Cadillac CT4 Unofficially Debuts In New Spy Photos: Breaking
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Last month, GM revealed the Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V at a special event in Detroit. The reveal of the CT4-V marked the first time we’ve seen the new CT4 camo-free, though Cadillac didn’t show the regular, non-V version during the event. But we just managed to capture two “regular” Cadillac CT4 models running completely camouflage-free in Metro Detroit, giving us our first look at the C-segment luxury sedan.
CT4 Premium Luxury
The red car is the Cadillac CT4 in Premium Luxury, as evidenced by the bright grille accents in the grille, bright window trim and door handles, red tail lamp lenses, and bright multi-spoke wheels.
Meanwhile, the blue model is the Cadillac CT4 Sport, as per its black grille elements, blacked-out window trim, body-color door handles, clear taillight lenses, and sporty wheels with fewer spokes and a darker finish. There’s also a more aggressive lower fascia on the CT4 Sport.
CT4 Sport
Both the CT4 Sport and Premium Luxury are expected to be the higher-end trim levels of the CT4 model range. The entry-level model is expected to be the base Luxury trim, which is not pictured here since we have yet to see it.
Though not officially announced, we believe that these “base” Cadillac CT4 models will be powered by the new turbocharged 2.0L I-4 LSY engine that first made its debut in the 2019 Cadillac XT4, before making its way to the 2019 Cadillac CT6 (and before being deleted for the 2020 model year), along with the 2020 Cadillac CT5 and XT5 refresh. The boosted four is rated at 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The sole transmission expected to be available in the Cadillac CT4 is the new GM 10-speed automatic.
CT4 Premium Luxury
Underpinning the Cadillac CT4 is GM’s critically-acclaimed Alpha platform previously used on the Cadillac ATS, Cadillac CTS, and the current sixth-gen Chevrolet Camaro. In fact, the CT4 appears to be a very thorough re-skinning of the ATS, keeping its wheelbase, roofline, as well as other proportions/dimensions. The interior, however, is completely redesigned and is more along the lines of the cabin in the Cadillac CT5.
CT4 Sport
The higher-performance Cadillac CT4-V will feature the turbocharged 2.7L I-4 L3B making 320 horsepower. The boosted four will also be mated to the new ten-cog gearbox. A second, higher-performance variant of the Cadillac CT4-V is expected to show up later on in the model’s lifecycle as part of Cadillac’s new two-tier V-Series strategy. The model was previewed by what GM called the “next level” Cadillac CT4 prototype at the Belle Isle race track during the Detroit Grand Prix.
When it goes on sale in early 2020, the new Cadillac CT4 will take on other C-segment luxury cars, with the primary rivals being the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan, and upcoming BMW 2 Series Gran Sport lines.
The Cadillac CT4 will be assembled at the GM Lansing Grand River plant for North America, and at the SAIC-GM Jinqiao Cadillac plant for China.
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Looking good so far. I’m excited to learn more about this one as I feel the styling is better than the CT5. Also looking forward to learning the price. But I like it so far.
I also think the styling on the CT4 is better than the styling on the CT5. They both have short rear sections but, because the CT4 is a smaller car, the proportions look better on the vehicle. The proportions of the CT5, with the stubby rear area, look odd.
LOL. @GrandAmGT:
My two “haters” that follow me on every comment and thumbs-down anything I say must have decided to also give you the same treatment. So funny, because I’ve purposely made comments that would never get a thumb-down, yet I get the same one or two. I couldn’t care less on mine (I just find it so petty), but why on earth would they give you a thumbs down?
Stop crying, get overyerself, and get with it.
What a pathetic half measure.
In blue; i like so much
I really hate to be so down on GM and Cadillac all the time but this doesn’t look like an all-new design. It looks like a refreshed ATS which was a product that wasn’t selling. I had high hopes for these JdN-era sedans but they are another disappointment. GM needed something radical to really get attention and make the statement that Cadillac is back. This is not what they needed. I doubt anyone will even notice that ATS has been replaced by “the first ever!” CT4.
JDN was constrained by GM’s finance division. If he had more flexibility these vehicles would have been so much better. At lease that’s what I believe
You’re down, but you shouldn’t be. Yes, the CT4 is a heavily-refreshed ATS, which is exactly what the doctor ordered.
The ATS’ problem was never the chassis or the styling. Instead, the ATS was held back by a powerful yet very crude/unrefined 2.0T LTG engine and a horrible 8-speed automatic transmission. Then there was a pretty decent but uncompetitive execution of the interior and exterior, unfriendly infotainment controls/UX and – more importantly – the overall vehicle positioning: it was the smallest car in the segment and had a very strange trim level structure that didn’t resonate with the modern luxury car buyer (no sport/luxury appearance differentiation). The CT4 solves all that, and more.
Let’s see here:
– New interior? Check.
– New infotainment controls? Check.
– New trim level structure Sport/Lux to make the car fully relevant to modern luxury car buyers and their tastes. BIG CHECK.
