Cadillac CT6 vs. Next-Generation Cadillac CT6: Comparison
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Back in March, GM Authority published exclusive details on the second-generation Cadillac CT6 sedan, which is currently under development and is likely destined for the Chinese market only. Shortly after that story hit the web, we returned with a set of spy photos of a next-gen Cadillac CT6 prototype that we caught testing on public roads in Michigan – confirming our previous intel about the sedan’s stretched-out greenhouse section and rearward sloping, almost fastback-like roofline.
With that gallery giving us a very good idea of what the next-gen Cadillac CT6 will look like, we figured we’d place it alongside the first-gen model and take a closer look at how these two differ. Whereas the original CT6 had a fairly traditional three-box sedan shape with simple lighting elements, this next-gen model has a more svelte appearance with curvier lines and more contemporary light designs. The front fascia, for example, has more of a curvature to it when viewed from the side and will incorporate a less traditional headlamp design with both vertical and horizontal lighting elements. It’s worth noting the headlights on the CT6 prototype here are not production intent.
From the side, the next-gen Cadillac CT6 has a beltline with a slight upward curve to it, which may extend to the rear of the vehicle to form a slightly upward curved edge in the decklid. It also incorporates the same kink in the C-pillar as seen on the Cadillac CT5. The greenhouse section, that being the windshield, side windows, rear window and roof/roof pillars, represents the biggest design departure from the outgoing model, extending further rearward to create what appears to be a much larger rear passenger area with more headroom. Rear legroom and shoulder/headspace are extremely important in the executive sedan segment in China, as many owners of these vehicles will employ a driver and spend the majority of their time in the back seat, so we would not be shocked to see a much larger rear passenger section applied.
It’s hard to say how these two sedans will differ from the rear, as the next-generation Cadillac CT6 that we caught testing had heavy camouflage applied to its decklid and rear fascia. The taillights appear to have both vertical and horizontal lighting elements, mimicking what we expect from the headlamps, and are joined by a set of trapezoidal exhaust tips that appear very similar to the exhaust tips on current Cadillac sedans like the CT4 and CT5. The first-gen CT6 had a rather non-descript rear end with straight lines and a simple taillight design, so it will be interesting to see how these two differ when the next-gen model debuts in the future.
Under the hood of the next-gen Cadillac CT6 will be the turbocharged 2.0L I4 LSY gasoline engine, which may offer a mild-hybrid variant closely related to the 48V system introduced with the 2021 Cadillac XT5 and XT6 crossovers in China. Our sources say the luxury sedan will launch sometime within the next twelve months in China, with production taking place at the Cadillac Jinqiao plant in Shanghai. It’s not clear if Cadillac plans to offer this second-gen CT6 in North America, but it’s looking increasingly unlikely.
We’ll continue to publish new info on the next-generation Cadillac CT6 as we hear it, but in the meantime, be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for further Cadillac CT6 news, Cadillac news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
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We need more large sedans in the U.S. and this is it. Make then by direct order and add the Black wing engine as an option. Cadillac will sell thousands here!
Raymond,
I agree wholeheartedly. Why is GM building vehicles, (and other critical items), in China anyway? Didn’t the Chinese Virus teach us that the US must be in control of it’s own destiny? We can’t allow China to decide what products we can have and not have! Good grief, this is just plain common sense!
. . . but, as some sage said many years ago, (I’m paraphrasing); “Common sense is not so common anymore.”
Let the flaming commence!
Montana Bob
NOT AVAILABLE IN THE USA! How disappointing GM. Give the people in the United States of variety. It should not just be crossovers, large cars still have a role in this country!
Blackwing engine is out of production. It’s over. They couldn’t sell thousands before, what makes you think they would sell thousands now? The Blackwing engine?
Buyers in this space are not convinced of Cadillac and they will buy Mercedes, BMW and Audi, whom have proven themselves to their customers. Why buy a German analog when you can have the real thing. Cadillac has no cache with large cars. Escalade yes, large sedans no. They are staying in their lane.
