Every prior time we last time we saw a prototype of the Cadillac CT5 undergoing testing, Cadillac designers got creative by using various elements like a fake hood scoop and faux body sculpting to trick us into thinking that we were looking at a Dodge Charger. Not only are those bits gone on the car seen today, but the tester is also wearing a much more tight-fitting version of the graphic wrap, giving us a much better look at how the final production vehicle will look like.
Editor’s note: we now have reason to believe that this prototype is of the CT4 or CT3, rather than the CT5.
Read on to find out why here.
Today’s shots give us our first look at the production-intent hood, which has a prominent bulge in the middle that doesn’t overdoing it. Curiously, this tester appears to be wearing placeholder headlights and grille, while the previous prototype we saw in June had production headlights and a placeholder grille.
Even so, the extra cladding on the front door present on previous models is gone, giving us a better look at the body lines of the car. The same holds true for the C-pillar: whereas prior prototypes masked the C-pillar with some interesting components, this one reveals the CT5’s sleek silhouette and C-pillar treatment.
There’s also the case of new wheels that we have not seen before on any Cadillac CT5 prototypes. The twin five-spoke units seen here are large, likely 19 or 20 inches in diameter, and are wrapped in sporty low-profile rubber.
Out back, the prototype continues to wear camouflage made to trick us into thinking that it will feature uninterrupted ribbon tail lamps along the lines of the Dodge Charger. But look closely, and you’ll see pieces of Cadillac’s signature vertical taillights on each side of the vehicle. We do not expect to see the uninterrupted horizontal taillights on the production model, but rather a variant of the units seen on the 2019 Cadillac CT6.
This tester also features a new exhaust treatment containing quad exhaust tips that some might find similar to the design used by Mercedes-Benz’ high-performance division, AMG, for its vehicles. Prior Cadillac CT5 prototypes were equipped with larger outlets similar to the ones found on the 2014-2016 Cadillac CTS.
The Cadillac CT5 will replace both the ATS and CTS lines. Built on the Cadillac Alpha 2 platform, an updated version of the highly-acclaimed first-gen Alpha platform, the CT5 will slot between its predecessors in terms of size and price. As such, Cadillac is looking for the model to satisfy the needs of buyers in the compact and midsize luxury sedan segments. Expected variants consist of a two-door coupe as well as high-performance CT5 V-Sport and CT5-V models. A convertible might be in the cards.
Expect the Cadillac CT5 to be revealed in the next six months, and go on sale in the first half of calendar year 2019 as a 2020 model year vehicle.
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