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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I don’t like the chrome trim on the red model. The blue looks better.
The CT4 is a good looking car except for the back, where it gets kind of weird.
It seems to check all the boxes. Unless they screw up the pricing, I think it will outsell the Lexus IS and Infiniti Q50, but not the BMW 3 Series.
The news of the ATS being replaced by a smaller vehicle that would come to be known as the CT4 and basically it’s a re-skinned ATS. Pfft!
So let me make sure I understand, I suppose based not so much size but more so pricing this is supposed to be considered competing against the A3 and CLA!!?? Just wondering how compelling this vehicle will prove to be as an alternative to the aforementioned models. Will the buying public still consider it an A4 and 3 Series competitor with too little rear seat room or consider that they are getting more car for the money over A3 and CLA? Hmmm?
I don’t know but I’m just not drinking the Kool Aid. The CT5 is nearly 9 inches longer than 3 series but within 1 or 2 inches in all dimensions of the 5 series. Again it must be the pricing because visuals and dimensions say CT5 is a 5 series competitor.
Lastly, the exterior styling of the CT4 is waaaaaay more successful than the CT5.
But Cadillac has done a clunky job of introducing its upcoming lineup and or tarnishing the brand’s market perception:
– CT6 is going away after 2 model years. Oh wait, no it isn’t. We reported wrong.
– Surprise announcement of V series models only for them to not be worth the hype. Womp Womp!
– CT5 has some cool exterior design features but cohesively and in the overall it’s not a particularly attractive or compelling vehicle.
– An unmistakable signature interior design theme is missing. It’s generic upmarket at best.
– XT6 – I suppose it’ll sell but it’s underwhelming in all aspects upon first impression.
In the overall, save for the Camaro and upcoming mid engine Vette, GM’s current lineup is a big ol’ YAWN SNORE!!
YES! Really the only GM car that beats anything in the market is the C8, and they’ll probably screw it up at launch by pricing it too high or having Pinto reliability.
I still don’t understand why are the CT4V and CT5V’s are called Vs instead of V sports
Johan was excited about this? The German was blowing smoke up peoples butt just like his overlord Mary Bara.
Where’s the stupid torque number badging??? Cadillac can’t even be consistent with their bad ideas. How can I trust them to execute the ‘good’ things? I try so very hard to get excited about Cadillac and the direction that they are going, but for me it’s the little things that make a luxury marquee. Consistency in luxury execution being chief among them .
I wonder how much different the back seat room is in the ct4 vs the ATS. I test drove the ATS and loved it but my sister and niece sat the back and complained about how uncomfortable the back seat was. I understand the ats was not a family sedan. Just curious.
I’ve seen these cars in traffic….been behind one in traffic around the Milford Proving Ground / Highland, Michigan area. Photos don’t do them justice. Should sell very well. Back end / Trunk lid does look a bit like an “Elephant Seal” (…Google it) at first look, but you get use to it. A solid powertrain and comfortable interior is all these need to do well.
The ATS is dead! Long live the ATS!
Here’s why I think this car will be as successful as the ATS and CTS sedans:
1) It’s a sedan and consumers want SUVs
2) The interior, specifically the dash, is really lackluster. I spend all of my time INSIDE the car. And we all know Cadillac will only sell the nice interior colors on the most expensive models, so most of these cars on the road will have ugly interiors.
3) To the average car buyer, the CT4 looks identical to the ATS. Nobody bought the ATS. By transitive property…
4) Stiff competition with a better track record of not discontinuing their models. I would buy a A3, BMW 2 or Merc A/CLA before this.
5) WHY should we buy it? Because it says Cadillac on the badge? This is my biggest question. WHAT DOES IT DO BETTER? Interior? No. Performance? No. Legacy? It’s new model. Being the only person on the road driving a Cadillac? Yes.
Go ahead and disagree with me. It’s ok to be wrong. But trends are indicative of future events, and I’m certain this has flop written all over it. Unless they sell it for $20k.
You nailed every point.
I think the CT4 looks fine, except for that black plastic strip at the top of the grille. It looks cheap and out of place. And why is it black even on the “luxury” trim?
Also yes, as you point out–nobody bought the ATS, and nobody minus 7% per quarter will buy this. I’m not saying it deserves that, just saying what I think the market will do. Cadillac (and GM) has got to get at the front of the game, not have their selling points be “hey we finally added features everybody else had 4 years ago!” I’m so hoping the Escalade interior is outstanding.