– New engine and transmission: Check.
– New interior features that the ATS sorely lacked (cooled/vented seats, attractive interior color options): Check.
There’s also fresh styling cues that make the car more of a looker, which the ATS already was… but the design changes seen here make the CT4 even more appealing.
More importantly, the CT4 is now totally repositioned into a lower size segment, to the point that it’s on the upper end of the size class. Meanwhile, the awesome Alpha chassis is present and accounted for on the CT4, as it was on the ATS. Not one potential customer ever complained about that on the ATS.
And now, the trim level structure also includes a more approachable CT4-V, which might not be exciting to us enthusiasts who want high-power beasts… but it’s very much relevant to those who are not track rats (the majority of luxury car buyers). And even better, a track-capable version of the CT4-V with more power is coming.
With all that said, this car almost got cancelled at some point during development… luckily, it wasn’t. And just like that, Cadillac has a very competitive entry into the ever-growing luxury car C-segment.
“attractive interior color options”
You can get any color you want, as long as it’s black. (This is what was said about the Ford Model T).
or tan…….but not a nice mix of tan and black or tan and brown……if you want tan, you get tan and nothing else (see Escalade).
You get black upper dash and doors (and carpet, I believe) on every Cadillac sedan and CUV except for a few Platinums. Cost cutting gone mad. I can’t imagine it helping sales in the Sunbelt. A trend I can’t wait to end.
There will be at least a black, gray, and beige… and I have reason to believe a red, as well.
I think that the CT4 will be a cut above the ATS in four significant ways:
(1) The ATS chassis, while providing an absolutely fantastic drive, is harsh and jarring on bumps. The Alpha II should address that.
(2) The 10-speed transmission should be a noticeable improvement.
(3) The infotainment system should be much better than CUE.
(4) The interior should be much improved at least over the base ATS.
(5) Super Cruise.
Still, the ATS has its charms. First of all, it’s a coupe, and is still one of the best looking cars on the road; save for the dated front end, which could have easily been corrected with an Escala-like refresh. The 3.6 V6 is a competent engine that produces 335 HP on regular gas, and it can be boosted to near 350 HP with the Catback exhaust system option ($1,650). The premium luxury interior is pretty nice, especially with either the Kona Brown and Morello Red leather ($1,295), though it is missing cooled seats. And you can even get a brake upgrade ($1,945). Sorry to see it go, but looking forward to the full CT4 reveal.
That rear end is from where I don’t know. I am at a loss. It will be color sensitive for sure. Front is nice.
They completely bungled the CT4.
Engine options are ridiculous. The new 2.0T is an ok base engine (assuming it’s really smoother, which remains to be seen), yet instead of a V6TT which would be competitive with the rest of the segment, they’ve made the optional engine a bigger four banger which will prove to be unrefined and miserable to rev in comparison to the competition’s turbo sixes.
It’s also beyond stupid to offer the MRC sport suspension only with RWD. The worst roads in the nation are in the snow belt states, which is where it’s impossible to find an ATS/CT4 with RWD and MRC, and why can’t they offer it with AWD, anyways? Thus for most of the US, there is no sporty CT4 available to buy that isn’t special order. Compounding the problem is that the MRC remains available only on the most expensive trim, ensuring most CT4 buyers will not be able to afford it. Meanwhile the competition offers adjustable damping as a standard feature (even the Civic Si has it).
Competitors take the “sport” in sport luxury seriously and Cadillac continues with the bait and switch of building a RWD MRC CT4 in a single trim configuration for the car magazines that will not be stocked by most dealerships.
You be you baby….it wouldn’t be the same around here if you didn’t hate every single thing GM did all the while voicing your opinion as if someone actually cared about what you had to say……
Don’t change for anyone!
Remember a few years ago when someone at Cadillac was quoted saying “We’ve solved the interior packaging of the ATS.”? Either they were lying or they decided it wasn’t worth it. CT4 looks like an ATS that had too much plastic surgery.
That rear end is from where I don’t know. I am at a loss. It will be color sensitive for sure. Front is nice.
I want the grille from the red car on the blue
Old ATS looks classy and elegant but this CT4 facelift is something like design nightmare. Too long horizontal lights are fugly and with cheap backlights ruins all. Interior (except small lcd display and absence of full digital clusters) is better than CT5. The main problem is small space inside and cheap look. Escala is crying a river…
Polar opposite here. As someone coming from an ATS, which I had for almost 4 years, I would be all over this CT4. Every element is improved upon.
The ATS needed some more horizontal lines, and it got them. It needed integrated exhaust and it got it. The interior is a major step up, and is very similar to that of the CT5… which is also pretty good. The lights are what make this car stand out, front and back.
The trim level structure is finally modernized and relevant. I see Escala in this… though not sure how relevant that is.
Alex, you are doing a superb reporting job here on the Cadillac. Don’t worry about the “haters” because they are like the Fox crying “Sour grapes!’ because they cannot even afford or do not deserve such a beautiful sedan!
