Cadillac CT5 Caught Testing In Australia
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A Cadillac CT5 has been caught driving on Australian roads by a sharp-eyed automotive enthusiast, though it’s not exactly clear why General Motors is testing the car in the land down under.
The Cadillac CT5 in question has its badges covered up both in the front and the back and is also left-hand drive. The test car appears to be based on a Cadillac CT5-V, seeing as it has quite wide hips and a quad-tip exhaust. The photographer, an Instagram user named James, says it also had a “growly” exhaust note, so the vehicle is likely packing the same 355-horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged LGW V6 engine that is found in the production Cadillac CT5-V.
While right-hand-drive Cadillac vehicles are in the pipeline, it’s not clear if GM plans to launch the luxury sedan in the Australian market. It’s certainly possible that Australian GM engineers are testing the CT5 ahead of a planned launch in the country, but it’s equally likely that it has its Aussie engineering division doing some chassis development work on the model. It is believed that right-hand-drive Cadillacs are mainly being developed with the U.K. in mind.
As our Australian readers will know, GM no longer offers a rear-wheel-drive Holden model in the country after discontinuing the VF Holden Commodore and replacing it with the E2XX-based ZB Commodore. Local customers have a penchant for rear-wheel-drive vehicles, so offering a powerful, RWD-based product like the CT5-V in the country might not be such a bad idea—though for many Aussie GM enthusiasts, there will be no replacing the sadly defunct rear-drive Commodore.
If you need a refresher, the Cadillac CT5 features the aforementioned 355-horsepower LGW V6 engine, which is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and sends power to the rear wheels (though all-wheel drive is available as an option). It rides on an evolved version of GM’s acclaimed Alpha platform called Alpha 2 and also features Magnetic Ride Control, 19-inch alloy wheels and model-specific exterior touches. North American models will be built at the GM Lansing Grand River plant in Michigan, while Chinese-spec models will be produced at the Jinqiao Cadillac plant just outside of Shanghai. The test car spotted in the photo may have been built in the U.S., but seeing as China is a shorter distance from Australia, it also seems possible it may have come from the Jinqiao plant.
Cadillac is planning to launch an even more powerful version of the CT5-V called the CT5-V Blackwing, which is expected to feature one of the automaker’s supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engines. GM has implemented a new two-tier strategy for V-Series models with this new generation of Cadillac products, with plans to offer standard V-Series models and hardcore Blackwing-branded models for customers who want a true performance product.
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This isn’t a big mystery. GM Australia helped develop the CT5, many of their employees have spent time in Michigan doing that and now they have had a few PPvs shipped there to do some final tuning etc. How do I know? My cousin who lives in Melbourne is one of the GM Aus employees involved in the program. This has zero to do with any RHD program. Oh and BTW they did the same with the CT6.
It’s de-badged even though the Australians know it’s a Caddy. Is it the SS replacement?….
I question the really wide rear quarters. Could this be a mule for some other model with a CT5 body just on it.
Could they be doing testing for a larger model or halo coupe.
Just something to consider as in the past they used the CTS body for development of many other models.
If it was a black wing it would not be the stock V6.
This car looks good from no angles.
@william goszinski if you are going to complain dont comment. Cause I disagree!
Dude stop smoking crack cocaine they maybe your eyes will regain the ability to focus again. It’s worth a try.
I really hope Oz gets the CT4 & CT5. The Kia Stinger is selling like crazy because the RWD Commodore went away.
I’d love to buy a CT5 BEV for around $60K. GM Battery tech is far more reliable than Tesla, but they have no Luxury electric Sedans for sale to compete with the Model 3.