Production Of The Cadillac CTS Is Officially Over
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Production of the Cadillac CTS has officially ended at General Motors‘ Lansing Grand River Assembly plant in Michigan – putting the final nail in the sedan’s coffin.
Our sister site Cadillac Society spoke with Cadillac spokesperson Tara Kuhnen this week, who confirmed that the assembly line building the CTS had officially come to a halt.
The final Cadillac CTS is a 2019 model year car with a VIN ending in K0148662 and finished in the Black Raven gloss black exterior color.
Lansing Grand River Assembly will now turn its attention to the Cadillac CT5. Production for the new sedan, which indirectly replaces the CTS, is expected to begin at the south Michigan plant shortly.
The plant will also be tasked with building the Cadillac CT4 as well, although it’s not entirely clear when the smaller sedan will begin rolling off the assembly line in Lansing. Some retooling needs to happen within the plant in order for the CT4 to be made there, it is understood.
The current CT6 and CT5 serve as indirect replacements for the Cadillac CTS. The CT6 is intended to replace the higher-end CTS models, while the CT5 takes over for more entry-level ones.
Meanwhile, the Cadillac CT4 indirectly replaces the Cadillac ATS. It has also allowed Cadillac to enter the more affordable luxury C-segment, where it will compete with cars like the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class and CLA-Class. The ATS, if you need reminding, was intended to serve as a BMW 3 Series competitor.
The Cadillac CTS last three generations, with production of the first-gen car starting in 2003 and lasting until 2007. The second-generation CTS, built between 2008 and 2014, spawned a family of CTS-based vehicles (Sedan, Coupe, Sportwagon) and also offered V-Series versions of each. The third and final Cadillac CTS was offered in sedan form only like the first-gen car.
Source: Cadillac Society
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…and now the complaints begin.
Well I miss this body style but still enjoy it everyday in my CTS Vsport
The current CTS looks way better than the CT5; its shortened rear end makes the car’s proportions look odd.
A criminally underrated sedan. But it has done its time. Hopefully, the CT-5 and its accompanying V Series packages takes up the slack.
Agreed! I have owned mostly BMW since 1992. I have had 3 5,series, 3 X5’s, and my last lease just ended on a M4 convertible. I just bought my first Cadillac. CTS Premium. Black Raven with every available options. Price, quality, and comfort is the best car i ever owned. “Criminally” is so apropos!!
Always loved the Second Gen coupe, especially in V-Series trim. Looked like a concept car that somehow “escaped” into production.
Our 2004 CTS to this day is still the best vehicle I have ever owned, both value and comfort.
I am hoping good things for the CT5, if its close to the size of the 2004 and 2008 CTS it will be the right size for us, and with the 3.0TT should perform well. ( not the 2.0T LSY ) ( I would prefer the 2.7T – 10 speed )
Anyway what GM calls these things means nothing to me anymore, I do like the CT5- -Blackwing name though !!
But we just do not need a race car, but we do not need another Cadillac slug 2.0T either ( like our 2.0T – ATS ).
Good luck Cadillac !!
I cannot believe how a website called GM Authority continues to mis-classify GM products.
The Cadillac CT6 is a full size sedan that replaces the full-size XTS.
The CT5 is a mid-size sedan that replaces the mid-size CTS.
The CT4 is a compact sedan that replaces the compact ATS.
The CT4 is sized slightly LARGER than A4, C-Class, and 3 series. It is way too big to compete with the A3, A-Class, and 2 series. Stop this nonsense of comparing it to these sub-compact vehicles just to make the HP look more acceptable. The CT4 is a monster relatively in size. Same message for the CT5! The CT5 is just as big, if not a bit bigger, than a A6, E-Class, and 5 series. Anything other classification of these vehicles is fake news. Segments are based on size, not HP!
Paul – it’s you who’s confused here. Allow me to set the record straight, hopefully once and for all.
Here are the segment for our classification exercise:
– C-segment: Audi A3, MBZ A-Class, MBZ CLA-Class, BMW 1/2 Series
– D-segment: BMW 3/4 Series, MBZ C-Class, Audi A4/A5.
– E-segment: BMW 5/6 Series, MBZ E-Class, Audi A6/A7.
– F-segment: BMW 7/8 Series, MBZ S-Class, Audi A8/potential Audi A9 (coupe version of A8).
