GM Authority spy photographers recently captured a mysterious new Cadillac crossover prototype testing on public roads. It’s possible this Caddy may be a new Cadillac XT3 model.
Although Cadillac is now making the transition to all-electric powertrains with the launch of the all-new Cadillac Lyriq EV crossover, this particular prototype is not an EV. The front end includes air intakes to feed fresh atmosphere to the engine bay, while the rear shows off dual exhaust pipes with integrated exhaust finishers in the bumper, finished in silver.
Judging by the shape and size, this potential Cadillac prototype is also not the Cadillac XT4 refresh, nor is it the upcoming Cadillac XT5 overhaul. Additionally, GM filed to trademark the XT3 name back in 2014, and again in 2018. However, judging by the vertical lights placed in the front fascia, this prototype does appear to be in line with the latest Cadillac design language. The same can be said for the checkmark-style taillights.
What’s more, it would appear as though this particular prototype may be a platform mate of the mysterious Chevy crossover that GM Authority covered last week. For those readers who may have missed it, that particular vehicle looks as though it could slot in between the Chevy Trailblazer and the Chevy Equinox in the Chevrolet crossover lineup, thus building on the sporty design of the latest Chevy Blazer crossover, but wrapped in a smaller package. Another possibility is that the mystery Chevy could be in development for the Chinese market or another global market.
Either way, this mysterious Cadillac crossover definitely looks related. Notably, both models have a similar low-slung roofline and short rear overhang, which gives the crossover an almost hatch-like rear end. In the corners, the mysterious Cadillac crossover rides on a set of multi-spoke alloy wheels, with thin silver spokes and black inner detailing.
Also notable up front is a small cutout in the black camo covering the front grille. Zooming in on the cutout reveals what appears to be a front-facing camera lens.
We’ll get to the bottom of this mysterious new Cadillac crossover and report more, so subscribe to GM Authority for more Cadillac XT3 news, Cadillac news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Looks very cheap.
Yes, it does! That paint is just terrible and none of the panels seem to fit properly. Plus, the colors don’t match either. They paint booth must have been broken and couldn’t decide if the car should be black or white.
Yes, I’m being totally sarcastic. Issac, what are you basing your comment on? Are you seeing pics the rest of us can’t?
Proportions are cheap-looking. But then all of Cadillac’s utility vehicles have the same cheap dash-to-axle stance.
CT6 definitely didn’t – it was gorgeous. CT5/CTS didn’t either. Everything else does including all utilities and horrifically unbalanced XTS sedan.
At the same time…… anyone sever seen and Audi A4? BMW i3???? Cadillac isn’t all that out of line. They’ll best the competition squarely. You should demand the competition step up IMHO.
@ Jake
We are talking about the Cadillac in the article here not Audi or bmw try to stay on subject here.
It is absolutely on topic!!!! This vehicle is being targeted towards a competitive set. It will not b even anywhere near as nice as an Escalade….. duh….
It’s competitive set appears to be the European 3-4 class set like I meantioned above. If it provides more class and luxury than an Audi A3/BMW i3/ Mercedes A class for a similar ( or likely better) price then it’s a winner.
Do you really exspect to pay more for a CT4 than an Escalade? Of course not!
@ Jake
Again we are talking about the Cadillac I’m sorry you are getting confused about this.
Talking about the competition in comparison to the Cadillac is relevant. Some people here think you can only talk about GM vehicles here. Also, dash-to-axle ratio has never, anywhere, been considered a metric of cheapness.
How can you tell how cheap or expensive a vehicle is based on proportions? Is there a ratio that you use to calculate this?
How do you tell?: 100 + years of automotive design history. Basically expensive cars have long hoods or more space between the dashboard and the front axle. Cheap cars, usually FWD, have much less space. Look at the side profile of the Cadillac XTS, which has a cheap car proportion, compared to the Cadillac CT6 where GM actually spent the money for a dedicated luxury sedan platform and thereby was able to give it the proper proportions for an elegant luxury sedan.
The basic surface design and other design elements are the same between CT6 and XTS but the former looks dramatically better than the latter because GM got the proportions right for it.
I’ll contend your point. A lifetime ago a long hood, large engine was necessary for power. A long dash to axle design styling preference is just that.
The XTS platform has a lot of features: good power, haldex diff, mag ride, hiper struts. It’s proportions and weight distribution make it more dart-like stable. Many ripped Cadillac for chasing BMW.
The CT6 is an elite sport sedan platform, just large. A mixed material body’s best application is vehicle light-weighting for driver enthusiasts, but not exclusively for that. Part of the CT6’s accolades are for it’s driving characteristics.
