The Cadillac CT6-V has been an elusive beast. The high-performance luxury sedan was first announced in March 2018 as the CT6 V-Sport. GM changed the name to CT6-V that following September and began accepting orders in January 2019. All 275 initial orders sold out very quickly, prompting GM to open a subsequent (but unspecified) set of orders at a $4,000 premium, which also sold out. All was well and good, albeit with one major exception: as of July 2019, no units of the Cadillac CT6-V had actually made it to dealers or into the hands of eagerly-awaiting customers, with the delay being caused by emissions-related issues. Luckily, those delays have since been worked out, dealers have started to receive the very first shipments of the CT6-V, and – in turn – deliveries of the luxurious four-door rocket have commenced.
As of writing, a few GM Authority readers have taken delivery of their ordered 2019 Cadillac CT6-Vs. Meanwhile, other dealers and customers are still showing that their CT6-V models are “in transit.”
At this point, what we do know is that all 2019 CT6-V have been built, but it’s unclear whether all models have already been dispatched to dealers. In fact, it’s possible that some units are still awaiting shipment at the GM Detroit-Hamtramck plant as a result of the ongoing UAW strike. But with the very first units of the large super sedan finally in customers’ hands, the rest of the 2019 model year units shouldn’t be far behind, strike-related events permitting.
In all, it took the Cadillac CT6-V roughly 18 months from the time of the announcement in March 2018 to being reaching showrooms in September 2019.
For reference, the Cadillac CT6-V is powered by the all-new 4.2L twin-turbo V8 DOHC LTA engine, otherwise known as Blackwing. Specific to Cadillac, the twin-boosted V8 is rated at 550 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque, which is 13 pound-feet more than Cadillac originally estimated. Al that power is relayed to all four wheels via a new GM 10-speed automatic transmission matched with a mechanical limited-slip differential that increases traction at the limit and provides more predictable performance during spirited and track driving.
A specially-calibrated V-Series Magnetic Ride Control suspension system delivers improved roll control and cornering capability. A re-mapped steering system results in sportier, more dynamic steering response and feedback. Developed specifically for the CT6-V, a new 19-inch Brembo brake system with Brembo monoblock, fixed-opposed, four-piston calipers hooks up to performance linings and air deflectors that direct air to cool the brakes. The ensemble rides on new and unique 20-inch V-Series wheels with a five-by-four split-spoke pattern in the Ultra Bright with Midnight Silver finish. The massive rollers are wrapped in summer-only performed tires developed exclusively for Cadillac V-Series. The new rubber delivers crisp response and track-capable performance while retaining isolation and comfort.
A performance exhaust system with active valves offers reduced back pressure and improved sound character for a performance-oriented exhaust note. Track-tuned Active Rear Steer, a revised AWD torque split and unique track-focused stability controls round out the mechanical package.
Outside, the Cadillac CT6-V features a bold, dark front end with a large V-inspired mesh grille and horizontal LED headlamps with strong vertical signatures, making it distinctly Cadillac. Lower aero components and gloss black side window surround trim (DLO) highlight the performance sport sedan’s chiseled exterior with a dark and distinguished look. A set of lower aero components and spoiler further express the sedan’s performance capabilities.
As of this writing, GM has only confirmed the United States to be the only market where the Cadillac CT6-V will be sold. Chinese availability is out of the question, but GM has yet to officially rule out selling the vehicle in the other markets where Cadillac does first-party business, including Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Europe, Russia, and the Middle East.
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This report brought to you in collaboration with our colleagues at the Cadillac Society.
Comments
Pretty cool.
An absolute tragedy. The story is too sad to even read about. A great car that we’ve all longed for, hoped for and anxiously awaited; it was to be a car that signaled Cadillac was back. This is what CT6 should have been all along. Alas, the Blackwing has been so fraught with delays and issues that even last year’s models were still being held. Now, apparently finally cleared to ship, there is a teamsters strike that keeps the cars sequestered even longer. And the final 2020 models, the last-ever CT6, are slated to come down the Hamtramck line in just three months. Literally the CT6-V will be dead on arrival. Even if it’s tested and earns glowing reviews, it will all be for naught. It will never have a chance to burnish Cadillac’s image. Shakespeare couldn’t write a better tragedy than this. The story is profoundly sad to anyone who has ever rooted for Cadillac to make a comeback.
When the Blackwing was announced, it was a thrilling development but then there were the words “hand-built” so I knew that spelled trouble. As it turns out, it spelled tragedy too.
Then don’t buy one…
As for Shakespeare, You “…doth protest too much, methinks”.
GM is a joke anyway. They make crap cars and a “luxury” brand that is inferior to the real luxury brands like Mercedes, Audi, Lexus, and BMW.
So you so smugly telling us “then don’t buy one” is just a Trump-like copout.