Audi has never proven themselves..what headache of a brand..try owning one
Doesn’t matter Shane. Consumers will buy an Audi sedan before they buy a Cadillac. They are third on the list, but still will outsell Cadillac in the segment. So yes, they have proved themselves.
You miss the point entirely. We’re not talking about reliability, we’re talking about brand equity and perceived quality. Nobody bought the CT6, no matter how much better it was than the other three. Get it?
And hardly anyone bought the A8 also. There is more CT6s on the road than the A8 at that time.
After billions invested, logo tweaks, and dealerships renovations Cadillac is still a damaged brand without a luxury identity.
Cadillac has yet to offer a breakthrough sales success or even attention grabbing halo aside from Escalade which is almost it’s own think much like Corvette is to Chevrolet.
The Germans plus Lexus have a strange hold over the luxury segment. Jaguar, Land Rover, Alfa, Infinity, Volvo & Cadillac are all afterthoughts even though they sell impressive carsespecially F Pace and Giulia.
Lyriq is impressive but it will be a long road for Cadillac Cadillac outside of China. Sedans rely mostly on legacy, tradition, habit for sales and this puts most non German brands in a hard position. Unfortunately Detroit is known for SUVs.
Yes. Cadillac is third from the bottom in total luxury vehicle sales. A daunting task to rebuild the brand.
Honestly: Although you are correct in that statistic, it also paints a very misleading picture.
If you took BMW, MB and Lexus and removed the “sales” of every car and SUV they sell that is under $40,000.00, your story would look very different. Last time I checked and before this total mess with lack of inventory, Cadillac had a higher overall ATP compared to those other three.
Just like with Cadillac or Lincoln, sticking a Lexus badge on a tarted up Rav4 or Camry doesn’t make it true luxury. And look at MB and BMW. They have more junk that (IMO) totally destroys their image. Can you say X1, GLA, CLA and so on?
Putting a Lexus badge on a Camry does not make it true luxury is your opinion. Tell that to the customers that buy them by the tens of thousands. How is that different than putting a Cadillac badge on a Suburban and calling it an Escalade? The Lexus shared platforms are different than their Toyota cousins (just like the Escalade), enough so that people buy them in droves. Lexus beats Cadillac in sales and brand image. It’s not even a debate.
Backing out numbers to make Cadillac look better is what executives do to save their jobs. It’s what precisely happened that led Cadillac to their demise and leadership loss. It doesn’t matter if you back out the numbers. The XT5, which starts at 45k, is their number one selling vehicle. Cadillac is getting beat in total sales. Is that BMW/MB’s fault for providing a wider offering? It’s about total sales. ATP is irrelevant. People are buying the X1 junk, so what difference does it make? The most important point here is that when the sun sets people prefer other brands.
Honestly: You sound like a total apologist for the imports. I simply made a factual statement that MB, BMW and Lexus all sell more cars. True. They also sell a majority of those in the under 40 grand mark. Is that not also true?
So what you are saying is that GM should stick a Cadillac name on a Malibu, gussy it up some, sell it for 35 grand and call it a success because they sell more cars now? Maybe take an Encore GX and do the same and then call it a win because it’s more sales? For you to say the ATP is “irrelevant” is just silly at best.
I’m neither an apologist for the imports or domestics. It’s you that are the apologist for Cadillac. Pay attention. Cadillac is 3rd from the bottom. Does that resonate? However they got there doesn’t matter. They are getting beat. When you get beat ATP does not matter. That’s like saying we lost the Superbowl but boy did we beat them on passing yards. Who cares? You’re arguing for the sake of arguing. Hey Cadillac-figure it out and do better!
The point from the original post is that GM failed Cadillac despite spending large sums of money to rebuild the brand. End of story. Full stop.
