Future Cadillac CT3

The Cadillac CT3 is an upcoming line of compact luxury cars that will reach the market in the 2019 calendar year for the 2020 model year. It will be a successor of sorts to the first-generation Cadillac ATS.

Overview

• What: an all-new compact sport-luxury car range replacing the ATS albeit with a lower price point
• When: a launch in calendar year 2019 as a 2020 model year vehicle
• Why: the all-new CT3 will enable Cadillac to continue competing in the compact luxury car space, while doing so more effectively with a more attainable price structure
• Where: sold in all current markets where Cadillac has a business presence, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, South Korea, the Middle East, Russia, and Europe. The CT3 could be also sold in more countries if the Cadillac brand enters new markets.

Expectations

Following are our expectations of the future Cadillac CT3:

• Based on the shorter variant of the GM Alpha 2 platform
• Feature Cadillac’s new design language similar to the Cadillac Escala concept
• Introduce an improved interior over the first-gen ATS, with increased levels of refinement, luxury, and convenience
• Include the GM Super Cruise autonomous driving technology
• Introduce a plug-in hybrid/PHEV variant like the CT6 Plug-In Hybrid or a pure battery electric model

Body Styles

We expect the upcoming future Cadillac CT3 to be available as a compact sedan. A coupe and convertible variants are probable. A wagon variant is possible.

Price

In July 2017, Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen stated that the Cadillac CT5 price will be in the $35,000 – $45,000 range. Based on that information, we expect that the CT3 will be priced from $28,000 up to $40,000.

Platform

The Cadillac CT3 will ride on the successor to the original GM Alpha platform known as the Alpha 2 platform, shared with the following vehicles:

• Next Cadillac CTS (Cadillac CT5)
• Next Chevrolet Camaro (seventh generation Camaro)

As such, it will have a longitudinal powertrain configuration.

Powertrain

We expect the next Cadillac CT3 to feature the following engine choices:

• Turbo 2.0L I-4 engine with automatic engine stop/start functionality
• 3.6L V-6 LGX with automatic engine stop/start functionality as a step up from the 2.0L Turbo
• Twin-Turbo 3.0L V-6 LGW with automatic engine stop/start functionality as a step up from the 3.6L V-6 LGX
• Cadillac Twin-Turbo 4.2L V-8 for CT5 V-Sport model making in the vicinity of 500 horsepower
• New turbo-diesel engine for select markets (diesel)
• Electric plug-in hybrid/PHEV (gasoline/electric)

We expect that the Cadillac CT3 will be offered with the new GM 10-speed automatic transmission. The plug-in hybrid model will have its own powertrain.

Production

The future Cadillac CT3 has been confirmed to be assembled by GM USA at the GM Lansing Grand River factory in Michigan alongside the Cadillac CT5, the CTS replacement, and the sixth-gen Chevrolet Camaro.

Competitors

We expect that the future Cadillac CT3 will be positioned differently than the ATS it indirectly replaces. From a size standpoint, the vehicle will straddle the subcompact (B segment) and compact (C segment) sport-luxury sedan segments. From a pricing standpoint, however, the new CT3 will be positioned to compete in the subcompact sport-luxury sedan space. As such, the vehicle will have various competitors, depending on size and price.

Discussion

Discuss the next-generation Cadillac CT3 in our Cadillac forum.

News

Follow our coverage of Cadillac CT3 news.