My new Lexus LS500 is a much better vehicle that this cheaply made, corner-cut disaster on wheels.
You bought a LS500. Yeah, …that sure is one beautiful machine if you’re into cars than look like a Chinese knockoff of Genesis sedan.
You were good until you got to the Trump comment putting politics into it it’s just idiotic and ignorant I respect that your comment up until that point obviously you’re a Democrat which is not a political party but a political disease
You were good until you got to the Trump comment putting politics into it it’s just idiotic and ignorant I respect that your comment up until that point obviously you’re a Democrat which is not a political party but a political disease
A bit over-dramatized dont you think? Be happy there are still TWO cadillac sedans on the horizon.
If there was a market for the ct6 they would make more. Trouble is nobody buys them. Even people who wax poetic about the good old days of cadillac, still didnt man up and put their money where their mouth is.
Actually, Brian, I don’t think so. I don’t think the sentiment I expressed is overly dramatic. I would argue that if you don’t have the same feeling of extreme disappointment that I do then you aren’t truly a GM/Cadillac fan. To have GM promise a proper flagship for Cadillac for so long only to finally deliver that product and also to cancel it within three months of one another is truly a sad thing.
The CT6 Blackwing has been a long time coming and it is finally the kind of proper flagship Cadillac has needed for at least 25 years. CT6 has actually sold pretty well even with the deficiency under the hood of only a corporate V-6 or a too small four cylinder. Now that they have finally addressed those deficiencies with a perfect 4.2 L TT Cadillac-exclusive V-8, I’d expect to see sales increase and esteem for the car to grow significantly. Except that none of that will ever be because in classic GM fashion, they are killing it just as they’ve fixed its shortfalls. It’s a retelling of the Fiero story and it is a tragedy.
Neither the mid-sized and visually challenged CT5 or the little CT4 is ever going to be a flagship to compete with the S-Class, 7-Series, A8, and LS500.
Seeing the photos above with that sexy 4.2 liter TT V-8 engine actually in the engine bay elevates the beautiful CT6 into a truly serious car in my opinion. The engine is beautiful too; no cheesy plastic cover with a font that belongs in a Chevrolet. Instead there are cast valve covers with the Cadillac name emblazoned on them in a way that reminds me of Cadillac’s of the Art Deco period. It is FINALLY the engine this car needed. FINALLY! Except as I said above, we know its literally dead-on-arrival and destined to be nothing more than a rare collectible that almost no one will actually ever see or be able to drive.
Oh I agree, its an exceptional vehicle. And I do agree that it is exceptionally tragic–probably the best car they’ve ever built and it’s already done for. I just don’t think it’s the imminent sign of disaster that most people believe it is. For all you know, the CT5 will be just as exceptional, or more so. Maybe if enough people buy them, Cadillac will re-introduce the CT6 later on. I think in any event, for cadillac enthusiasts, the answer is, BUY A CT4 or CT5. Show them that you are willing to buy cadillac sedans. The problem is, most of the people who say they love cadillac sedans so much, then go out and buy a german or asian competitor. Or they buy an SRX, or now an XT4/5/6.
Maybe the CT6 isn’t dead. Strike isn’t over yet. Don’t sound the death bells yet.
Brian,
I think the reason people don’t buy Cadillac sedans or Cadillacs in general is precisely because they are so haphazardly developed, marketed, and sold. I own a German luxury brand (a BMW) and the reason I would not currently consider a Cadillac is because there is no consistency, no heritage, no continuity and all that affects the resale value of your car and the esteem in which it is held. Think about it; how long has there been a BMW 3-Series or 5-Series or 7-Series? The answers are 45 years, 48 years, and 43 years. How long has there been a CT6, a CT5, and a CT4? About 4 years for the CT6 and it is about to go away and for the other two there is no heritage at all. Those are new names. The ATS was only around for six years. Nobody knows what those products are. The Mercedes Benz S-Class has been in production since 1972 and everyone around the world knows what it is and respects it. When movie makers cast a car for an executive to drive in their film, it’s usually an S-Class because it fits the part. Sales of the S-Class throughout that nearly 50 year period have been up and down but Mercedes sticks with it. If I buy one today, I know five years from now, there will be a market for it as a used vehicle and I also know the entire time I own it, the car will positively reflect upon me because it is well regarded.
How long has BMW had the slogan ‘The Ultimate Driving Machine’? The tagline was launched in 1974 and has served as not just a slogan but a credo for the company and every product has to live up to that motto. Those words are the driving force behind everything the company does. What’s Cadillac’s motto? What drives them? How long did ‘Dare Greatly’ last? I consider myself, at the core of who I am, to be a GM guy and a Cadillac fan yet I honestly have no idea what their current slogan is. Is it still ‘Dare Greatly’? I don’t know. I think they dropped that. What do they stand for? If I buy a Cadillac, what does it say about me?
