As we’ve reported previously, North American production of the Cadillac CT6 luxury sedan ground to a halt in February, and according to Cadillac President Steve Carlisle, the automaker currently has no plans on importing the model from China either. Which naturally leaves us wondering – will there be a CT6 successor? To find out, we asked Carlisle directly. This was his answer.
“CT6 was one of those unfortunate ones where, when you’re in an industry of transition, you have to make some tough choices,” Carlisle told Cadillac Society Executive Editor, Alex Luft, at the reveal event for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade in February.
During the interview, Luft asked Carlisle if there was any hope for a Cadillac customer who wants a large sedan, now that North American production of the CT6 has ended.
“I think everything is up for grabs as we move to this next cycle of electrification, but I would emphasize that it’s more likely to be an electric car than anything else,” Carlisle responded. “It’s a whole new world.”
While light on specifics, Carlisle’s answer does at least invoke a mention of the forthcoming all-electric Cadillac flagship sedan known as the Celestiq. While the Cadillac Celestiq will indeed slot in as the brand’s top-dog halo model with regard to the sedan segment, it isn’t exactly a direct successor to the Cadillac CT6. Rather, the Celestiq will only be offered with electric power, and it will cost at least $200,000, far more than the CT6. It’s a whole new vehicle, leaving the CT6 at more or less at a dead end.
And that’s bad news for fans hoping for a gasoline-powered luxury sled with four-doors and a full-size body, plus a Caddy badge. As a reminder, the Cadillac CT6 was originally the brand’s flagship sedan model and the only vehicle to boast the twin-turbo 4.2L V8 powerplant known as the Blackwing when specced in the go-fast CT6-V variant.
Whether or not fans will respond to the Celestiq in the same way as they did the CT6 remains to be seen.
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Johnls_39
I believer that Cadillac will produce something in either the E or F segment, maybe both. Is the VSS-R platform being worked on? Without either segments, there will be a huge gap in price from $37K from CT5 Luxury to 200K plus Celestiq starting prices.
Greg
With all respect, I am not concerned with how fans respond to the Celestiq. Fans do not make a vehicle successful. Buyers do.
Johnls_39
Who said anything about fans’ response to the Celestiq be popular? Nowhere in my first post I stated anything about fans of the car.
We have no clue of what the halo coach car looks like.
I was talking about segments should be filled between the CT5 & Celestiq, not what you implied.
Frank Ricciardi
I can’t bite my tongue any longer…building a $200,000 electric Cadillac
may be the stupidest idea I’ve heard yet. They can’t even sell a $100,000 Cadillac, WHY BOTHER??? Steve, if you’re listening…build good cars like the CTS and the CT6 support them with GOOD advertising and offer them at a reasonable price. Create a “VALUE” proposition vs. the Germans and you will sell Cadillacs. If you don’t know what that means, call me and I’ll explain it. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Christopher Cummings
This ^^^^!!
Sean Kurth
Even though they had way worse interiors than they do today, the Cadillac revival was going great before de Nysschen came in and raised all of the prices to and even above German levels. Seriously it was ridiculous, they replaced a couple of plastic dashboard panels with leather and then doubled the prices. The brand’s schtick was discount muscle with more tech, not luxury and certainly not BMW-killers. Sales cratered overnight. The original CTS-V was a hot seller at $45k, but at its current price of $87k? Yeah no way in heck lol. And $68k for an ATS-V…what are they smoking?
Alex Luft
Sean – Cadillac prices were never, ever higher than the German rivals in the past decade. Your statement is quite literally false.
Alan Kubicka
I recently purchased a 2019 CT6 with the Blackwing engine and Super Cruise. The list on the car was $98,000. The power, the acceleration, and the tight handling surprised the heck out of me. I’ve owned Mercedes and BMW’s for 20 to 30 thousand more, and this car is just as good mechanically, and better from a standpoint of power. The interior finish is now up to “very good” standards (it’s still not “excellent”). The only negative I have is a somewhat dated exterior styling. Finally the Super Cruise is great. It’s extremely stable on the highway where I want to use it for long drives, and doesn’t engage around town where I always want to keep my hand on the wheel. For me, it’s better than Tesla auto drive. If the Celestiq came out tomorrow with the Blackwing engine priced around 150k to 160k, I would buy it in a New York minute.
