The upcoming electric Cadillac crossover will be about the same size as an XT5 – the brand’s current gas-powered mid-size crossover.
This intel comes from GM Authority’s sister site Cadillac Society, which recently spoke to a source familiar with Cadillac’s new battery-electric luxury vehicle program. However, we already had a hunch the vehicle would slot into the D-segment after GM released a rendering of it at the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, revealing a vehicle with what looked to be an XT5-sized footprint. It is also understood the production version of the EV will be heavily influenced by the design sketch.
GM indicated one of its next-generation EVs would be a mid-size crossover in a slide (above) that it showed to investors outlining its future EV strategy. A portion of a diagram in the slide is labeled “Centroid Entries,” which are the first EV next-gen models that GM is planning. One of those two “Centroid Entries” is a “Lux 3 SUV,” which is GM-speak for a D-segment or mid-size vehicle.
The electric Cadillac crossover, which will not have an alphanumeric name like ‘XT5,’ will also debut GM’s next-gen EV platform, called BEV3. Like other modern electric vehicle platforms, BEV3 will be highly scalable and will support either FWD, RWD or AWD. It will be used in a wide variety of electric GM vehicles going forward, including another small electric Cadillac crossover slated to arrive after the mid-size vehicle.
Cadillac Society’s sources said to expect “very interesting things” from the mid-size Cadillac EV with regard to driving dynamics as well, which also bodes well for other vehicles that will use BEV3.
The mid-size electric Cadillac crossover will make its official debut in April. However, it’s not clear if a production-ready version will be shown, as Cadillac has yet to show a physical concept version of the rendering. As of right now, the vehicle only exists on our computer screens, so it’d be a bit of a surprise if GM were to suddenly drop a production-ready version. We’re expecting to see a full-size concept in April before a production version is shown at a later date.
In addition to the two electric crossovers, an electric Cadillac Escalade is also believed to be in development. The vehicle, which will likely share the BT1 large electric vehicle platform with the GMC Hummer EV, is expected to travel up to 400 miles between charges.
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This report was written in collaboration with our sister publication, Cadillac Society.
Comments
So the electric Escalade will be all new? The current one is T1-based, right?
The new electric architecture is supposedly adaptable to different platforms. So instead of just having a skateboard platform, they can also use the batteries in body on frame platforms.
I believe next Wednesday GM will hold an EV day for analysts and shareholders.
I hope Cadillac brings their A-game because the $75,000 Audi E-tron is already roaming the streets. The Mercedes EQC, at $68,000, is in start-up production mode in Bremen, Germany, and the BMW iNext is undergoing final extreme weather testing with production slated to begin at the Dingolfing, Germany, plant in 2021. Suffice it to say, without even a concept shown, Cadillac is behind the Tier 1 German brands. They cannot show up late again with a half-baked effort and hope to be seen as honest competition for the Europeans.
From what I’ve seen so far, all the German efforts are impressive and have, rightfully I think, taken the electrification idea and paired it with a normal looking mid-sized CUV configuration aimed at the most appealing segment of the luxury market. BMW’s previous i3 was just too weird looking, and the i8 too exotic but the iNext is a very normal, muscular looking BMW SAV that should be much more favorably received in the marketplace. As I said, Cadillac will need to bring their A-game, if they even still have one.
With only 200 miles of range. All of GMs comments recently have mentioned at least 300 miles.
I am looking forward to seeing this new car.
They could easily charge $70K+ for a good quality performance mid sizer like that.
I just wish that they had something to replace the CT6, even if electric. Cadillac without a full-size luxury sedan just doesn’t feel right.
Anyone know what the hell is going on with VSS-R??
About the size of a Cadillac XT5 or just marginally bigger than a Chevrolet Bolt which suggests that Cadillac wants their first EV to be affordable which means this new EV will most likely cost a minimum of $55-60K; but the big question will be whether be willing to spend $60K for something relatively compact in size when they can get something larger as one would have thought Cadillac was planning on something larger which would appeal to more potential customers.
Quick and COST EFFECTIVE segment entries…. There you have it same old GM speak. Quick. When has GM ever done anything QUICK??? Other than killing things off and making bad decisions. And there it is right up front…….. COST EFFECTIVE……. Translation… Dont expect anything more then typical GM mediocrity, cut every corner possible, cheapen it as much as possible and charge a high price for it. Hope I am wrong but the last thirty years of GM history says im not.
I know I am in the minority here but I honestly have no clue why GM spent so much money on getting the Public to understand what CT and XT is and now will get rid of it. Names for Luxury Vehicles confuse Consumers in my opinion. Someone wants to say and have others understand that they purchased a BMW 7 Series and NOT just a BMW 3 Series.
This is a huge reason people buy Luxury vehicles. They want people to understand that they have arrived.
If they tell everyone they got a Cadillac Escala or a Cadillac Elmiraj, that means absolutely nothing to most people. Just saying,
Not saying that is the reason I pick cars but a lot of Luxury Vehicle buyers think that way.
Having said all that, I cannot wait to see what Cadillac has in store for us with these upcoming EV’s. They better be World Class.
Not true. You never hear someone refer to the model of a luxury car. They say they drive a BMW, Mercedes or Audi. The focus is always on the brand.
Maybe I hear different people then. I have never heard a BMW 7 Series owner say they own a BMW. They always say I drive a 7 Series, I drive an S Class or I drive an A8 Haha
Well yes if they own a high end model they will probably specify. If they own a 3 series, A class, A3 etc, they’ll just name the brand. I’ve talked to people that don’t even know which model they have. (One of them in particular had an X5)