In my opinion, it isn’t enough to just chastise that public that they need to buy Cadillacs so GM will build Cadillacs. This isn’t the un-supportive public’s fault. This is GM’s fault and the fault of the never-ending chaotic parade of Cadillac brand managers who change course on things as often as the seasons change. GM needs to have a consistent, long-term plan to redevelop the brand and a huge part of it is that they must be willing to stick to something longer than five minutes, even if it isn’t making big money right now. And, yes, even if it’s hard to figure out where to build your flagship car when your CEO just closed the plant, you must fight for it and figure out how to keep it around.
As much as I loved GM growing up and considered Cadillac the pinnacle that I aspired to own, one would think I’d be a Cadillac owner now. But I’m not. They are not a good investment. Generally the product is inferior but beyond that, a buyer just has no assurance that what they are buying will endure. GM has to fix that, car buyers can’t fix that and it is going to take a long time. My concern is GM today isn’t willing to look at anything long-term.
Perfectly diagnosed. Sad, but true.
Love it I’m canceling my C8.R order. Lol.
Something about Mary, must be her hair gel. Lol that’s funny !!!!!!!
Can Someone who bought one post exhaust sound clips & maybe some acceleration videos to!? That’d be great, Thanks
https://youtu.be/lIGpFECHWZk CT6-V Exhaust
Must have been sittin awhile!
Love it Blue Potato
Typical “Mary” ran GM doing things ass-backwards. Actually, that has been the trademark of GM starting in the late 70’s, early 80’s. She’s just following that proud tradition.
They proudly introduce their latest and greatest, only to have delays and are “ALWAYS” behind the competition.
Rushing rebadged Chevys to the Cadillac SUV family because of poor foresight. Why did most every other automaker see the writing on the wall with the SUV craze and were prepared?
Sometimes, looking out of the Ivory Tower will help you understand what’s going on in the world around you.
Want one? Just be patient and low mile examples will be had for 1/2 price in 24-30 mos.
Jesus, 18 months?! I never facepalmed so far.
One has to wonder whether the LTA’s twin-turbo 4.2L DOHC-4v V8 making 550 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque is enough and whether it was necessary given that Cadillac could very easily talked Chevrolet to donating it’s 755 hp LT5 supercharged 6.2L OHV-2v V8 for usage by the CT6-V and other Cadillac models.
I don’t believe the CT6 nor the Impala will go away soon. I think they will finish off their respective life cycle so as to keep D Ham open until future product is ready for prime time. Of all the plants in question right now, D Ham is the youngest and seems to be the most adaptable to production changes.
I like everything but the rim’s. And maybe should have went with the c8 motor.
Oh I agree, its an exceptional vehicle. And I do agree that it is exceptionally tragic–probably the best car they’ve ever built and it’s already done for. I just don’t think it’s the imminent sign of disaster that most people believe it is. For all you know, the CT5 will be just as exceptional, or more so. Maybe if enough people buy them, Cadillac will re-introduce the CT6 later on. I think in any event, for cadillac enthusiasts, the answer is, BUY A CT4 or CT5. Show them that you are willing to buy cadillac sedans. The problem is, most of the people who say they love cadillac sedans so much, then go out and buy a german or asian competitor. Or they buy an SRX, or now an XT4/5/6.
Maybe the CT6 isn’t dead. Strike isn’t over yet. Don’t sound the death bells yet.
I remember when Cadillac meant quality and CNN was a news channel.
I have been a GM buyer since the 60’s, and have driven Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Buick and Cadillac,and worked for MIC/GMAC along with with working in multiple GM dealerships. Since Roger Smith took them into the toilet, I still stuck it out, watching all my family and friends driving foreign vehicles,and working in dealerships watching one mistake after another. Putting chevy engine’s in Oldsmobiles, making a diesel from a gas engine block, Cadillacs V8-6-4,& HT4100,the Northstar, letting Pontiac produce the Aztec, and Cadillac Catera,and so on. But I continued to suck it up, praying things would get better,but no they’re just still arrogant as ever,just like all of comments that disagree with people saying what is true, that’s why they’re where they are today. Continuing to disappoint and not giving people what they used to give them. Cadillac is the most overpriced vehicle,and to kill off a
car that is close to what they used to do,a full sized sedan,a flagship, (CT6) REALLY!?
Snap out of it, I still buy and drive GM,but getting ready to consider other options because prices keep going up and even though I’m not a fan of the UAW, taking away health benefits, just continuing to make bad decisions.
Wake up and smell the competition.Because Dodge Ram is now the number 2 in truck sales, very very sad.
Love the look of this car!
I don’t understand the carbon fiber interior though
“Cadillac is the most overpriced vehicle”
Not for the segment it’s in. Would you be prepared to say those cars are overpriced too?
They’re not overpriced, they’re just out of reach.