You really don’t understand ATP. If you did, you wouldn’t give stupid analogies that are totally irrelevant. I give GM and Cadillac a lot of grief on here for things they are stupid about and do wrong. If I was an apologist, I would defend them no matter what they do. I don’t.
I do and you know what? As Charlie Brown says-GOOD GRIEF! The guy just likes to argue. When you’re 3rd from the bottom in SALES i.e. revenue, ATP is moot when you’ve spent hundreds of millions trying to rebuild a brand. ATP is doing nothing for the brand. Bye.
gm needs to start making cars thats sporty not everyone wants a suv and put cd players back
Until GM develops and builds a midsized gas or hybrid 4 door sedan in North America, my money goes somewhere else. Don’t need a CUV/SUV, or pickup. Corvette is too expensive and the Camaro was left to die ugly.
ITS CALLED THE MALIBU !
AL: I agree. I just got a new 2021 Malibu a couple months ago and so far I’m loving it. Much nicer car that I expected it to be. But the bad thing is that Gm (in it’s normal stupidity) already said they are killing the Malibu after 2024. They should NOT kill this car off and instead should produce a Buick model along side the Malibu with an even nicer interior and different exterior styling. They would be able to keep things on the assembly line going better that way while offering Buick a sedan.
I couldn’t agree more Dan. But the only reason they are killing it off is because they want to be all electric in the upcoming years which I think is a big mistake. They should keep some models with internal combustion engines. The fact that they want to do away with all of them tells you they are only doing it to satisfy the environmentalists. Don’t get me wrong I’m all about clean air clean water and preserving our planet but we still should have a choice between electric, gasoline, and diesel engines. The emission systems on these vehicles are fantastic in reducing emissions from the tailpipe.
AL: Again, we agree. I’m certainly not a “tree hugger”, but I am taking climate change for real and an enormous threat to the world. We truly need to make huge changes and fast. No more wasting time and denying what is right in front of us.
Although I would absolutely love a Chevy Malibu or Buick (Regal?) sized EV car that would work perfectly for me, I am also not sold on everything being 100% EV. I’m not personally sold on the thought process that EV’s are greener. In order for the world to make EV work, we must do so using renewable energy sources and hopefully we are headed that way. But what’s needed right now is for big change to happen. Here’s a couple examples:
1. All brands should be working on hybrid for every model. Gas AND Diesel!
2. People need to slow the heck down when driving to save fuel.
3. Consolidate trips and eliminate wasteful driving (yes, even me!!).
4. Continue to work on fuel cell and offer that ASAP.
5. Do another cash for clunkers program to get as many of the bad/old cars off the road as possible. I’m not talking nice old cars and collector cars. I’m talking about that 1990 Camry that is blowing tons of smoke out the exhaust. The 1985 Silverado that’s ready for the heap.
A lot more would help, but yes the EV way is not for every person.
Malibu is a great drive but was outshined in media by Fusion, Accord, Camry and Regal (upon which it is based). Chrysler 200 was shafted in the same way but was nonetheless great as a highway cruiser.
I really loved the styling of the 200 but what I had issues with was the brakes. I driven two different models with different engines and wheel sizes and the brakes pulsate when you press on them to stop. I was not use to the feeling and thought it could be made by design as engineered so I stayed clear from that car.
Let’s get rotary telephones and flip phones back too Linwood.
Make this a 2024 Chevy Impala SS
With others abandoning the sedan market, Cadillac would have it to themselves here in the USA. And hopefully yes. By direct order. Their dealers are basically what’s hurting Cadillac now. Look at the unchanging that’s going on with the Blackwing.
Based on Cadillac’s current sedan offering in the US, I’d say bringing the next-gen CT6 to the US market is extremely…if Cadillac wants to be considered a LUXURY car maker.
I would never buy a made in china vehicle, much less a Caddy. We do need to keep sedans or coupes.
