Cadillac's CT4 Debuts at End of Month, Joined by a Brace of Vs

It’s a period of flux for Cadillac’s sedan lineup, one that mirrors the changes occurring across the segment as a whole. Old models are out, and in their place, a range of updated and restyled offerings aim to rekindle America’s love for traditional four-doors.

Fewer restyled offerings, one should note. As nameplates bleed out of the marketplace, Cadillac’s passenger car range will shrink from four models to three next year. We’ve already seen Caddy’s plan for its CTS successor — the Escala-inspired CT5 seen above — but the brand’s second sedan shoe has yet to drop.

You won’t have to wait long for the ATS’ replacement. The CT4 drops the curtain on May 30th, and, as many expected, both it and the CT5 will appear with V-badged performance editions.

News of the unveil date comes by way of Motor1, which received an invite to the reveal party and immediately took to the web to tell everyone. Cadillac confirmed that the CT4-V mentioned in the email was indeed accurate — there will be a hotter variant of the smaller of the two new rear-drive sedans.

Both CT4 and CT5 ride on an updated version of General Motors’ Alpha platform, dubbed Alpha 2. Rear-drive remains standard on the CT5, with all-wheel drive available to buyers looking for more all-weather grip. The smaller sibling will surely see optional AWD, too. In V guise, it’s assumed that the CT5 will add a version of Cadillac’s 4.2-liter Blackwing V8, offering power in excess of the CT5’s range-topping twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6. In the CT4, it’s possible the 3.0TT might serve as that uplevel V motor, though enthusiasts no doubt have their fingers crossed for eight-cylinder action.

Unlike the fastback-styled CT5 (which still boasts a trunk, and not a very spacious one at that), spy photos of the CT4 show a car with a more conventional sedan profile. Sharply-raked rear glass flows to a more pronounced trunk, though the car’s face strongly resembles the CT5 and the Escala design concept. Less glitz and more minimalism is baked into this design. Cadillac seems to be going for elegant athleticism with this look.

Once on sale, both the CT5 and CT4 will feature very strategic pricing aimed at drawing buyers away from the German brands. Former Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen said the CT5 should woo buyers in the $35,000-$45,000 range, with the CT4 going in search of entry-level luxury buyers.

[Image: General Motors]