Now, with that in mind, let’s have a look at the last-gen Cadillac lineup:
– The second-gen CTS was a large D-segment car, but positioned for the D-segment.
– The STS was a large E-segment car, but positioned for the E-segment.
With the introduction of the ATS, the ATS became the right-sized D-segment entry and the third-gen CTS became the E-segment entry. The XTS was also an E-segment entry, although it was very large for that segment… the price point placed it squarely in the E-segment and its direct rivals were E-segment contenders. The same goes for the CT6: Cadillac thinks of it as an E-segment car, though it’s sized closer to an F-segment car. But the positioning – price, feature set, etc. – is E-segment through and through.
Now, fast-forward to today. The segments have all grown over the years and generation. Cadillac foresaw this. In fact, they had made a mistake with the ATS and third-gen CTS to not adapt their vehicles to the ongoing growth in the segments. This mistake rendered the ATS and CTS with the smallest rear seat in their respective classes. So, the lineup now is…
– CT4: C-segment, though it’s larger than the typical C-segment car
– CT5: D-segment, though it’s larger than the typical D-segment car
– CT6: E-segment, though it’s larger than the typical E-segment car
Currently, Cadillac does NOT have an F-segment car, despite the CT6 being almost as large as one. I asked about this THOROUGHLY during the debut of the CT5. In fact, I spent an entire hour with a marketing director and a marketing manager understanding the CT5’s positioning. I even drew boxes with the segments and allowed them to place it.
Cadillac considers and has always considered the CT5, from its inception to development, as a D-segment entry that rivals the C-Class and 3 Series… and – as you will soon see – it will be priced in line with the D-car segment, with a starting price point in the high $30K or low $40K range. What seems to be confusing many people, including yourself, is that the CT5 is larger than the typical D-segment car. That was done on purpose for two reasons:
1. To do a D-segment entry “the Cadillac way”, and therefore not to be confined by the existing segments, and
2. To not have to make an extended-length CT5-L variant for China. The car is “right sized” for global consumption.
So while the CT5 is larger than the typical D-segment car, it is still a D-segment car. Make no mistake about it.
For the CT5 to be an E-segment car and fight the 5 Series and E-Class, it would need to be larger still and it would have to command a higher price point, in the low $50,000 range. And guess what? That’s the price point of the CT6, Cadillac’s E-segment entry, though one that is larger than the typical E-segment.
If you insist on these sedans then I’ll relent, BUT:
Does this not mean that that the SUV and sedan lineup’s are misaligned?
The XT4 is a compact that competes with the Lincoln MKC/Corsair. The mid-size Cadillac XT5 competes Lincoln Nautilus, they are the exact same size. Lincoln calls it mid-size and rightfully so. The 3 row XT6 competes with the 3 row Aviator etc. But if I accept your classification of these vehicles, then the CT4 sits alone, the XT4 is the same size segment at the CT5, The XT5 = CT6, and the XT6 sits alone on the other end.
I should clarify and say that while the size segmentation is wrong, I understand that you are doing your job and it is GM themselves that are making a mess of this, not GM Authority. I take back the first line on my initial comment. While one explanation for the misalignment is that they are not actually misaligned and GM made their vehicles bigger than normal for the crossover segment as well, it still seems entirely messy.
Side Note: Not to mention that in North America, we use Sub-Compact for 170+ inch length vehicles, Compact 180+, Mid-size 190+, and Full 200+. Letter categorizations are European and we should avoid using them (D segment is also called large/family car in Europe, yet it is “Compact” here which leads to more confusion. We would not describe a Corolla as a family sedan, to us that’s a Camry).
You are kind of making the same point I have been trying to for along time !!!
This is just the GM arrogance.
The Cadillac size and resistance VS horse power and torque TO THE ROAD is off !!!
Sure they have a 2.0T, just like the rest, and whatever transmission, like the rest, however can NOT figure out how to get the “so called power” to the road.
The new 9 speed is better don’t get me wrong, and the 10 speed is no doubt better than the (at times) junk 8 speed, but there is nothing on the road yet to speak of. So anyone test driving is dealing with the ( crap ) someone at GM said was ” good enough ” at the time !!
As far as size and name of the future Cadillacs, it is about as important as the torque number GM is wasting their money on. It, they mean NOTHING !!!