Why on earth would the idiot at GM not build a US model use the 3.6 turbo as base and the 6.2 sc as the V Model no we give all the sales to BMW AND MERCEDES would GM Management
Please wake UP not everyone wants
An SUV I own stock may be we should
Get new people to run this place
Who cares! We cant have it……….
We live in a free country with very little choice other than the Station-wagon Utility Vehicles. Apparently one needs to live in China to have freedom of choice in vehicles. gm, seems back asswards to me, lol.
The market says they don’t want American sedans anymore. You have plenty of choice. Buy a sedan from another automaker and stop complaining, lol.
Not complaining, just miss Chevrolets, Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles & Buicks we had in the past. I agree with you we drive two cars, sedans S60 & Sonata both built in the U.S.A. I would have liked staying with GM but gm is now just a joke, lol.
I here ya. They lost their focus and realized it’s easier to shift to SUV’s then attempt to regain lost ground. All their profit comes from one chassis shared by the large trucks and large SUV’s. You have to give them a little credit for doing something.
That is GM’s view….. Buy from someone else!
Correct, they are out of the sedan business.
Looks like GM is turning Chinese. Forget about America that made the Corporation. I have been GM for over 50 yrs. But now turned to Chrysler/Ram on last 2 new vehicles.
Why didn’t you buy a CT6 when it was available? Why do you think Cadillac stopped making them? Get a clue. They’re in the business to make money, not to make you happy.
This is a car I would buy. An SUV or a crossover, never. I really hope the present SUV asap.
Build it here and sell it here. How about some engine choices? So many good choices right off the shelf-3.6 V6, 5.3 V8, 6.2 V8. Rear wheel drive and all wheel drive. I they gave us choices like that they’d sell a ton.
They didn’t sell the last CT6, and with the Blackwing engine, what makes you think they would sell this one?
It was poorly marketed lacked a V- 8 & thst awful ‘ CT – 6 ‘ Nomenclature held it back .
Many never knew it existed.
The CT6 offered the Blackwing which is a V8. It was certainly poorly marketed, but people who by S-class and 7 series know what’s out there. Legacy customers aren’t buying large sedans anymore. German buyers aren’t buying a large American sedan from Cadillac. They had no business being in this segment.
Only for the Chinese? I thought GM was American? What about our desires? Oops forgot. Electric.
Shame on you. Rich Chinese communists deserve an American luxury car to move around their oversized behinds.
I have a 2020 and a 2017 CT6. 2020 is Premium Luxury Super Cruise AWD/AWS model and 2017 is a Premium AWD. These are great full-sized luxury sedans and need to be brought back to the US market that made Cadillac and GM.
I have had 3 SUV’s and kept them for less than a year…went back to my full-sized sedans as soon as my custom orders came in. Not all Americans want an SUV/CUV or a mall crawler pickup. We don’t need them or want them.
Bring the CT6 back to us and forget the turbo 4. It can’t get out of its own way in a CT4 and yes, I have driven one for a week. It was garbage and the CT5 wasn’t much better with the 4 cylinder in it.
Management at Cadillac and GM need to LISTEN to their customers. Mary needs to take her golden parachute and go to China since that seems to be all she cares about. Let’s get real CAR people in the mix.
I would buy any of the Cadillac sedans right now. And sometimes I say F it and have the itch to just go out and buy one with a impulsive manner. Especially being currently built US I would feel a little better to support American workers. I still have a car note on a weekend car and with gas prices being unpredictable along with the EV push I’m stuck not needing a new car but wanting a great car like a Cadillac. I rarely see a ct6 on the road but when I do I can’t stop staring. It has good road presence. It’s a shame GM didn’t get more out of the omega platform. Pretty sure all the you tube car reviews on the ct6 when it came out were positive especially the 3.0 tt. Who at GM dropped the ball with not making a Buick road master for the China market using the omega platform. But I’m sure someone will say that it’s an exclusive platform for Cadillac. What is it the Cadillac xt4 shares a platform with the Buick envision I think I could be wrong but Buick sales are way up for that comparison. Would love to own a Cadillac sedan in the future.
