With the Cadillac ATS Coupe on the cutting room floor following its discontinuation last July, the modern two-door Cadillac coupe is effectively dead. In fact, we declared as much in an op-ed a few months back. As such, the question becomes this: is there any hope Caddy will bring back its two-doors? To find out out, Cadillac Society Executive Editor Alex Luft asked Cadillac President Steve Carlisle that question point blank at the recent debut of the 2021 Cadillac Escalade. This was his response.
“Never is a long time,” Carlisle said. “The way I look at it, body styles go through cycles, roughly every 10 years. But with electrification, the architecture is so different, it opens up opportunities for different things. And people will be looking for something new and different than what’s on stage [the 2021 Cadillac Escalade]. I’m 100 percent confident of that. So we’ll continue to explore the perimeters of what may be the next thing.”
“But I will tell you one other thing,” Carlisle added. “We’re not going to do what’s already been done. We’re going to do something different.”
While short on details, Carlisle’s remarks definitely provide a glimmer of hope for those Caddy fans holding out for a new Cadillac coupe model. The executive seems to suggest that Cadillac’s move towards electric vehicles will provide an opportunity to once again slap a Caddy crest on the nose of a two-door, but when (and if) that’ll really happen is still uncertain.
As we covered previously, the last Cadillac coupe was discontinued with the death of the ATS line, and although Cadillac’s rivals offer plenty of two-door models, Cadillac must instead make do with a selection of sedans, crossovers, and SUVs.
Back in 2018, a series of blueprints were uncovered that seem to suggest that a Cadillac CT5 Coupe was in the works, however, the latest is that the project was eventually canceled.
Nevertheless, hope springs eternal that a new Cadillac coupe will reemerge sometime in the near future, whether it’s powered by internal combustion, or a future-leaning EV powertrain. Either way, the coupe segment makes a lot of sense for the premium brand, and without a two-door Caddy in the lineup, fans are feeling left out in the cold.
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Marshall Sumner
What is the status of the CT5 V6?
Nabil Hamade
It’s on order and should be at dealerships shortly. That’s the 3.0 TT
Ricky
This isn’t the place to ask that now, is it? How does your comment have anything related to Cadillac coupes anyway? Go start a thread in the CT5 forums on this site and leave us coupe people to discuss the matter at hand!
John Riggs
I saw a 2 door cadillac with a hatch on the back for the first time the other day. What is the name of that model
Alex Luft
Are you sure it was an actual Cadillac, and not a different brand/make with Cadillac badges on it?
RichOne
You’ve summed it up well–I feel left out by Cadillac management. The brand definitely needs a stylish Coupe model. Cadillac Coupe buyers have been the most loyal to the brand as repeat owners. Even the ELR Coupe was the most beautiful hybrid ever made and it still looks great today! Meanwhile, the Mercedes, Lexus, Infiniti, BMW, Audi and other brands continue to offer Coupe models. . .
John D Deiter
I so miss my CTS 2 door coupe. I have had many cadillac’s and yes feel left out. Had to buy a BMW coupe. Hoping for return of a large coupe!
Elizabeth Simmons
I’m sorry to say, but you are so misguided in your thinking, at LEAST in the next 15 years. People keep hoping that the LARGE cities are going to have the capacity for electronic fill ups that aren’t even NEAR what is needed now, forget all the thousands and thousands of small cities, towns, and villages, that won’t be getting ANY kind of electrical fill up stations for decades! So why put your eggs in the electric basket? Some of us MISS something sporty, that’s unique, and is still going to be around for a GOOD WHILE. Stop looking like every other boring car! My 2013 CTS COUPE was gorgeous , and EVERYONE wanted to buy it!’
Tonya
Agreed!
Greg
Back on the topic of Cadillac Coupes:
I think Mr. Carlisle’s comments were cryptic at best. Sounding somewhat positive while actually saying/promising nothing. Reading between the lines, so to speak, I do not see his comments as positive toward a Coupe. He says:
“But I will tell you one other thing,” Carlisle added. “We’re not going to do what’s already been done. We’re going to do something different.”
Coupes have “already been done”.
Cadillac’s biggest problem is, as I see it, its largest market. China. As I’ve said often before, Cadillac is obliged to build there to sell there. Politically and culturally, Americans probably wouldn’t buy a Cadillac made in China. Therefore, Cadillac can only build vehicles in the US that will sell PROFITABLY in the US. Coupes are not one of those vehicle types at the moment. A Cadillac Wagon too isn’t likely to appear any time soon either, and for the same reason. Coupes and Wagons are much more popular in Europe, so the European makers can build them there, sell them there, and offer them in small numbers in NA. Cadillac cannot afford to build vehicles for small, niche markets in North America alone.
RichOne
However, maybe if a Cadillac Coupe were built in the USA, it would be a “halo” vehicle and generate showroom traffic, helping Cadillac sales in the USA market to increase. Let’s keep up hopes for a new Cadillac Coupe to be announced!
Greg
Personally I don’t believe in “Halo” cars. I don’t think they work as they’re meant to.
Also, since Bankruptcy, GM is concerned primarily with profitability. It concentrates on money making programs. Not very romantic I know, but it seems to work. The wisdom of this will be on display at the next down-turn, which is only a matter of time.
Don’t misunderstand me. I’d live to see what you describe but I don’t seebot happening any time soon. It could be argued that the CT6 Blackwing is/was a Halo vehicle, but it doesn’t seem to have moved the sales needle.
LLK
“It could be argued that the CT6 Blackwing is/was a Halo vehicle, but it doesn’t seem to have moved the sales needle.”
It was available for all of 3 months, not really enough time to “move the needle”.
REPLY
Lewis Williams
And all wheel drive will be fine walk up to door shooting break with a pretty color of the sky at all over only on Cadillacs
Robert Kyle
All of the above is the reason I bought a loaded 2019 ATS coupe 3.6 AWD.
And I love it!! Not too many around.
Richard Ewald
I spent lots of research on purchasing a coupe.I’m on my 2nd Cadillac and wanted a coupe to no avail. I probably would have gone to one of the German brands,but have a dealer 1 hr. Away did not seem practical. I now have a CT5 on order.
Greg
Cool. What color/trim?
Bob
What is the status of the CT4? None of the dealerships in our area know when to expect a delivery.
Greg
I saw a cars.com video yesterday that said it was going on sale next month. That can’t be right. There’d have been some kind of official word from Cadillac, and build/price information on the website.
My own guess is late April/ May. I’m anxious to see and drive one. I think it may be my next car.
Tonya
I’m holding out for a new coupe very soon. I have had Escalades, Srx , CTS sedans and have kept my CTS coupe longer than any of them. 44,000 miles and a 2014. My husband gets a new Escalade every two years and I still like my coupe the best. I’ve looked at a 911 and seriously thought about it but Cadillac is a better car all around.
Bob
We lost our ATS in a text-and-drive total out. T-boned by a school teacher who was texting her husband that she was on the way. We want to replace it with a CT4. Currently drive a new La Crosse. Nice car, but it’s not a Cadillac.
Greg
That stinks. I hope no one was hurt.
I like the latest LaCrosse but I think it’s being killed soon.
Rob
I have always been a coupe guy and would never drive a 4 door sheeple mobile. I have a 2015 ATS coupe currently which I love. When I heard there might be a coupe in Cadillac’s future I was elated. My hopes were dashed when I learned a coupe will probably not happen.