The Rear Camera Mirror feature offered on the Cadillac CT5 feeds an image of what’s behind the vehicle to a display installed within the luxury sedan’s rear view mirror. On closer inspection of the CT5’s comms fin, however, will reveal a rear-facing camera lens, which is responsible for capturing the video for the Rear Camera Mirror.
This placement is quite unique, so GM Authority Executive Editor Alex Luft asked Cadillac CT5 Chief Engineer, Alex MacDonald, about the decision to install the lens within the fin, rather than above the license plate – where the lens for the CT5’s backup camera (also known as the rear view camera) is mounted.
The Rear Camera Mirror lens on the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
MacDonald explained that Cadillac utilities (crossover and SUVs) equipped with the Rear Camera Mirror feature mount the camera lens above the license plate because these vehicles sit higher than a sedan, making the lens’ position relative to the road more suitable for the Rear Camera Mirror view.
“If you are looking at the camera, it’s very odd and unnatural to look up and see down. The SUVs can get away with it but when you try to do that with cameras down here it’s a really odd sensation,” MacDonald explained.
Rear Camera Mirror lens within the comms fin on the Cadillac CT5
Since the Cadillac CT5 sits closer to the road surface, the comms fin is a perfect location for the Rear Camera Mirror lens. Installing the camera in the fin has the secondary benefit of eliminating the need for a Rear Camera Mirror Washer, which would be necessary if the camera lens is placed just above the license plate, therefore making it more exposed to far more backsplash from the road compared to a lens positioned within the comms fin.
In fact, Cadillac utilities like the XT4, XT5, XT6, Escalade and Lyriq, all which feature the Rear Camera Mirror lens just above their respective license plates, all feature the aforementioned washer feature.
Rear Camera Mirror in action in the Cadillac CT5-V
As a reminder, the Rear Camera Mirror delivers a view of what’s behind the vehicle. The feature’s primary benefit is that it shows an unobstructed view of what’s behind the vehicle, without pillars, rear seat occupants, or the like.
Meanwhile, the Cadillac CT5 is offered with one of three engine choices. These include the turbocharged 2.0L I4 LSY gasoline engine providing output of 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine is denoted by the 350T badge on the decklid and is offered on the Luxury, Premium Luxury and Sport trims.
Meanwhile, the twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6 LGY gasoline engine is offered as an option on the Premium Luxury trim, where it’s denoted by the 550T badge and is rated at 335 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. The LGY is also the standard (and only) powerplant in the CT5-V, where it’s tuned to deliver 360 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. Finally, the CT5-V Blackwing is powered by GM’s supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 gasoline engine, rated at 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque.
No matter the model or engine, all Cadillac CT5 units ride on the GM Alpha 2 platform. Production takes place at the GM Lansing Grand River plant in Michigan for all markets with the exception of China. Chinese market CT5 units are built at the Cadillac Jinqiao plant in Shanghai.
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Comments
I love this car but not sure that the high mounted camera is a good idea, would it see a small child or toy right behind the car?
Carl,
You actually have two cameras in this case, one in the traditional place above the license plate for the backup camera; and then the shark fin camera is only for the “rear camera mirror”, which is designed to replace your rearview mirror. The backup camera would be the one you’d use to look directly behind you.
Missed that, thanks.
Read, Carl! It is not the backup camera, it is the rearview mirror camera! Even I got that out of all the double speak redundancy that was so redundant and mansplaining that Rhian uses so frequently, to lengthen his articles like a kid in HS!
Missed the two cameras. My bad.
You’re being awfully harsh on Rhian @Jebediah! Calm down.
My CT6’s have the rear-view mirror camera and I love it. Gives a wide view and you can adjust the perspectives. Now all GM/Cadillac need to do is bring back the CT6 to the US market for a full-sized luxury sedan.
The new C8 Corvette’s also has this high mounted camera for the camera mirror, which is really needed on the Corvette due to the extreme lack of visibility out back. It’s a very cool feature, however I keep it shut off when driving as it can really mess with your eyes focusing from the road ahead and quickly looking at the mirror.
I thought that I would have the same issue with my 2021 Yukon Denali with the video rearview mirror but I quickly became accustomed to it. You look “through” a rear view mirror but you look “at” a video rearview mirror. It’s completely natural to me now and I love it! The only problem that I see with it is that in rainy weather I get a drop of water that just bubbles over the camera and the only way to get rid of it is to stop and wipe it off. Of course a new drop forms again very quickly.
wait until the snow comes
It really won’t work unless you commit 100% to it. If you do, it will take a couple of days of driving and you will never go back because it is simply better.
Camaro ZL1 has this feature too…..may the 6th Gen Camaro rest in peace……
This location really does keep the camera clean. I have never had to clean the lens on my CT5,
On all vehicles, why not have a dedicated display, you do not have to look up to see the display. An instrument panel display at below cowl height would be optimal.