Will
Hi Frank,
With all due respect to you, I understand where you’re coming from. The advertising could have been more robust, not doubt. But, Cadillac did exactly what you stated by building the CTS and CT6, great cars at an incredible value when compared to the competition. Guess what? No one bought them, at least not in the numbers they needed. SUVs and crossovers are the killers of Cadillac’s great sedans. Also, if Americans would support American luxury car brands and stop buying the import competition, then maybe we can keep the good products around. Complaining when a model gets canceled or discontinued is too late! If you have the choice, buy American. It’s that simple.
Art
Cadillac has had no compelling advertising strategy since the CTS in the Matrix in 2002. That is exactly what is required to get people below 50 years of age interested in the brand. That requires more than just “robust” advertising. I own a CTS and love it, but its not an incredible value at MSRP compared to a new BMW. Its just as expensive when packaged with the similar features. Hopefully the CT5 does better, but again, there is not advertising strategy. Lastly, the CT6 sold well in the U.S. when compared to other full-size vehicles from Lexus, Genesis, Acura, Infiniti, Jaguar, and Audi. I don’t see those brands culling their sedans.
Sam
How about not having two large cars competing against each other and then you didnt even give the ct6 a chance after you cancelled the XTS. Cadillac is confused and management makes stupid decisions. There will be a day of reckoning when all of you lose your jobs. No more bailouts please.
Jeff McCargar
OH the day is closer than they can imagine. They all are drinking the 1980’s cool aid
Jeff McCargar
Genesis is selling sedans as fast as they can make them and they are better than any Caddy. Just wait until you see the 2021 Genesis G80 in a month. This will show Cadillac what it’s all about at 70% of the price. The only Hot vehicle you have is the new Corvette. That was done right.
NipomoJor
I had been an Infiniti Q45, M45 and M37 owner for well over a decade when I decided to try the 2014 CTS 3.6L, but over time I found it underpowered and cramped. I upgraded to the 2017 CT6 3.0L TT Prem Lux…almost perfect for my needs. Economy, performance, handling all good…not too big or little…looks great…but interior is far inferior to wife’s $40k 2019 Mercedes GLC. I thought that I would own it for about 5 years (50,000-60,000 miles) then see what was available then. Now there isn’t going to be a Cadillac option for me in the future as I’m not going for a $200,000 EV…or any EV. I’m not interested in SUVs…or cramped sedans again. The CT6 was never marketed the way it should have been. I remember when it used to be The Standard of the World…now it sadly doesn’t know what it is!
Jess
As I commented last night, I worry for this iconic brand… and after reading what Cadillac President Steve Carlisle had to say, I won’t be worrying any less. Cadillac absolutely needs a CT6 replacement; leaving a gap between the CT5 and the Celestiq is a HUGE mistake (if the Celestiq is even produced).
The CT6, no doubt, would have sold better but Cadillac allowed the XTS to cannibalize CT6 sales. Had Cadillac killed the XTS earlier, the CT6 would have enjoyed higher sales and perhaps Cadillac would have found another production facility for the CT6. Real shame because the CT6 is so much better than XTS (I know; I had one XTS and am on my second CT6). Cadillac just doesn’t seem to get how important the CT6 was to the brand.
John
Jess…totally agree with you. I had a 2013 XTS Premium bought new as the 2014’s came out. After 3 years traded it for our first CT6 in 2017. We ordered our 2020 CT6 Prem Lux in June of 2019 and got it in September right before the strike hit. The 2020 is superior to the 2017 and Super Cruise works flawlessly. We considered a Tesla, but we are in the middle of corn and bean fields with the nearest service 200 miles away. The used Tesla was more than our new CT6 and the speed charging station was an “add-on”. It is a shame that Caddy didn’t back off the XTS way before so the CT6 stood a chance. If Cadillac doesn’t bridge the gap, I will have to look at a German or worse a rice burner replacement.
Come on GM management and board of directors, look at what real people want. Not everybody wants a compact, SUV/CUV or an EV. We have worked long and hard to be able to get our Cadillacs and I want a full-sized (read that as big) comfortable sedan. We have another Caddy and a Corvette in the stable, so yes I am pretty loyal to GM, but that can flip in a heart beat.
NipomoJor
Jess, good points. I’ve talked to a couple of XTS owners and asked why they were not interested in the CT6. They were both seniors in snow country…both said they liked the easier access and egress of the XTS, its size and the AWD. I rode in one of them in his XTS and saw his point…and he’s a lot bigger than me. I don’t recall the sales stats, but I think the XTS outsold the CT6 where ever both were sold. Sadly, the display in his XTS crapped out this winter and the dealer had no idea how long it would take to get parts…his C7 was not an option in snow so he bought a Buick SUV.
