The next-generation Cadillac XT5 may lead the brand’s forthcoming electric vehicle product offensive, as first reported by our sister site, Cadillac Society.
As we already know, Cadillac’s first EV will be a crossover, which was previewed with a design sketch of the vehicle that was released at the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. This crossover concept actually previews the design direction for the entire next-gen Cadillac XT5 lineup, with the battery electric model likely to fall under the XT5 banner.
As Cadillac Society reports, sources close to the matter have said the next-generation Cadillac XT5 is tentatively planned to go into production in January 2022 as a 2023 model-year vehicle—the same year the Cadillac EV crossover is expected to debut. The respective timelines for these vehicles match up perfectly, then.
General Motors also hinted toward this being the case when it showed a slide (above) to company investors outlining its future EV strategy. The center portion of the diagram in the slide is labeled “Centroid Entries,” which represent the first EV models that GM is planning. One of those two “Centroid Entries” is a “Lux 3 SUV,” which will be the “lead entry” of the platform.
The term “Lux 3 SUV” is used internally within Cadillac to describe luxury D-segment utility vehicles, which of course is the very same space currently occupied by the Cadillac XT5. A “lead entry” means that the model in question will be the first vehicle on the architecture—which, in this case, is the BEV3 battery electric architecture.
Former Cadillac boss Johan de Nysschen also hinted that the automaker’s first electric vehicle would fall under the XT5 umbrella when he told Bloomberg that one of its EVs would be “a five-passenger crossover sport utility like the current XT5.”
The next-generation Cadillac XT5 has been assigned the internal program code ‘8DUL’ and will be based on GM’s new VSS-S platform (Vehicle Set Strategy – SUV). Additional information on the program, and the electric vehicle that it will very likely spawn, should slowly trickle out between now and 2022.
Of course, the electric crossover model isn’t the only EV Cadillac has in the pipeline. The next-generation Cadillac Escalade will also spawn a battery-electric variant, which is expected to have around 400 miles of range. The new Escalade will arrive for the 2021 model year, though the electric model is not expected to be available from launch.
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This report was written in collaboration with our sister publication, Cadillac Society.
Comments
I dont think that Cadillac would replace the xt5 with an electric powertrain I believe they are making a separate crossover with its own name. And two it seems pretty earlier to be replacing the xt5 right now.
2023 model year ! That seems to far out for this.
So I was correct when I said the XT6 was the last FWD based Cadillac.
I also remember that Alex did not agree with me 😀
If the next gen XT5 is an electric vehicle then it also means that it will be RWD based.
Oh, I’m sorry, Alex :))))
Don’t kid yourself. Alex has known about what’s written here for a while.
@Luigi Vampa
Do not be so sure…GM is working on Both RWD and FWD EV Platforms for some stupid reason.
I’m definitely holding onto my excitement.
We know for sure that BEV3 can support a RWD/AWD torque bias, but we still don’t know whether VSS-S is engineered to support RWD/AWD in addition to FWD/AWD. That’s one HUGE question mark that will tell us all we need to know about GM’s future direction with Cadillac.
Given De Nysschen’s comments on the XT6 as a judge in Motor Trend’s most recent test, we know he was one of the executives on the “RWD/AWD Caddy” side, while it looks like Barra and Reuss weren’t.
Now that we see who’s ousted and who’s in charge, I’m not sure GM has learned their lesson. I wouldn’t count on a RWD/AWD next-gen XT5.
If I’m correct, and the next lineup of CUVs is FWD/AWD, Cadillac is toast. Targeting the Lexus RX is proving more futile by the month.
@Curtnik
Completely agree with you. Cadillac must move to RWD except for the XT4.
Also, EV’s will be their last chance to become relevant again.