AG,
I wouldn’t dispute that XTS may have features or good power but it was done on the cheap with a FWD platform and it has utterly horrible proportions. The wheelbase is too short, the hood is too high and also much too short. The dash to axle ratio is terrible. The front clip has minivan-like proportions. Behind the B-pillar, the deck lid is too short but the rear overhang is too long. It’s an absolute mess from a design proportion standpoint. The surface detailing and design elements were nice but even they couldn’t conceal its ungainliness.
Virtually every mainstream sedan like the Mazda6 or Honda Accord are better proportioned and the XTS was sold as a Cadillac; a brand with a heritage of styling leadership. It was shameful that GM Design ever let it be built.
My apologies if you own one. People say they drive nice but they’re just not much to look at.
No apology necessary. How do you feel about the M-B EQS? Aero is a big culprit. Most trunks are short, and windshields are laid back. A trick Mazda uses is the windsheld is noticeably closer to your face.
If I recall, there was an unused, new sedan Chrysler, idea from Gilles that still had a fwd basis, but flipped to a front-mid engine. I’m thinking it was to be an E-awd hybrid/plug-in. That’s a fwd based car(idea) with a long dash to axle. Compare that to many old rwd’s, from GM and others, with a lot of front overhang.
I couldn’t find a link, so disregard that last paragraph. I apologize.
This guy probably misses vinyl roofs and c-pillars.
I wonder what PowerPlant it runs? Maybe the 1.3 t3 or the 1.5 t4?
Wheels from AutoZone.
I thought every new Cadillac going forward was going to be electric?
Nah…. That was just the mantra during the passing of the infrastructure bull so Mary could carve out a huge chuck of the Build Back Better/great reset money. Once that stopped flowing it’s was back to profitable vehicles.
I’m confused did that mean every new model as in newly introduced like something that does not exist now or did it mean when it’s time for a complete refresh it will be an EV?
They said every car made will be electric by 2030 which means they’re transitioning and doing research still and will release cars, that means we can see a new all-electric car probably every year. Those guys are slow and just don’t know how to read.
Got it thanks.
I miss the days when forums were full of accurate rumors and no new vehicles were a surprise.
If indeed this is the XT3, why introduce it so late in the program? Could this be a ’24 model?
I thought the XT4 was going to be the cheapest Cadillac for as crossovers were concerned.
It will help fleet fuel economy.
Looks like the same platform as the Encore GX/Trailblazer
It’s the xt4 refresh. To me it looks exactly like the current car with the same proportions and a new escala grill and lights. Well at least you can make it out under the camo. So of course it’s not electric, that’ll be when it’s replaced by the new model.
I see lots of potential here! As long as it doesn’t look as dull and boring as the current XT4, 5, and 6…
👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽 To everyone disliking comments on this forum 🤣😂
@ Malibu Ram
Cry
David,
That’s what they say but Cadillac is nothing if not schizophrenic so who knows how many more times they’ll change direction.
This could also just be some sort of Cadillac trim package for a future Chevy. As Cadillac continues to be diminished and becomes less sustainable as a stand-alone brand, I actually won’t be surprised if that happens.
From the side profile, I see a lot of the XT4 in proportion.
Sits lower to the ground and the C-pillar is a teensy bit different but methinks this is the mid-cycle refresh and the final outing of the E2XX platform for Cadillac. I guess it makes sense they’re doing this. I can see the XT4’s electric replacement coming out at the end of the decade being the budget model and all.
Also, aren’t we all to believe the Lyriq is the replacement for the XT5? Makes no sense to keep two cars that are the same size around when the new guy, the Lyriq, is substantially better in every way.
The car being tested looks smaller and lower to the ground than the XT4 and I never seen GM do a major refresh on a vehicle that looks like a total redesign. So more than likely, this is a different Cadillac.
Supposedly, the LYRIQ is somewhat an indirect replacement for the XT5. The XT5 will get a major refresh for ’23 and will live on till ’25-’26. Many people are not ready to give up ICE yet.
WOW! 30+ down votes. Should someone call the The Guinness Book of World Records?
I wouldn’t take it seriously. I think it’s one or two people using a VPN / IP masker to downvote raid anyone who is staying on topic and upvote people who go off on political rants.
I just ignore it.
Boy the conspiracy’s you here on this forum good grief sometimes I think this is 4chan.