The XT4 has a modified platform somewhat to itself but shares certain parts with the Malibu.
Cadillac really losing their way along with sadly my GM entire division.
Can’t buy most things with a front bench option that should, never got a real engine for the sportier and smaller ATS-V… now their renaming everything to COPY everyone else and KILL the few quality and unique things we still had doing for us. Then when we do get a cool name they kill the engine for it and still use it for my OG-V formula only to act as if they don’t even know themselves at times. So now my proudest car since maybe a 69 Camaro or 72 Chevelle has to end its life looking confused like it went at and got plastic surgery to look less edgy and cool and more like a bmw and even changed its name to fit.
Don’t even get me started on why I can’t get a ltz or Denali with a front bench if I want, sh*t most the time you can’t even find them with a rear bench. Yes by all means make my 14mpg.(with me driving) HUGE suv have less seating then my CTS-V. Fml. Everyone should be either FIRED or placed UNDERNEATH a board of CUSTOMERS who TELL THEM what we actually WANT to pay for as they take most things into 6 figure realms.
Rare Breed: If I understand what you are saying, I agree. I was still selling at the Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Honda store back when Oldsmobile was killed off. At that time, many people were already buying Buick’s (coming from Olds) and saying it was because the last few years of Olds they stopped offering a bench seat. So many would say (and it makes sense to assume) that Oldsmobile sales declined and thus killed the brand because they stopped offering the bench seats.
Personally, I much prefer a bench. I often find the center console too intrusive and it takes up way to much space. Plus, on a longer trip, I used to love setting the cruise control and moving my right leg/foot into the center area to stretch it out. With the vehicles today and consoles, I can only drive about 200 miles at a time before I must stop and get out to walk off the cramping in my legs.
If they sell it here more than likely it would have the same engine line-up as 2017 (3.6/3.6 tt) with no v8.
IMO with Celestiq on the way a 3.6tt w E-Assist with around 500 hp is enough, also offer a Buick version with 2 models (LeSabre and Lacrosse) for a less expensive full-size sedan. No to a Chevy version but Chevy can have a slightly larger version of CT5 so there’s no overlap with Buick and Chevy..
I really love the silhouette of this Cadillac.
The upward sweep of the rear fenders are classic Cadillac.
I would hope they don’t add that horizontal light appendages to the vertical .AWFUL on the CT 5.& XT 5 .
I would love to see the platform shared for a Buick Sedan…..Impala too.
Having no other car offerings diminish Cadillacs at GM.
People WANT Sedans.
Bravo to makers from Mopar – Stellantis , to the foreign companies for keeping them.
Cadillac must offer this CAR , or continue being an afterthought in today’s luxury market !
Love the Lyriq & hopes for Celeseque rides high ; but choice in high end is all important !
Nice car, too bad these idiots decided to ship it to China and not give us one produced here.
Paul,
No dis intended, but “ship it”, hell! As indicated in the article, they want to build it in China for Chinese consumption only.
From what I see, Barra, will soon move GM headquarters to Shanghai!
Geeeeeessss!
Montana Bob
I feel abandoned by Cadillac. I have a 2020 Platinum CT6. It’s a fantastic car. I’ve had CT5 and CT4 as loaners and they are extremely disappointing. I don’t want an SUV. I don’t want a small car.
James,
My feelings exactly. It seems as sedans are being eliminated in favor of crossovers. I don’t want one of those damned things!
Montana Bob
I own a 2018 CT6 Prem Lux – dark blue, gray interior #.6 19 inch wheels…and I love it…what a ride after 3 STSs! The CT6 was killed by Cadillac…by seliing the XTS next to it! They gave customers a choice and confused them! it”s only my opinion…ask any dealer!