When most people think of a classic Cadillac, they conjure up images of dramatically-styled cars with oversized rear tailfins like the Cadillac Deville or Eldorado. The luxury automaker may no longer produce cars with over-the-top tailfins, but as the old adage goes, you should never forget where you came from.
The 2020 Cadillac CT5 features a subtle nod to the finned Cadillac models of yore, though it has likely gone unnoticed by many enthusiasts. In an interview with GM Authority, Cadillac design chief Andrew Smith explained that the inner-lighting graphic on the 2020 Cadillac CT5’s taillights was inspired by the tailfins of classic Cadillacs. The inner lighting design runs up from the rear bumper and arcs horizontally into the rear fender with an L-shaped curve, mimicing the shape and curvature of a classic Cadillac tailfin.
This subtle feature may not be as prominent as the in-your-face tailfins on vehicles like the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado, this small design element contributes to the unique look that sets the CT5 apart from the rest of the luxury four-door segment. There’s another minor design detail in the taillights in the way of a transparent Cadillac crest, which is mounted towards the front-most section of the light that stretches into the rear fender. This crest is complimented by tiny Cadillac badges on the door handles – yet another small add-on that contributes to the overall attention to detail.
There are also some small details that differentiate the different trim levels within the Cadillac CT5 lineup – as per the automaker’s y-trim level strategy. For example, the tail lamp housings on Premium Luxury and Luxury trims have red lenses, while the CT5 Sport and performance-focused CT5-V have and neutral-density /gray-tinted taillight lenses. We expect neutral-density/gray lense to appear on the upcoming Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, as well.
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A version of this story originally appeared on our sister site, Cadillac Society.
Comments
Yeah…………….not seeing it. But I did notice that the wheels are round just like the ’59’s.
Lol
The older your eyes and memory the easier it is to see the homage.
I GUESS YOU HAD TO BE THERE.
Truth is the designers really took their time with this model and they’ve done a beautiful job. This is more obvious when you park a base model 2020 CT5 350T Luxury next to a base model 2019 CTS Luxury. The improvements were well overdue, much needed, but just on time. Exterior design, interior design, technology, aesthetics…in more than just a few ways this car is a much better value than it’s predecessor. The unfortunate truth is that people rather not see the good in this or any design from this brand right now. People rather troll this and the CT4 and pretend the ATS/CTS were better in every way because they’re upset with GM. It’s either they haven’t got over the fact GM accepted their bailout in ‘08, or the fact they build something in Mexico, or the fact they cater to one of their biggest markets CHINA. Whatever the reason, people will pretend these new Cadillacs aren’t some of the hottest designs out. But I honestly feel otherwise. I absolutely love the design of the CT5. Of course there’s things that need to be taken up to the next notch before it’s competition will take a unequivocal backseat but it’s definitely more than just worthy of consideration if you’re shopping in either segment. The same can be said about the new 2021 Cadillac Escalade, people dislike it and will talk bad about the design and how the previous design was so much better in every single way but shoppers in the segment seriously considering replacement of their large luxury SUV’s right now are going to be in Cadillac dealerships over the next several months because truth is what the new Escalade offers is more than worthy of consideration even alongside the best from Germany.
I can be long winded at times so my apologies. I just want to say it’s nice to know the designers are paying homage to the classics that came before their own works of art. That’s a great sign and confirms that there’s hope for the American company to one day become the standard of luxury around the world. Good job GM on the CT5! I can’t wait to test out the Blackwing!
I agree with you for the most part, I think overall the CT5 is a much more striking car at all angles than the outgoing CTS. I can’t wait for mine to arrive to replace my CTS! But that rear quarter window on the CT5 is still a bit dumb looking, I’m going to tint the rear windows to 5% so it’ll look better.
The CTS *was* a better car, because it was *unique*. There’s only one car that looks remotely like the CTS out there, and that was the little-brother ATS. The CT5 looks… “right at home” next to Infinitis and honestly, the Honda Accord. What were they thinking with that rear window kink? Why would you betray almost 2 decades of angular art-and-science design language in favor of building something that looks like a next-gen Q50 instead of something distinctly american?
https://imgur.com/a/aEWIfFV
Dave – have you considered the possibility that being “unique” or “distinctly American” is not automatically a good thing?
Have any data to support your claims?
> Have any data to support your claims?
Yeah, sample size 1 – I like the CTS more than I do the CT5. Why do I feel like I’m speaking with Mary Barra herself – any attempt to quantify something subjective like design leads to products that look like the CT5 which lack any identity because they intentionally fit within already-existing consumer trends rather than defining new ones.
> have you considered the possibility that being “unique” or “distinctly American” is not automatically a good thing?