I really think this is a missed opportunity as an XT2 with a coupe XT1 to follow. Current XT4 gets rebranded at refresh as an XT3 and then a stretched 3-row appears as the new XT4, which already exists in China as the extended Envision… So all odd numbered XT’s are the smaller, sportier versions and the even numbers are the more practical, larger versions. But Mary didn’t ask me. Ohh well.
Another small lackluster boring suv that doesn’t sell.
And not even electric.
Does biden know?
No, Biden doesn’t know. He’s preoccupied with Kamala feeding him pudding.
Cackling harris
Joe likes getting Pistachio ice cream, milk and cookies. He likes it so much that he called Kamala First Lady.
I know, that was hilarious!
I’d like my bigly burger meals 6 times a day..
Thanks for sharing
I bet you’re a fat nasty slob
Hey don’t say that, I’ve bankrupted this nation for 4 years until I got fired. Now I’m beach whaled on Magoo-A-Lago sipping on my Covfefe..
I’m talking about you personally not someone who lives rent free in your head.
Ronald McDonald or Epstein?…
Rent free.
Alex,
That could be what Mary is doing. Just like gm got the bailout money by promising jobs for Americans and then they promptly started importing Buicks and Cadillacs from China, Mary might just be telling Joe she’ll go all EV to get incentive cash from him. It kinda makes no sense otherwise. If this is a future vehicle and gasoline powered, how does that square with the public statements about an all-electric Cadillac? Further, if the planet is about to be set on fire from greenhouse gases and there’s not a minute to spare, shouldn’t Mary have dropped all the big SUVs instead of Sonic/Spark/Cruze and soon the Trax and Encore? She dropped the most planet friendly models and kept, and prioritizes for production, the most egregious polluters. How does one justify that?
None of this makes any sense and even gms first EVs (Hummer, Silverado) are 9,000 pound monsters with 200 kWh batteries that are grossly inefficient for an EV. So, yeah, does Joe know any of this?
And when Boden gets kicked out of office the year after next (hopefully sooner), the plans will change yet again.
Probably it’s for international markets or it’s a Buick. I feel Cadillac (nor Lincoln) should do any luxury compact CUV in America, that’s what Buick is for.
I dunno, but i love the stance and proportions.
Also, with the camo shapes and the cutouts on the front bra-camo and the bit of amber lights at the top it really looks Aztec-ish…in a good way..
It would be nice if Cadillac would make a longitudinal CUV platform. All the current XT are all transverse, which is really kinda a cheap cop out compared to a lot of their direct competition. A longitudinal build would be much better suited for high torque applications imho.
originally, the xt6 was supposed to be rwd… why that changed, idk
Ahh, the dream of a taller Alpha with actual cargo space. GM couldn’t be bothered, but Hyundai is doing the same recipe in ICE and EV formats – kinda stings.
It’s not being made for the North American market. My guess is China.
why on earth is gm so hell bent on making even smaller, underpowered cuvs that will have cheaper interiors? 🤦🏾♂️
Fwd proportions ughh…
It seems to me it’s more XT4 sized
How is this a Cadillac?
Didn’t GM say no All New ICE Cadillac going forward just updates to existing models? I might be wrong.
You’re right. Which is why I think this is the XT4 restyling and not an all-new vehicle.
This will be the last ICE vehicle replaced in the Caddy lineup but in the meantime, gotta make it look closer to the new design language of the brand
It is indeed an update of the XT4.
I superimposed a stock side view XT4 pic with the equivalent spy shot: same exact wheelbase and size.
This is definitely the new xt5. This forum always predicting wrong products just like that new equinox
seriously i see 7 and 8 passenger xt4 and xt5 and GMC Terrain CUVs in the future as rivals to the VW Tiguan and Mercedes Benz GLB
Where the 5uck is Celestiq?
It has possibly been canceled. It was supposedly going to be revealed at a couple of different points last year but those reveals were canceled ostensibly due to COVID. Now gm doesn’t seem to be mentioning it anymore and, as far as I know, there is no upcoming reveal. Cadillac has a history of promising grand, range topping sedans only to later cancel them. The Omega-based CT8 and the Zeta-based LTS are two promised examples that never came to fruition.
It looks like that it has been cancelled. I’m not showing anything about the CELESTIQ under future models sections. The CELESTIQ show car link is gone. Same for media Cadillac site as well.
This may not prove anything and I remain hopeful that the car will be introduced at some point in time. Cadillac could be experimenting with the car some more or decide to delay it due to the unstable economy.
We heard April. I think there’s no reason to unveil the Celestiq now if it can’t be build.
Is it “mysterious”? I’m not sure as it was only called that about five times.
Just bring back the CT6, enough of these damned CUV/SUV and mall crawlers.