The popular Cadillac XT4 currently serves as Cadillac‘s entry-level luxury crossover, offering a healthy dose of visual appeal, comfort, features and amenities. Despite this, some may feel that the current model can use a more potent variant. With that in mind, GM Authority has rendered a high-performance variant of the subcompact crossover – the Cadillac XT4-V.
Before jumping into the features that set our rendered XT4-V apart, it’s important to note that we know of no plans within GM that call for bringing a high-performance XT4 to market. In other words, this rendering is entirely hypothetical. In fact, we even rendered an XT4-V back in 2019. By comparison, the ones you’re seeing here today are based on the recently-refreshed 2024 XT4.
With that out of the way, there are quite a number of mechanical and exterior upgrades for the XT4-V, starting with the suspension – a re-calibrated version of Active Sport Suspension with Continuous Damping Control (CDC) as standard fare, along with standard 20-inch wheels. The brakes would be similar to those on the regular XT4, but the calipers on the XT4-V would be available in a range of colors, including blue, red, and black. Our rendering is wearing a set of black-painted calipers.
GM’s new turbocharged 2.5L I4 LK0 gasoline engine would lie under the hood of our hypothetical Cadillac XT4-V, making somewhere in the vicinity of 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque – the same figures as the boosted four-pot makes in the all-new 2024 Chevy Traverse and 2024 GMC Acadia. These figures certainly represent a healthy bump over the 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque produced by the turbo 2.0L LSY engine, which currently serves as the sole powerplant of the XT4.
A revised GM nine-speed automatic transmission – geared for the new 2.5L LK0 – would route output to an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system with a twin-clutch setup at the rear.
It’s at this point that we’d like to remind you that Cadillac’s V-Series models now represent mid-tier performance variants, as the V-Series Blackwing models represent the upper echelon of performance. Hence, this hypothetical XT4-V would be a mid-tier performance offering, while an even more imaginative XT4-V Blackwing would slot above it.
On the outside, our hypothetical XT4-V is based on the XT4 Sport. This calls for darker-themed elements throughout the body, including on the grille and front end, roof rails, plus other decorative elements. V-Series badging is found on the front fenders and at the rear, while the rear fascia is slightly more sporty with a quad-tipped exhaust and a quasi-diffuser of sorts.
Inside, our hypothetical Cadillac XT4-V would feature the same cabin as the Sport model, while being differentiated via V-Series branding and a different set of decorative inlays. The refreshed XT4’s 33-inch display and associated changes to the cockpit would be present and accounted for.
Comments
Save your money, buy an Acura or Lexus and get a vehicle that will go 1/4 million miles pretty much trouble free. And has a higher resale value to boot.
I wish GM would do this, we’re on our 3rd XT4 for my wife. Are they exciting cars, no, but they have their good qualities and I can’t get her in a CT4-v.
Cadillac should do performance oriented models. Bring back the XTS V-Sport’s 3.6tt and switch out the XTS 6 spd with the old but newly updated 8 spd. Put that combo in the XT5 V. Also replace both the 2.0t and 3.6 V6 for the 2.5t as the standard engine. But to leave some differentiation between the XT4 V and standard XT5. give the XT5 the Traverse output of 317 HP. Also update the interior. All of Cadillac’s CUV lineup is now substandard to the newly updated Chevy Traverse and GMC Acadia.
Same with the XT6, update that as a whole. Instead of having the NA V6, replace that with the 3.6tt from the XTS V-Sport. Have that be the base engine. Then as a V model apply the E-Ray hybrid system to the 3.6tt. It would have around 550 hp and 500 lb-ft of tq.
Doing all this would actually justify paying a premium over the mainstream brands. The problem with GM as a whole is that they have too many brands doing the same thing. Have Chevrolet (meaning CUV/SUV) be the sporty offroad offering. GMC be the luxury offroad offering. Buick essentially be an entry level Cadillac. But with a more soft ride and not as performance oriented. Cadillac be the luxury on road performance oriented brand. So in essence have GMC be the luxury versions of Chevrolet. Cadillac be the actual standard of GM as a whole. Mixing engine, transmission, and chassis innovation, with luxury appointments to the interior.
But it’s too late for all that. Now it’s going to be even worse. Because now GM will essentially sell you the same vehicle just with different logos. 4 different brands selling essentially the same model.
The front vertical marker lights are a hokey affectation. Typical GM .
Don’t know how XT4-V’s GM would sell but the idea certainly got my attention. GM should seriously think about producing this vehicle (especially since the GT4 wont be offered in North America). I would trade my 2014 SRX in for one. To the Acura/Lexus promoters – keep them – GM products are every bit as good IF NOT BETTER.
An XT4-V would be a nice addition to the lineup, but definitely not holding my breathe considering how determined they are at making Cadillac all electric. Also, since NA isn’t getting the new XT5, we won’t see anything close from Cadillac, you’ll probably see something close in the other brands–GMC perhaps.
Drove an XT4 when we were shopping for a new midsize CUV. The interior was not as nice as I expected for a Cadillac. I might have been able to overlook some of those shortcomings, but the turbo 4 was gutless. The engine they are proposing is what should have been in it to start with.
Hopefully they will step up the interior quality as well.
They already have with the 2024.
Absolutely do the more powerful upgrade to the xt4! With the exceptions being V/ Blackwing series and the awesome Corvette GM has a bland lineup for years. I lease a suv every two years, driving my third Lincoln since ’18 after being a GM customer for years as all they offered was smaller and less power. The current XT4 is under powered with a noisy engine for a $50+ vehicle? Pathetic….my lease is up in Jan. looking at a Jaguar Suv! By the way, nice job with the daily column! Duane