As a current ATS-V owner who bought the car new, I’d consider the upcoming higher output CT4-V if it at least stuck with the power the LF4 makes, used a 10-speed transmission, AWD, and most importantly, if GM doesn’t lock out aftermarket tuning as has been rumored. AWD 10-speed launch from an upgraded TTV6 would be satisfying enough to nullify any points lost in the looks department for me. Anything less though, and I’d be pretty content just keeping my car indefinitely.
Looks to me like Cadillac screwed up…the CT4 looks more expensive and more like a Cadillac than the CT5…Too bad !!!
My 2016 Buick Regal looks better.
Not that the Regal isn’t a good-looking car, but it doesn’t look “better” than the CT4 or the CT5. Not in a million years. But hey, it’s all subjective.
Personally, the ATS looked much better than this car. Especially the ATS-V. The only thing the ATS was missing was a 10-speed automatic transmission. Granted it would have been nice for Caddy to offer a higher output version with different turbos, exhaust and other things like AMG does with their AMG-S cars but the ATS was probably one of the best performance vehicles Cadillac had. Now granted the CTS-V family was the top of the line, i will never argue that, but the ATS-V was honestly really nice. But it is what it is. I’m not really feeling the new design on these cars. they don’t look right. To many mis-matched pieces.
As a previous owner of the ATS, I loved the way the ATS looks… but the CT4 is much-needed update to bring the car into the new era of modern automotive design, and it looks better.
The ATS was missing a lot more than a 10-speed transmission. It was missing things like ventilated seats, decent infotainment system controls, a clearly-differentiated trim level structure, and refinement with the 2.0L LTG. See my previous comment on the things the ATS shortcomings that the CT4 addresses/will address.
I am feeling this design, and would be all over one… if only it had launched sooner. I’d much rather buy this over an A Class or A3…
It is old ATS lady on very bad facelift operation. But threre are some complication. All new parts looks terrible. Inside it is very conservative – nothing for younger drivers which prefers colors and hi-tech technology. It is weird mix of old style with Escala like design (designed for chinese eyes). Escala is pure and elegant inside and out. This ugly too long horizontal lights something is disgusting. CT5 has better front and rear. The rest is better on CT4. GM please, bring real Escala even with huge display and liftback to life!
Speaking of “if only it had launched sooner,” when is the CT4 going to have a formal debut, options list, and pricing? It seems to be taking a very long time. It remains curious that they revealed the V first, and that was nearly 90 days ago. And concerning the V reveal, the photo renderings of the interior accompanying Sam McEachern’s article on May 30 show a rotary control knob on the console, but the photos at the actual unveiling that day reveal a console without a knob. So is the CT4 going to have a control knob or not?
The good news is, it doesn’t have the unconventional, and in my opinion, ugly C-pillar treatment from the CT5. The bad news is, that trunk lid and rear end.
It looks so much better with the bright work.
I like the front end a lot, but what’s with the black pieces between the headlights and the grille? The “V” have it as well. The black trim above the chrome grille better be a pre-production part.
The side profile is elegant and I like the Escala inspired crease at the bottom. The DLOs are still traceable to the ATS though.
The rear is where everything falls apart. The trunk, taillights and bumper are all terrible … Reminds me of the facelifted XTS & not in a good way.
Mary Barra issued the following memo: Cadillac, for the new millenium, please make all designs as boring as putrid as possible. They need to match my wardrobe style. That is all.
why oh why is GM playing with puff pack fours? the engines have impressive figures but thats not real world stuff. GM doesn’t build the engines to run at these magical figures. the pistons are cast not forged. cast pistons fail when pushed hard. to get the magical figure you have to push the engine hard. blown pistons anyone? Mercedes is using larger capacity engines and meeting European emission standard in real world driving. puff pack fours don’t meet emission standards in real world driving. VW can attest to this.
All these new cadillacs will fail if they continue with the whole half-black, half-color interiors. It’s like they are too cheap to make separate part numbers for the interior trim pieces, and as a result you have these bizarre looking interiors with a black headliner, black pillars, black upper dash and steering wheel, but the seats and some random parts of the dash are brown.
This is what separates first-tier luxury from second-tier luxury–being willing to make each interior color option a true complete package. Every trim piece should be color coordinated and there really shouldn’t be any black on the inside of a car with a tan interior. Each color option should have different part numbers for every piece that you touch or see. Yes I know it’s slightly more expensive. It’s a CADILLAC.
Nice Pontiac G6.
I didn’t think the rear ends could get any uglier, but they managed to do just that with the CT4. It looks like someone ran into it.
Seriously, this would make a nice small Chevy. Let Cadillac stick to making large , luxury cars.