Have you considered that selling a $50,000 luxury car is more about emotion than empirical metrics? Good design is unique, something which is not only inspired – but is inspiring. If I wanted something that looked like an Accord or Q50, I’d buy an Accord or Q50.
VERY Well put Dave… I agree with you as well. That said I’d like to see pictures of the CTS next to the CT5 as well. Alex loves to steam roll opposing “opinions” with calls for “data”…
The CTS, IMO should have been “next gen-ed” changed and improved and not discontinued to be replaced with a new named model on what is a next gen Alpha/CTS. GM discards established names that cost millions to market to bring brand and name recognition. The CTS really put Cadillac back on the car map and the Gen II and Gen III V cars are monsters. Again, a legacy to build on not toss on the trash heap. But I digress…
@XJUG:
“Alex loves to steam roll opposing “opinions” with calls for “data”…”
That’s VERY funny coming from you. Thanks for the chuckle.
The only “Steam Roller” on this site is you.
I’ll thumbs that up… thanks… I think 🙂
I’d love to see how much GM spent to market the CTS. Because I just don’t see it. I live on the west coast and own a CTS. I see maybe one other CTS per month. The last generation CTS is a great car and a huge improvement in terms of design and quality over the prior model. But it was too expensive with barely any marketing from GM. That’s why sales have collapsed.
I see ZERO similarities between this and a Honda Accord. Styling preference is completely subjective and you clearly do not like the CT5 design, and that is ok. I happen to think the car is one of the better luxury designs out there today. Is the C pillar the only thing that makes it look like an Accord to you? Because I’m really having a hard time taking you seriously. Stop complaining about the CT5 and go by an Accord.
The manager that allowed this design should be fired. Pronto. Final sale numbers will confirm that for this cycle. GM once home to the worlds best designers, reduced to this crap.
While I very much like the CT5, you did get your wish a couple of years ago when GM let Johann De Nysschen go. He over saw the design and development of CT5 from the beginning, sold it to management, and signed off on it for production.
A decent looking car except for that kink in the back side window. I cannot look at the side profile without seeing that . I do not know why they would think this was necessary to add to an otherwise clean design. Some stylist left over from the Aztek project perhaps ?
The subtlety is part of the the problem. A Cadillac should not be subtle – it should launch you right out of your socks, and this bland, anemic, utterly undistinguished looking Honda Accord with a Cadillac grill does nothing of the kind.
this guy gets it. You’re not buying a Cadillac to fit in – if you want more of the same there’s at least 3 german and 2 asian brands which will sell you that premium conformity and provide equal or greater perceived prestige for about the same spend.
Nobody looked at me driving around in a 5-series, but watch people’s heads turn next time you spot a CTS-V rumbling around.
My dad always had a cad,,now Im older and I keep lookin at em,, I like em
One of the current SUVs, the XT5 I believe, the tailights are like fins.
Hopefully when Cadillac goes all electric it is done in a world class manner and GM actuality pumps some ad money into advertising as the cars as of late have been good. Say what you want about interior finish, when i’m carving a curve or diving into a corner it’s not the interior (obnoxiously over sized OLED) that my eyes are focused on.
We know the Hummer is back, lets hope GM has planed to spread that 1K horsepower around.
Subtle nod to tailfins of yore? Not really.
The Cadillac tail fin era was 1948 to 1964.
Cadillac rear end treatments of recent decades go no further back in inspiration than the 1967 Eldorado design.
Ah, the 1967 Eldorado – now there was a Cadillac for the ages. Perfect from any angle, and my favorite post-war American car.
I’m going to get blasted for saying this, but part of the reason for the lackluster in Cadillac cars was a lack of innovation and lackluster in their German competitors. Honestly, besides the Mercedes S class and the BMW 7&8, all of which were well more expensive than an escalade, the A and C from Benz and the BMW5 were nothing to really relish in. just a foreign brand sedan and that was about it. The ATS and CTS were way better cars and stayed around for way too long because they had no challenger for the longest of time.
I traded in my 18 Escalade for a CT5 in January and people love it. Everywhere I go people are impressed and constantly stop to ask me what car it is. People on the road break their necks when I drive by, and valet workers, the Cadillac mechanics, the guy who did my window tint are all impressed. The only time my car got this much attention was when I drove an ELR for 3 years. I hated the last generation of the CTS. There was nothing anesthetically pleasing about it in my opinion. But from the moment they released official photos of the CT5 I was impressed.
I’ve only seen one on the road up here in Montreal so far. But the people crapping on the looks have clearly never seen it in person, pictures do not do this car justice. It looks good in pictures but weird at some angles, but in person? It looks awesome.
Respectfully, the Cadillac crest in the taillights is more a defense to counterfeit parts than a “design detail”…
should you vape