GM's Cadillac unveils two new performance cars: the 2020 CT4-V and 2020 CT5-V
General Motors' luxury brand, Cadillac, on Thursday revealed two new sport sedans in its V-Series: the 2020 CT4-V and 2020 CT5-V. The performance cars follow the 2019 CT6-V, completing the lineup.
"These vehicles drive as good as they look. That’s what V series means," said Ken Morris, GM's vice president of global products. "These vehicles highlight Cadillac performance.”
The cars, which will be built at the automaker's plant in Lansing, Michigan, are part of Cadillac's move to restart its car line as it brings regular versions of the sedans to market later this year and next year.
The V series, launched in 2004, has brought new customers into GM's luxury brand because it included five vehicle platforms, said Morris.
Cadillac's car play
Cadillac did not release the pricing of the 2020 CT4-V or CT5-V, but the CT5 sedan goes on sale this fall and replaces the CTS, which starts at $47,990 for the 4-cylinder and $55,690 for the V-6.
The 2019 CT6-V starts at $91,795.
“Our goal is to bring more people into the V series family," said Brandon Vivian, Cadillac's executive chief engineer.
The CT5-V will come with a 3-liter twin-turbo 6-cylinder engine that produces 355 horsepower. It will have 19-inch wheels. The smaller, CT4-V will have a 2.7-liter turbocharged engine that produces 320 horsepower. It is available with a 10-speed auto transmission and comes standard with 18-inch wheels, Vivian said. Both cars are available in all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, he said.
Both are available with GM's hands-free Super Cruise technology, too, Vivian said.
Cadillac will be launching a new or redesigned vehicle every six months through 2021. Unlike some other automakers, GM still sees demand in the luxury market for sedans and said the V series has a cult following.
"With Cadillac we’re pursuing a dual path, the current vehicles and the future with electric vehicles and AV technology," Morris said, referring to GM declaring Cadillac as its lead brand for electric vehicles. In fact, GM President Mark Reuss hinted that one day there is a "good possibility" that Cadillac's V-series will be all-electric.
For now, Reuss said, "This is only the beginning of the V family. Cadillac's passion for performance shines on the race track. Stay tuned."
The 2020 CT5 sedan is the start of Cadillac's reset of its car line. Cadillac has ditched the XTS and replaced the CTS with the CT5. It will drop the smaller ATS in favor of a car called the CT4, a smaller sport sedan due in Cadillac showrooms next year.
The CT5 will go on sale in the fourth quarter of this year and could help the brand jump-start sales. Cadillac finished 2018 with 154,702 U.S. sales, down 1.1% from the year before. By comparison, German rival BMW's 2018 U.S. sales rose by 1.7% from the year before to 311,014.
The CT5, which is smaller than the current CTS sedan, will compete with sport sedans like the Audi A4, BMW 3-series and Mercedes C-class.
Cadillac's future
Cadillac is also looking to capitalize on America's love of SUVs. Later this year, Cadillac will roll out the new three-row 2020 XT6 midsized SUV to dealerships. The XT6 will start at $53,690 for the premium luxury front-wheel drive model. The XT6 Sport, with standard Sport Control all-wheel drive, starts at $58,090.
Cadillac's smaller XT4 compact SUV was introduced last year and starts at $34,795.
In January, GM said Cadillac will lead all its brands in developing and launching electric cars. At that time, Cadillac showed a photo of what the brand's first electric vehicle will look like. Cadillac boss Steve Carlisle said to expect that car to market sometime in 2022.
The vehicle will be the first off a future platform GM is developing for electric vehicles that will accommodate all-wheel, front- and rear-wheel drive vehicles across the automaker's four brands.
GM offers the Chevrolet Bolt, an electric vehicle, now, but GM CEO Mary Barra said allowing Cadillac to take the lead will take the luxury brand to "the next level."
"Taking the lead in innovation and technology will make Cadillac Cadillac again," Barra told reporters in January at a media event in Detroit where the electric vehicle was shown along with the XT6 SUV.
Follow Detroit Free Press reporter Jamie L. LaReau on Twitter @jlareauan.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: GM's Cadillac unveils two new performance cars: the 2020 CT4-V and 2020 CT5-V