Greg
You don’t think the fact that the XTS base price was some $15k lower than the CT6 had something to do with the sales disparity?
Also the XTS was the sold to rental fleets in fairly high numbers, especially in the last few years of its life.
NipomoJor
Frankly, I never looked at the price tag. A few years ago I saw an XTS at the LA Auto Show. I slid into the driver seat..looked at the interior and instrument panel… didn’t like it…moved on. It felt too big, had the same opinion of the XT5 I drove for few days
Jess
I do think the price difference contributed to this, and I think it also chewed into CTS sales. Someone at Cadillac should have made the decision to sell the XTS only to the livery and funeral industries thereby forcing regular retail customers into the CTS or the CT6. I believe this would have led to higher sales for both the CTS and the CT6. I don’t think Cadillac would have lost any net sales.
Sam
Amen. You hit the nail on the head
Trust me mary, steve, etc… will lose their jobs due to this stupid decision. They are going to lose customers in droves. Trust me
Greg
Mr. Carlisle won’t lose his job at GM, but there will be a new head at Cadillac sooner or later. The decision to cancel the CT6 was not his decision alone.
Jeff McCargar
GM has lost it. Nothing between $37K and $200K. Oh boy many are drinking the cool aid again. Remember the Cimmaron. OMG! Here we go again, nothing in the middle but CT5? NUTS!
Felix
Cadillac motto. If you cant compete quit. Where did the old can do spirit go in America?
Kenneth Johnson
Cadillac made big mistake not marketing the CT6 right. I drove a CTS for 6 years and now drive a 2017 CT6 AWD. Same engine and weight at the CTS but AWD makes it nimble and aluminum structure makes it light weight. I’m gonna try to find me a 2020 CT6 Premium Edition and keep it for 10 years!
Joe Sesto
I went from the 2014 CTS 3.6L to the 2017 CT6 , but opted for the 3.0 L TT. Prem Lux. I leased both cars, but I was really hoping for a 2020 version with the 10 speed, the 8 speed is a bit clunky at times. No luck, so I bought the CT6 I’m very satisfied with most of what the car offers, except the interior is not up to what I think the price point (sticker $69 K) would suggest. My wife’s 2019 BENZ GLC300’s (sticker $44k) interior, switch gear, panel wood, etc., is magnitudes better than the CT6. The road noise from the CT6 tires could be better minimized with proper insulation. Odds are the next gen full size equivalent of the CT6 will be an EV. I would not bet against it being a sleek lower profile SUV.
willie nolan
Build a $200,000 Cadillac ? take a note from Chevrolet they built a $60,000 Sports car that competes with the $200,000 super models and can not keep enough of them in there dealers show rooms. why build something to compete with their prices build something that competes with there vehicles , as the vette competes is cheaper ad excels in price and performance. Oh yes I own a 2014 CTS coupe and will hold on to it until Cadillac builds someting better
Alex Luft
The purpose of the Celestiq is different, Willie. The Corvette is well established and has a long and storied heritage. The vehicle is lusted after the world over. The same, unfortunately, can not be said of today’s Cadillac models. Cadillac, as a brand, has an image problem, and the Celestiq will be one of the ways in which it will be addressed.
Kenneth Johnson
I think Cadillac made a big mistake by killing the CT6, even though I realize the population is moving to SUV’s. CT6 was only gonna be for a targeted market. This is not a young persons car. This car is for those who have made it and don’t have the desire for a multi-purpose vehicle. They want a boulevard cruiser. Having said all that I went from a Porsche944 (which I drove for 36, that’s right, 26, years) to CTS. The CTS was nice but the ride was harsh and the interior was so-so. After almost 6 years in the CTS I bought a CPO 2017 CT6 Luxury AWD in fall, 2019. The one word that comes to mind is nimble! This car handles as well as my Porsche and it’s a full-size car. The 3.6L is the same engine as the CTS had yet the aluminum body makes this car lighter! I could go on but space is limited. After a few weeks Iconsidered buying o of the 2030 models lzngouringbin the lots but instead put an extended warranty on this one. Enjoy!
Ji Wiz
The new CT6 won’t be called a CT6 but rather the “Luftwaffe 7,” in order to compete more directly with German sedans and those from remaining Axis powers.