It didn’t take long after the North American debut of the 2017 Cadillac XT5 for people to ask, “What’s next?” for the crossover-starved luxury brand.
At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Cadillac chief Johan de Nysschen told Automotive News that the next Caddy crossover will come in two years and would likely slot below the XT5, in terms of name — but not necessarily in terms of size.
Cadillac’s next crossover, the XT4, will likely go on sale in 2018 with a bigger, three-row crossover coming one year later to bookend the XT5. The battleship-sized Escalade will remain, and a smaller, subcompact crossover could arrive at the end of the decade to give the brand a full range to offer a crossover-crazed market.
It’s unclear if the XT4 will be a smaller four-door crossover or a “coupe” variant of the XT5.*
If it is a four-door model, the crossover could be based on General Motors’ D2XX platform, which will underpin the Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain and Buick Envision. The Delta-platform replacement is also the skeleton for the Chevrolet Volt, which could help Cadillac realize tougher fuel economy requirements by electrifying its next crossover. Cadillac has already announced that it would bring to market a plug-in hybrid version of its CT6 sedan after it goes on sale next year, so it’s clear the automaker is planning for a hybridized future.
If the XT4 is a coupe version of the XT5, that model could compete with the BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLE in a ridiculous growing segment of the crossover market.
De Nysschen also told Automotive News that he saw an “obvious gap” between the XT5 and Escalade that would be approximately the size of a three-row crossover. That crossover, which could be built on the same Chi architecture that underpins the XT5, could come to market in late 2018 or early 2019, according to the report.
A smaller, Mercedes-Benz GLA- or BMW X1-sized subcompact will come later for Cadillac, possibly on GM’s G2XX platform that will underpin the second-generation Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore. Cadillac chief marketing officer Uwe Ellinghaus told Car and Driver that the segment is too rich for the automaker to ignore.
“But that’s the ultimate range that I can envisage — far out. The first step is the smaller one, and that’s because compact SUVs are hot. Look at the X1, look at the Q3. And then the second priority is to close the gap between XT5 and Escalade,” he told Car and Driver.
Here’s hoping that five years later isn’t too late for a full range of crossovers.
* There’s no such thing as a coupe crossover.
I think the Trax/Encore one should be an avoid. A CUV that small is fundamentally not in Cadillac’s nature. The styling simply won’t work – look how bad the Encore looks!
Styling appears not to affect sales. If it were the case then the Encore wouldn’t be selling as good as it does or any Lexus, except LS.
This is true, I suppose.
-sigh-
I can’t believe they never made a lambda based Cadillac. In 2018 fuel prices might be back up, and people might be bailing on cuvs by then
If fuel prices are up, people will move to plug-in hybrid CUVs. They aren’t going to go back to sedans or station wagons.
I had read that there was a Cadillac version of the Lambda ready to go but it was scrapped at the last minute. Seems like a dumb decision in light of things.
It seems like they could do a “crash program” for a sub XT5 built off the ATS platform pretty quickly.
I don’t think Alpha or Omega have any crossover variants engineered in. I’m sure it could be done, but it would be a lot easier to make a more refined version of the platform going into the Buick/Chevy CUVs rather than adapting a RWD car platform.
I was under the impression that Cadillac was eventually going to RWD/AWD exclusively.
Yes, please keep that “trail of tears” running light design off the road for as long as possible.
I’m amazed that Pep Boys doesn’t already offer that grill for the Traverse.
“There’s no such thing as a coupe crossover.”
Cargo versions of Transit Connect, NV200/City Express, Promaster City?
Those are all FWD! Also have four doors!
However, there was a lifted AMC Eagle 4×4 2-door thingy, so that was a coupe crossover. There was a convertible too, so there was the first CrossCabriolet for you.
http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/CC-140-203-800.jpg
Also, the Evoque 2-door is a coupe crossover?
No! The slidey doors aren’t *people* doors! They’re koo-pays as much as anything else with only 2 people doors.
And they have a nice, empty cave behind the seats for stuff!
Oh, hey… what’s wrong with FWD? All crossovers start life that way now except oddball Subies.
Chicken tax!
“Oh, hey… what’s wrong with FWD? All crossovers start life that way now except oddball Subies.”
Not really. BMW X3/X5, Merc GLE/GLS/GLC (and consequently the Durango and JGC), and the Audi Q5 and Q7 are all on longitudinal platforms. I’m sure there are some others I’m not immediately thinking of as well.
Infiniti FX and EX. BMW X1.
Those are all schmancy cars for snooty tools. Not in my universe.
Well, Durango… I dunno, that’s like a moose wandered in among the parade horses.
Explorer fits in there too, yeah?
RideHeight-
You need a Transit Connect built by Honda.
(Well the 2.5L w/ 6 speed auto in the Ford TC is actually pretty bulletproof these days. It’s older, but reliable tech.)
I’ve danced with many now and the Transit Connect is still #1 because roof height and cargo space in garage friendly format.
Like VW’s Caddy, with a bazillion small businesses making the TC their choice, my old-guy piddling about town and country (nyuk) ain’t gonna challenge its durability.
And such a blatant utility vehicle should be as vouchsafed from future CAFE ravaging as anything can be.
Some days I really want the wagon/passenger version. I can’t justify it over my almost paid off C-Max though. I would utilize the tow package on the Transit Connect though. It would be perfect to tow a small trailer or my sailboat.
Yep, the unminivan is too big a chunk of change over the cargo for me to cough up when the seats would immediately come out anyway, probably leaving me with a much less smooth floor than the cargo has for that $50 birdseye maple antique hutch I just *know* is out there somewhere!
I’m waiting to see what this generation of Transit Connects will go for once they come off lease. I’m guessing the depreciation will be huge. Cars.com says about $12000 of depreciation in three years. That puts an off lease three year old version at well under $15K in the next year or two. I like that.
With a good mechanic to check it out, yeah, very attractive. Those things *do* get their butts run off by businesses, though.
Ah.. here’s a question I never thought to ask before… I know some CPOs can be three years old depending on mileage and condition. Are lease returns ever made CPO?
Fail
The Equinox and Terrain have been incrementally upgraded and sell extremely well in their class. It is hard to wail the drivelines are dated when you can’t point to major changes from the main competitors in this class under the hood or with the cogs.
The Terrain’s awkward styling has come more into its own, with other CUVs become more chunky (and although a Lambda platform vehicle the Acadia design has been utterly stolen by VW in their upcoming larger CUV). It has become strangely attractive in a weird sort of way, with other makers adopting the squared off wheel wells.
But for the SRX, different story. The chassis is woefully outdated, so is the design, and the shortcomings of Theta in the luxury market are glaring. For competition against a RAV-4 or CR-V, Theta is acceptable, for competing against the likes of the RDX, or the X3, or the GLC, it is woefully out of it’s class. Soldiering on until 2018 is a disaster.
“There’s no such thing as a coupe crossover”
LR Range Rover Evoque begs to differ.
http://www.boldride.com/ride/2012/land-rover-range-rover-evoque
@28-Cars. One thing right, at least two things wrong. The body’s much too tall to be something like a coupe (despite the 2 doors) and the back end is still much too square. I would almost call it a modern Nomad except that it isn’t long enough. Almost everything about it is wrong.
Cadillac doesn’t need a “next crossover”, they need a proper Cadillac sedan or coupe that actually looks like a Cadillac, not a warmed-over Mercedes.