A deal breaker for me if GM did not address the rock hard ride over any bumpy surfaces even with non RF tires, ingress and egress tight and passenger side seating really poor [wife comments and she rarely rides in the car] hope this new engine runs on reg gas, I have 67k on my base 2015, 37k on non RFs mostly hyway looking to buy new next year doubt it will be this car, as the ATS proved there are not enough performance enthusiasts to sustain adequate sales level for a vehicle that turns off average drivers. JMO
Are you talking about the coupe
Talking about the sedan, never had an interest in the coupe.
Since the first-gen CTS, each Cadillac has brought a level of excitement. I remember how much the second-gen CTS really pushed the envelop and represented stand-out styling and engineering inside and out. While I think Cadillac may achieve good sales numbers with the XT6, the styling isn’t pushing any envelops and I think the CT4 is following that trend.
I like the ats but the interior is what kept me out of it, this looks a bit better. I would like to see more wood but wonder what the price is. My thought is why didn’t they put this interior in the ats
There will be an option for wood on the CT4, similar to the trimmings of the CT5 Premium Luxury seen here:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/2020-cadillac-ct5/2020-cadillac-ct5-premium-luxury-interior-2019-new-york-international-auto-show-005-cockpit.jpg
That’s not the CT4. That’s the new 2021 Escalade!
hahah that was nice))
Better watch out! Millions of people were misled into thinking this is the Escalade! Quick, start the Alex Luft smear campaign!
Alex, we all worship you in our own ways. But only God is infallible.
No one can get it right 100% of the time. Especially when GM feeds you misinformation.
Amen to that, brother.
Where is your article???
This train does not run on your schedule.
Then don’t give a schedule like you did, and complain when people ask to see the article. More lies and misinformation Alex
With any new model today you really need to see them in person first.
This should do fine as no one will mistake the styling as anything but Cadillac. It is tasteful and not over done.
The real key will be the materials inside and the details. Is the inside as good or better than the competitors? Is the technology finally sorted? When you shut the door does it sound like a Cadillac and not a Chevy?
We know the chassis was good so this should only be better.
Market it right and gain ground on recovering the image.
One model and one year will not undo decades of damage. But ground gained with each and every model will add up to the change over time.
I think Super Cruise is going to be a big selling point for both the CT4/5. It has been very well received, with basically the only complaint is that it’s expensive to get. These cars should fix that.
Plus, I think the interior looks plenty nice, especially in the image shown above.
The talking heads who have driven the pre-production CT4 have said the car reminded of Cadillac’s current ATS which is to be expected as like the next generation Chevrolet Camaro, the CT4 is built using underpinnings from GM’s Alpha chassis.
Its a great car for the C segment. I’d take it over the fwd based A-class anyday.
I’m not seeing Cadillac’s new (torque) badges on the back?
Also, as a designer, I don’t like the blue sport’s little AWD badge sitting that far away from the CT4 badge.
It looks lonely, and it’s just kind of floating in a massive empty space-Lol.
I’m not sure yet how I feel about the design of the rear. I like that it has some depth and character, but it looks
just a little chunky and “heavy” to my eyes. Will reserve judgment when I see one in the flesh/metal.
Yawn. I am so old I remember when Caddilac was an aspirational car and CNN was a news network. The GM marketing department killed it with ads suggesting anyone could buy it with low monthly payment. Who would “aspire” to a cheap transportion car? Answer: no one.
Yes so unlike all the other $399/mo nothing down C class, 3 series, IS, A4 and all the other cheap trash fake luxury cars that litter the Target parking lot……
Much better proportions than the CT5… The trunk lid however seems like an “afterthought”…
Yes, there’s so much plain paint, but at least it’s all one piece, unlike the ATS’s. It may look different in real life.
One can almost imagine reading of how someone shoehorned a 650 hp LT4 supercharged 6.2L V8 into their CT4 and clocking some wild numbers.
Good luck ? with that
I think the Premium Luxury trim for this car is very attractive. The Escala-style mesh really improves the way the front end looks. This grille pattern is especially striking in late afternoon to sunset from what I’ve seen in person. The Sport trim, while a solid effort in terms of differentiation, just doesn’t have the same presence as the Premium Luxury does. Just my opinion though. My only quibbles with this car’s exterior are the old door handles and the rear trunk lid design. I find the old ATS, CT5, and CT6 rear end designs to look more elegant. In general I’m not a fan of license plates being located on the bumper, I feel it looks more premium to have it on the trunk lid like on the CT5. I think the door handles should have been a close match, if not identical to what the CT5 offers, since they are more sleek and modern looking. Now, I will hold back my thoughts on the interior and powertrain until I’ve sat in one and driven it. I’m thinking a Stellar Black P-Lux model could be a looker from what I see so far.
What the heck is with the rear of the vehicle? It just looks odd to me.
Micheal Simcoe is what’s up with the rear of the vehicle.
He’s going to drive GM to bankruptcy again.
Retains too much ATS…pass