We have recently reported that several General Motors models are set to be sold in Australia. It seems, however, that the upcoming Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing ultra-high-performance luxury sedans will not be among them.
At first, this may seem difficult to understand. Enthusiasm for cars of this type has been widespread in Australia for many years, including some from GM’s now-shuttered Holden arm. In addition, the country’s premier motorsports series, the Supercars Championship, is contested by nothing else.
Yet Australian publication whichcar, in an article predicting an influx of GM vehicles, said that “Cadillac sedans, even V8 models, have been ruled out because of rapidly declining demand for performance four-door sedans”. The article did not mention the CT4-V Blackwing or CT5-V Blackwing, but the implication could hardly be more obvious.
In fact, that might be understating the case. Four-door sedans, whether performance or not, are not even close to being the force they once were in Australia. Every year from 1977 to 2010, the country’s best-selling car was a Ford Falcon, GM’s Holden Commodore or, in 1978, a Holden Kingswood. All three were four-door sedans.
By 2019 the situation had changed beyond all recognition. The two top sellers that year, by a large margin, were the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger midsize pickups. They were followed at a distance by the Toyota Corolla and Hyundai i30 hatchbacks. Everything else in the top ten which wasn’t another pickup or hatchback was a crossover. The most popular four-door sedan was the Toyota Camry, which placed 17th in the Australia’s best-selling cars list. Its nearest rival was the soon to be discontinued Holden Commodore in 49th. For every Australian who bought either a Camry or a Commodore in 2019, there were more than two who bought a Toyota HiLux.
In that market environment, and despite the passions aroused by the Supercars Championship, refraining from selling the CT4-V Blackwing or the CT5-V Blackwing, or even the lesser performance-oriented models they’re based on, is nothing more than sound business practice.
As previously reported, however, GM will bring a bevy of new models to Australia, starting with the Corvette C8. As of right now, the mid-engine Corvette is the only GM model officially confirmed for Australia, but other models could soon follow, including the new Cadillac Escalade, GMC Hummer EV pickup and Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette C8, Suburban and Tahoe. Note that not one of these is a four-door sedan.
While the Corvette will be built in right-hand-drive form right at the GM Bowling Green plant in Kentucky before being exported to Australia, the remaining models will be converted to right-hand-drive by GM Specialty Vehicles (GMSV), the successor company to former GM brand Holden.
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Comments
They talk about rapidly declining demand for “performance” four-door sedans then went on and bring sinking Corolla, Camry and Hyundai hatchback and raising pickup sales on the table as if these are the competition for a Blackwing performance sedan .
Declining demand for sedans is not a new thing nor specific to Australia but ct4 & 5 ,especially in their V & the Blackwing edition forms are in a completely different segment. Lacking of demand for compact cars can not become ground for shelving a luxury performance car. If you want to justify this decision you should talk about mercedes amg and bmw m series sales numbers. if they’re declining then you have a point. I don’t have those sales numbers at my disposal but base on my personnel observation “luxury performance sedan” is not in the decline, it’s the opposite they’re thriving it’s easy to see this just looking how much enthusiasm among YouTube reviewers about this type of cars.
But lets say you’re right and luxury performance sedans don’t sale anymore as in other sedans. hen same thing goes for the US market. If this were the reason they shouldn’t sell these cars in the States either. Moreover why the heck spent billions of dollars on developing a range of sedans when you already know sedans won’t sale ,plus you have no intention to sale these cars globally nor spending money on marketing them and make them viable options to their rivals. If you continue to skipping every market for lame excuses then how come you reach mass production numbers to get break-even prices and eventually start making money on these vehicles. GM management are almost criminal.
Personally I would love the Blackwings to come here to Australia…if there was ever going to be a replacement for my Redline/SS the CT5 would be it.
But to be fair to GM, there aren’t enough buyers here to justify it…the Supercar supporters mostly drive Hiluxes and Rangers, and people with the coin to buy a Blackwing would almost certainly end up in an AMG or M-series instead. Dull and predictable choices sure, but understandable I guess.
Now if we were a LHD market…
Ever since the day I discovered Australian muscle cars I wanted to get on a plane, fly from Philadelphia Pa all the way down to Australia to experience FPV and HSV vehicles first hand. What i truly wished was that Ford and GM would have gotten it together and made the vehicles that ya’ll had the global performance vehicles. Such a loss for both companies.
rear wheel and all wheel drive sedans are very popular in australia. Australia is full of gravel roads and these cars would suit; Our shopping centre car parking are smaller then usa and the ct4 and ct5 again they would suit very well. Yes 4wd/suv ‘s are great sellers though there is definitely a viable market for family car/sport sedans that have a bit of go. The Police forces of Australia should be approached with these cars i am sure they would give them serious consideration especially the rear/all wheell drive v6 models !!!!