as that.
Also, I was told that a liftback limits how long the decklid can be… which compromises the overall shape from a design standpoint. You end up with a very short rear deck that’s not very attractive or sedan-like… see Audi A7.
I hope to have more details about this in a separate piece.
2. “Will there be a v-sport model with more HP?”
– note the part in the article about asking about future products
3. “Will there be plenty of wheel options to choose from (Sizes and finishes like black or chrome)”
Yes. 18 and 19 inches. “Stay tuned” in regards to black.
What’s the interior quality like? Is it an improvement over the previous Cadillacs? And how does it compare to Audi, BMW and Mercedes?
By the way, thank you Alex for doing this day in and day out.
What Grade of fuel does each available engine require?
“What Grade of fuel does each available engine require?”
91+ OCT / 95+ RON
It’s my pleasure! Thanks for reading and being part of the community!
Interior quality is very good. Like… VERY good. The design is tasteful. The ergonomics are good too. And everything feels great to the touch… perhaps with the exception of the handle to open the glove box… that didn’t feel to the point of a luxury car. But the touch points that you’ll use on the daily are great, better than CTS and ATS, and better than CT6.
It’s hard to say how it compares to other makes, but if the ATS/CTS were 5/10 and Mercedes is the benchmark at 10/10, then CT5 is closer to an 8 or a 9.
Excellent news! About time.
Thank you!
One more thing: noticed today that the bottom parts of the CT5 doors are hard plastic… like they were in ATS… CTS was a bit higher quality, but the bottom portion in the CT5 is like that in ATS.
So no fondling of bottoms. That’s a deal breaker!
I just hope it’s solid enough to be kicked when opening the door.
With Cadillac’s new focus on electrification, when will the plug-in hybrid/EREV version be offered?
Is SuperCruise available at launch? When will it become available? Why the delay? Who takes responsibility for accidents when the car is in SuperCruise mode? How is the option expected to affect insurance premiums?
How are the headlights expected to fare on the IIHS tests? Are they adaptive? LED?
Will Cadillac be reinstating the ability to save custom audio settings for each input (different levels for iPhone vs XM vs radio)?
How will the CT5 be marketed to existing CTS/ATS owners and people already familiar with the CTS model? How will they be addressing confusion between similar looking logos (the 5 looks a lot like an S).
How will they officially market/position the CT5 (CTS replacement, ATS replacement, replacement for both, etc.)?
Will OTA updates be implemented for the infotainment system? What about the whole car?
How does back seat space compare to the CTS? What about roof curvature for back seat passengers getting in and out?
Is a spare tire available?
Will Magnetic Ride Control be offered?
What are the anticipated safety ratings? (Mary Barra has stated that if New GM vehicles didn’t achieve 5-star ratings, they’d failed.)
Can they speak to anticipated sales numbers, what cars they see as the primary competitors, who they see as likely buyers, and how they expect it to sell compared to the competitors?
Can they give us any details on how the CT4 will compare in size?
If you crash in supercruise it is your problem not gms, that is why you are required to watch the road and be prepared to take control if needed. No different than current vehicles with that technology
can you turn off start and stop ?? and if so do I have to do this every time I start the car?
Can you turn off start and stop. Yes. There is a button for it.
Do I have to do this every time I start the car? I could not get an answer to this, but the setting APPEARS persistent. In other words, I do not believe you have to turn it off at every ignition cycle.
Does GM plan on paying Ed Welburn under the table to approve or veto the designs coming out of GM?
There’s no way he would’ve signed off on some of those design elements, or those on any of the other recent releases from GM.
I could have asked that question… and then would have never been invited to for interviews ever again.
That said, the car looks very good in person. The pictures don’t do it justice. It has presence… it has style… it is a different kind of in-your-face style that the ATS/CTS have… but at the end of the day, it is more chic. Bottom line… it looks good. Not sure Welburn would have had any issues with this design.
Will the new CT5 get the new Blackwing engine twin-turbo V8.
Like the article reads…
… “questions like “What about a CT5-V?” or “Will there be a coupe?” typically go unanswered. These folks are here to talk about the CT5, not any future products or variants.”
Is a Chevy, Buick, Holden counterpart of this car coming? (That goes for CT4 and CT6).
Building onto the Holden question, will the CT5 and other Cadillac’s be made in RHD?
She looks gorgeous, and overall proportions seem to match up (no big ass). I can appreciate the addition of knobs and what looks to be individual finger buttons for the HVAC?
!!!MAY BUTTONS AND KNOBS NEVER DIE!!!!