As previously reported, North American production of the Cadillac CT6 at the GM Detroit-Hamtramck plant was slated to cease by the end of January, 2020. However, according to a new report from our sister publication, Cadillac Society, CT6 production has been extended to mid-February, essentially giving the luxury four-door an extra two weeks on the line.
Once production of the Cadillac CT6 ends at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant later this month, the facility will be retooled for the production of future all-electric models.
The Cadillac CT6 first debuted for the 2016 model year, dropping as the brand’s range-topping flagship. The CT6 introduced the RWD-based GM Omega platform, and was the first model to adopt Cadillac’s current alpha-numeric naming convention, which labels cars with CT# and crossovers with XT#.
The Cadillac CT6 received a refresh for the 2019 model year, gaining new styling and an updated trim level structure per Cadillac’s latest Y trim level strategy. The 2019 model year refresh also brought the introduction of the Cadillac CT6 V-Sport, later renamed CT6-V, and the all-new twin-turbo 4.2L LTA “Blackwing” V8 engine.
Following the 2019 model year refresh, General Motors announced that the Cadillac CT6 would be discontinued for the U.S. and Canadian markets (the CT6 is not available in Mexico) following the closure of the Detroit-Hamtramck plant. Later, Cadillac said the CT6 might not be discontinued at all, with production possibly moving to another plant. Now, however, it looks as though the Cadillac CT6 is indeed headed to the chopping block, albeit a bit later than initially expected.
Cadillac Escala Concept
Looking ahead, Cadillac is rumored to be cooking up a production version of the Escala concept, which should fill the role of big luxury four-door in the brand’s stable. The new production-ready Escala will ride on the all-new GM VSS-R vehicle set, which will integrate the previous Alpha platform of the Cadillac ATS/CTS and Cadillac CT4/CT5 with the Omega platform of the CT6, creating a single rear-drive vehicle architecture.
Stay tuned, as we’ll have more info on all that in the future. In the meantime, subscribe to GM Authority for more Cadillac CT6 news, Cadillac news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
This post was created in collaboration with our sister publication, Cadillac Society.
Comments
Johnathan Lopez, how credible do you think these rumors are about Cadillac introducing a new sedan based on Escala? This sounds major if it’s true, because the spirit of the CT6 could still live on.
It has evolved “looks-wise” into a really nice design…just in time to cancel it here in the states and cater only to China.
The GREAT American Cadillac?
Why not just make it better (interior-engine options) and stick with the golden rule of advancing through generations building a legacy? They have already improved the exterior and made a bespoke engine that apparently was a waste of time, money, engineering, and materials. Who does that?
GM.
Just don’t see how GM can afford to throw that kind of money away.
Jonathan – more info on the VSS-R….
I was expecting engineering on this platform would end with the transition to electric. Is this platform compatible with full EV powerrtrain? Or will they bring out one more life of sedans based on the VSS-R platform?
Could this be ready for sale in calendar year 2021 with the Escala interior as well?
Question, If GM had built the Elmiraj as two door Omega sister to CT6, would the car be a success? I have several friends that drive the big Euro Lux S,7,A’s that were panting and drooling over the Elmiraj and ready to hand over the cash for one.
I still believe killing CT6 is a bad move. Killing CT6 and XTS both at the same time leads to another Dead End. I get XTS was ready to fade out, but to end it and have no where else to go by killing CT6 too just is insane….
And, the XTS sold very well???
Poor Cadillac, at the mercy of the same people who make the Spark
I too can not believe GM is killing the CT6. It was just made into the vehicle it should have been in 2015 when it was released.
It is a NICE vehicle. I personally would have preferred the 3.0TT or the 4.2 TT however the 2.7T with the 10 speed would be a longer lasting more reliable vehicle in my opinion ! The older casual driver crowd seems to like the 3.6 NA, and as an option, that needs to fill a group !
I will just say it, I am 51 years old, have personally owned 5 Cadillacs, my mom still has one and I was raised around them !
I prefer the Escala over all the concepts I have seen, BUT I would NEVER take away from the other concepts, the large 2 doors etc. All, in my opinion, would be better than what we have now !
OK we have to be ICE buyers still, there is no way, for a long time still, that South Dakota, will have a large enough charging network, to make the EV work here. Top that off with the fact that its 200 miles one way to a lot of things, so unless you are just using your vehicle as a work commuter the EV will not yet work.
I will however say this for a fact, if GM/Cadillac would build an Escala the size of the current CT5 with a 2.7T or 3.0T inline six like the GM 3.0TD only gas, with a 10 speed AWD we will buy one.
And we have decided we will NOT replace our ATS junk with either the CT4 or the CT5 so good luck Cadillac, we will sit this one out ! Might switch brands, might just keep driving our ATS or even just go back to our 2004 CTS, we just haven’t decided yet, but it will NOT be a Cadillac in the 2018 to 2020 form !
An Escala EV and ICE would be great !
You’re 51? I would’ve guessed you were actually a boomer yourself. Not that it matters, stereotypes fail, surprise.
Yeah its my location, South Dakota, is fairly conservative to say the least, so generationally we are 10 years behind. All the brilliant thinkers leave our state as fast as they can !
Any way, stereotypes on average do not fail. But there are some outliers.