I’d say all-RWD/AWD
You’re not very aware of the success of the Cadillac SRX, and then it’s successor the Cadillac XT5 which was the second best selling of its segment at launch and only second to the Lexus RX. Please explain how it’s futile for Cadillac to go after a segment they are a top contender in?? The Lexus RX had also introduced the three-row Lexus RX-L which seriously boosted its sales figures. Cadillac was only competing with the standard Cadillac XT5 at the time and still managed to outsell the other Japanese and the Germans. This is the reason of the all new Cadillac XT6, to provide a third row XT5 to rival and directly compete with the Lexus RX-L. Since the refresh of the XT5, all-new XT6, and updated electric XT5/XT6 on the way, Cadillac is definitely a threat to Lexus here. I don’t think you guys respect Cadillac and their success, nor do you take into consideration what they’ve been able to pull off. You guys are so quick to count them out and have zero hope, but i believe they’re gonna make a example out of Lexus. You can’t live off alleged reliability forever and finally implement touchscreen infotainment systems and think it’s enough to fight off innovative and tech giants like GM. Cadillac is going to eat them for lunch soon, and this is without the help of a V-lite variant to rival the F-series of Lexus RX. I think Cadillac is off to a great start and it’s only getting better for them. From the looks of the all new redesigned RX, it appears Lexus has reached their peak while Cadillac was tardy to the party and just getting started.
Don’t let me down Cadillac! People are literally out here waiting for you to fail. Make them out of believers too.
Good looking !!!
Hope all are having a great day ???
Second look love it, somewhere between Corvette and ZL1, very modern, now what Cadillac does with the rest, that’s to be seen,
Don’t shoot it down to early,
Have a productive day. ???
So are you saying the next XT5 will be all electric, with no ICE option? Or it will offer an ICE option and electric option – similar to what BMW is doing with the X3 and all electric X3?
Just my opinion, (maybe I read it somewhere?) but I believe they will still offer ICE versions. You’re not going to make the same profit margins on the EV-unless you raise the price on the EV versions- but I believe the platform is set up to accommodate both.
I think it’s too soon to go all EV which could loose customers and be less profitable.
??
BTW-that render looks pretty good. I hope they don’t stray from that design language too far. But, their past says differently.
That is a sketch only. Mary Bara will make it look like a cadillac bolt. The staff will all be trans, and the engineers all women from the Bronx. That is the new Cadillac.
what the f*ck
If GM takes the best selling Cadillac and makes it electric only, that would be a huge mistake. But with all the other poor decisions that have been made, like project pinnacle for example. It would truely be another step to the end of Cadillac. BW
Jumping to electric without an upgrade of the National power grid is an accident waiting to happen as one can expect rolling blackouts throughout the entire country and even worst if Democrats win in 2020 who have promise to end fossil fuel usage which means a 40+ percent drop in electricity capacity.
@omegatalon
Where do you get your information that the Grid cannot handle it? First off, renewable Energy is growing at a much quicker pace than ever before not just in the Oil Dependent USA but much quicker around the World.
Solar Energy as of right now has become cheaper than Coal. And we just started working on that Technology so just imagine how much more efficient and cheaper yet it will become. Don’t worry, we will be alright.
People are scared of change but change is coming!!!
Cadillac needs to do more urban research with inner city gangs. Learn what they love about the ‘slade” and then transfer that hood rat knowledge to the whole line. Get some bling bling back.
You tell them Mr. Smith..,
Cadillac needs to be above the rest, hope they can make Cadillac great again !!!
Do us all a favor and never visit nor comment on this site ever again.
I wonder if they’ll use 8DUL as the actual nameplate for the product. The “first-ever” Cadillac 8DUL (pronounced “eight-dull”) would be an easy “name” to remember.
Or, B-dull.
Let’s hope not?
G R O S S
I really like my 2017 XT5 Platinum Edition and plan to replace it with another next year, when the lease is up. My next lease will be up in 2023, just in time for the Electric XT5 replacement. Although I think the renderings are beautiful, I’m not sure I’ll be ready for an Electric Car. I hope Cadillac offers a suitable alternative.
I would think structural engineering for the batteries would seriously compromise the performance and/or space utilization of an ICE version.
The current XT5 is not a car Cadillac can afford to screw up–or let wither on the vine, as it tends to do.
I am a GM guy. I got a XT5 in 2016 with the idea that I would be able to trade it for an electric Cadillac SUV in 2019, LOL. Now it’s another 3 years out? Sorry, I gave up and got a Tesla. Cadillac will have to be very special to get me back.
According to my source, Cadillac plans to introduce their first all electric crossover as a brand new model and not under a current vehicles name plate or style.
Instead of the flow tie, looks possibly a flow Crest, Cadillac grill emblem would work out nicely imho I like it…
????