The flagship Cadillac CT6, a rival to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, has been revealed at the New York motor show.
Read our review of the Cadillac CT6
The lightweight luxury saloon is one of eight new cars that Cadillac is launching by the end of 2020 as part of a $12 billion (£8bn) investment, and it’s expected to reach the UK and Europe in early 2016.
The CT6 is powered by three petrol engines at launch: a turbocharged 2.0-litre inline four, a naturally aspirated 3.6-litre V6 and a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 with 400lb ft of torque. The engines are said to produce around 266bhp, 335bhp and 400bhp respectively, and are paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
A plug-in hybrid variant and a twin-turbo V8 will join the engine range further down the line, Cadillac confirmed to Autocar.
Measuring 5184mm long, 1879mm wide and 1472mm high with a wheelbase of 3106mm and an estimated kerb weight of less than 1700kg, the CT6 comes with a choice of 18in, 19in or 20in alloys.
The 2.0-litre model is rear-wheel drive, while the two V6 powerplants are mated to an Active Chassis System as standard that includes an all-wheel drive system and Magnetic Ride Control that adjusts each wheel’s suspension damping individually to improve the ride. It has double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension, and the driver will have a choice of three different drive modes: Tour, Snow/Ice and Sport.
According to the manufacturer, the CT6 is structurally lighter and stiffer than the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6 thanks to its aluminum exterior body panells. It is also said to offer “bank vault” levels of quietness.
The cabin in the premium saloon utilises a combination of “luxurious leathers, exotic woods, and carbonfibre”, and the dashboard features a large high-resolution touchscreen. There are also screens in the back of the front two seats for rear-passenger entertainment.
The interior is clad in Opus leather and includes heated seats with five massaging functions. The reclining seats in the rear are electrically adjustable and have media controls on the armrest that feature HDMI and USB ports. Wireless phone charging will also be available, and the CT6 offers “segment-best” interior storage, including a 2.2-litre capacity in the centre console.
Cadillac says the CT6 has an “industry-first” 360deg camera view around the car that will be able to record front and rear views while driving, while full 360deg recording is offered if the security system is activated.
Among the technology systems offered are Advanced Park Assist, which parks the car automatically, and new safety features including Night Vision, which helps identity objects through heat signatures on the infotainment system, and a Pedestrian Collision Mitigation feature that detects pedestrians and uses autonomous braking to avoid collisions.
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I'd Consider It
Shot himself in the foot
soldi wrote:“We respect all
Heritage is earned, not given. Cadillac has the advantage of styling which, I agree with Daniel Joseph, hasn't quite moved on but is still way ahead of, say, Mercedes.
If the Chrysler 300C managed some degree of success in Europe because, I suspect, of its distinctive styling, why not Cadillac too?
abkq wrote:soldi wrote:“We
Cadillac has heritage, in the UK at least. Cadillac conjures up images of distinctive luxury cars from the 50s and 60s that turn up at country shows alongside steam engines and llamas.
That could be at least as much a disadvantage though. With the current conservative styling how many people are going to be disappointed when they walk into their newly opened local Cadillac dealer? Or go around to a friend's house after they tell you they've bought a Cadillac?
soldi wrote:“We respect all
I thought the CTS-V showed that they did understand chassis dynamics. The problem with Cadillac is their heritage, having been renowned for producing among the best quality and luxurious cars during the Vintage era, then throwing it all away in the postwar chase for more sales and profits. I know styling is subjective, but I really like this one and if they can live up to their bold claims (Past examples following bold claims mean I won't hold my breath) then it should be worthy of consideration. The question is if everything comes together, will GM be encouraged by the inevitable small interest we Europeans put into unknown quantities? Or will they be put off and pull Cadillac out of Europe again?
but without being brash or ostentatious.....
To be fair, apart from those lights it does look quite good in the limited views available from these pictures - a bit like Mercedes before it went all overwrought and bling. However, interiors have often been the downfall of American imports so I remain to be convinced.