Think of it like a GM customer satisfaction survey, all data looked at over time produces a bell shaped curve, take the Cadillac ATS in that survey. Some hate the vehicle all together, just so, so, so many problems, they got rid of it fast. Most just horribly dislike it, for several reasons, 2.0T, junk shifts, Cue screen delamination, recalls, leaky rear end, and so on, yet like the vehicle as far as driving, and it looks awesome, so the average ” stereotype ” ATS owner, just jorribly dislikes the vehicle and will never buy another 2.0T as long as they are alive. Then there are the ones who simply love the ATS, all around just love the vehicle, haven’t had any troubles, have the 3.6 V6 RWD, only drive with two people yet most of the time one, just love it.
So stereotypes do not fail, on average, the majority, but there are outliers.
The majority of boomer Cadillac drivers still want a big floaty Cadillac, and the handling and performance are secondary, and so is the tech.
The majority of the millennials want an EV Cadillac.
An outlier like myself, wants an elegant looking Cadillac vehicle, Escala, or Elmiraj, either one, but the CT4 and CT5 are neither, and not close enough to either, and just plain old cheap Chevrolet, again !!!
What a waist of so much time for Cadillac, the new onslaught of Cadillac in the last two years are just more cheap junk, and don’t appeal to ANY majority, for equal money they will be picked over a Chevrolet, that’s it !
And the best Cadillac by far right now, after they got rid of the 2.0T and the GM 8 speed junk transmission, is this CT6, its just a good vehicle NOW !! So lets get rid of that ! And all those boomers that want the V8 Cadillac, lets kill that also ! And for those who hate the 2.0T, lets standardize that on all but two Cadillac vehicles, and on those two Cadillacs lets just give then the 3.6 average GM blah !!
You could NOT come up with a plan that alienated MORE majority groups than GM is doing right now with Cadillac, You cant make stuff like this up !!
And an EV Cadillac trying to catch up with Tesla, like the Cadillacs in the last 20 years or more tried to catch up with the Germans. Again, you just can’t make this stuff up !
GM should have sold Cadillac to someone who can follow a plan. NOT follow the leader !
EV will NOT work here, look at the brake story on the trucks and this CT6, you have to take your 2019 and 2020 GM vehicle to a dealer again for a software update. To make the brakes work !
GM had better start hiring some smart people quick, that can relate to the customer, and talk to the customer, and those type of people are NOT cheap !!
Like GM wants to be cheap !
No worries on location. Some of us would rather be shot than live in a cosmopolitan chic area.
Regardless of amplitude, your agit-prop toward Cadillac would be more accurate if: the crossovers were Buicks, and the alphas were Lutz Pontiacs. Chevrollacs is a popular accusation that is a much narrower fit. Maybe that helps.
The floaty Cadillac stereotype fits the Silent generation best. They were/are loyal and GM abused that. And set themselves up poorly for new generations. Remember Clinton, Bush II, Obama, Trump: all Baby Boomers. Then the Xers, Then Millennials whom are not a completely written book. Then these newer kids.
So Cadillac’s biggest car will be the mid size CT5 with a 237 HP 4 cylinder or a detuned 3.0TT V6. It’s like GM is bringing in a pellet gun to the assault rifles of the Germans and Japanese.
Sadly those running GM likely dont even know what the Germans or Japanese are offering. In the GM vacuum little of the outside world gets in….
I hope the Escala rumors are true, because with the CTS and CT6 gone from the Cadillac lineup there is nothing. I’ve seen the CT5 and it is not worthy of the Cadillac Crest on its grill. Its a small generic looking sedan, not even as attractive as the Buick Regal. After 5 CTSs I recently took delivery of a 2020 CT6 and it is a great car. Its big, comfortable, luxurious and beautiful. It is what a Cadillac is supposed to be. Discontinuing it and the CTS is a huge mistake unless they can bring the Escala to to the market, but they better do it soon before the brand dies.
They will look at building Escala after killing CT6 and leaving a empty hole, instead of transitioning from one model to another. Next step will be to decide Escala is just to expensive to make and cancel it…..
Unfortunate, but probably true !!!
Still tragic. It’s the best Cadillac in 40 years and finally, with the Blackwing, it’s an honest, legit Cadillac. It rides on a Cadillac-exclusive platform that does things with mixed materials and four-wheel steering that couldn’t be done if it had to also be used to for a lower priced model. And, it has its own unique 32 valve 4.2 liter Blackwing pumping away under its sculpted hood. There is no wheezy little two-liter turbo hiding out under a plastic cover in the engine bay. It is finally nearly everything Cadillac needed. It’s a full-size RWD sedan the likes of which made Cadillac synonymous with luxury. It still needed a more upscale interior but it was so close to being great…..it’s just tragic how GM put it to an untimely early death.
As for a replacement, I have little hope for that. I’m thinking the few CT6 Blackwings that were built represent an encore act and the very end of an era of V8 Cadillacs.
Tragic. So, very tragic.
Sadly you are right. The bureaucrats that run GM just see the products they make as line items in a spread sheet. Each one interchangeable with all the rest when it comes to cost cutting. After billions are spent on the NEW ELECTRIC Cadillac the bold decision will be made to cancel the whole things to cut costs. Then billions more will be spent trying to make all Cadillac’s share pickup truck platforms….. The cycle continues…..