Until GM/Cadillac can get a vehicle on the road that the BUYER of said vehicle thinks is better than the competition, for the money, it simply does not matter where or what GM/Cadillac wants them to fit or compete with !!
Maybe the new ones will be great, I hope so !!
Because for the first time in my 39 years of GM ownership, we test drove an Audi A4 ( 2.0T ) compared to our ATS (2.0T) both AWD, and our ATS is simply JUNK in relationship to the AUDI. And the AUDI is LESS $$$$$ !!!
So we are patiently waiting for these new Cadillacs for my sixth one, but our fifth might be our last, because unlike the past, we will drive ALL of the competition to determine the product of choice.
After our ATS and the list of known faulty parts that GM/Cadillac will do nothing to fix, the competition cant get worse than the HORRIBLE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE form GM !!!
It’s sad to see such a great (yet horribly underrated) performer drive off into the sunset. Let’s hope the CT5 and CT6 can continue the legacy that this car left.
I love my CTS V-Sport.
“The current CT6 and CT5 serve as indirect replacements for the Cadillac CTS. The CT6 is intended to replace the higher-end CTS models, while the CT5 takes over for more entry-level ones.” Even GM authority doesn’t seem to know what the models are replacements for. So the CT5 won’t be “higher-end”? That doesn’t make any sense since the CT5 clearly has the better interior. The CT5 is an E segment car in interior volume and a D segment car in terms of trunk space. I think it would be best if Cadillac just stopped categorizing its cars altogether. What is the point? The MSRP will tell the whole story.
Last CTS means Caddy has abandoned its long term plan to counter Euro Crap sedans.
It also shows GMs lack of direction. Its all reaction at GM.
Trying to avoid Bankruptcy again by imitating market leaders.
No cheap electric in site and giving CEO Mary Barra Trumps tax money.
Bye again. Deja Vieu
Cadillac has officially lost it. The CT5 and CT6 serve as partial replacements for the CTS? Really? I never really understood why we had the CTS and the nearly similar XTS. While there were certainly small differences – the CTS had the larger interior and the XTS had the larger trunk – but beyond that the differences were merely a matter of taste (my preference was for the XTS). Originally, the CT6 was supposed to be a big step up from the XTS and the XTS a step up from the CTS. There is, at least more model differentiation in the current alphabet soup of offerings – call it subcompact, compact, and mid-size, but not a whole lot to entice a buyer to actually plunk down the cash. I’m a life-long GM and Cadillac guy, but right now I’m very disappointed. I put off buying anything last year, being much better pleased with the Lincoln Continental than the CT6, but I just can’t bring myself to buy a gussied-up Ford. Not yet, at least.
Sadly Cadillac is following the rest of GM off the cliff as so many lemmings. The mid 2000’s Cadillacs were exciting, and revolutionary. They had refused to follow the GM cookie cutter, monkey see monkey do marketing. When the Catera was replaced with the unique angular styling of the CTS, (Catera Touring Sedan) , Cadillac took on a youthful persona. The SRX was equally unique for it was a real Cadillac SUV, which handled like a sports car, not just an overpriced Chevy Tahoe with a Cadillac grille. I’ve owned both, and was actually proud to drive such unique vehicles. Sadly, I could see there were problems on the horizon when the new 2010 SRX was introduced which looked more like a Saturn Vue. Next were the random badging like “ATS”. What did that stand for? Almost a Touring Sedan? XTS? CT#, XT#?
Ok….so what’s in your garage?
I am sad—I bought a new 2004 and 2008 CTS models—my 2008 3.6 –all wheel drive was 2008 Motor Trend car of the year–my color was Hot Lava of which only 600 were built in April 2008–I test drove and liked the last generation CTS–but loved my 2008 so much couldn’t get rid of it–41,000 miles on it now–still get compliments today–everyone loves the orange color–I will look at the CT5 and CT4.
“while the CT5 takes over for more entry-level ones.” That’s not an encouraging endorsement of the CT5 lol.
The CTS Coupe was by far, the best looking Cadillac that ever came off an assembly line. Mine was a 2013 model and the plan was to replace it with a 2016 model. That obviously didn’t work out. I switched to a Toyota Avalon Limited.
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I have a 2015 Cadillac CTS luxury and it is by far the best car I’ve ever owned. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I now have 73,000 mi on it with no problems thank God. Cadillac has lost its mind. The only good thing is there will never be another CTS newer than my gen which in my opinion is a good thing