These Spy Shots Actually Show The Cadillac CT4, Not The CT5

Yesterday, we brought you the newest spy shots of the upcoming Cadillac CT5. In fact, we believed that prototype shed some camouflage, thereby giving us a better look at the future Cadillac sedan… except that we were wrong, and the camouflage fooled us into mistaking Cadillac’s upcoming sub-CT5 model for the CT5.

The first clues that the prototype is not the CT5 are at the front. Despite the heavy camouflage covering up anything worthy of noting, there are some major differences for those who look for them. Take a good look at the lines on the hood – which the camo tape doesn’t mask – and you’ll see that the two vehicles have very different hood treatments.

In addition, both testers also have different side mirrors, with those of the CT4 being larger than those on the CT5. The score parallels the difference in mirror size between the current ATS and CTS sedans, respectively. But don’t put too much credibility in the mirror differences just yet, since they could be the result of regulatory differences for various global markets. For instance, the third-gen CTS is equipped with sleeker mirrors in North America and larger units in Europe.

The fact that we’re looking at the CT4 also explains why the model is wearing place-holder headlights rather than production units. Meanwhile, the last time we saw the CT5, it was wearing headlights destined for production.

The tell-tale sign that the model we saw yesterday is different from the CT5 we’ve seen previously (not once but twice) is in the side profile: despite having similar shapes, the greenhouse and door cut-lines of what we believe to be the CT4 is significantly different from that of the CT5.

To wit: the CT4 has a shorter rear door with an integrated vanity window and no other elements in the C-pillar. And though we took some liberty in tracing the CT5’s heavily-camouflaged C-pillar, it is obvious that there is a vanity window of some sort within the C-pillar.

We presume that the CT5’s C-pillar treatment will likely be similar to that of the Cadillac CT6, which features a small window aft of the rear door. This specific technique gives the vehicle a longer appearance, as it extends the length of the greenhouse further rearward.

The final clues lie at the rear, as the two prototypes have license plate cutouts in entirely different locations: the rear plate of the CT5 is integrated into the vertical part of the decklid, while that of the CT4 is positioned lower on the rear bumper cover.

So while one could chalk up the differences in exhaust treatments to be the result of different trims, equipment groups or performance levels of the same model, it’s difficult to make a case for using entirely different rear end designs on the same model. 

The Cadillac Society Take

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and in this case, there is enough to suggest that we are looking at prototypes of two different models – the CT5 and the CT4 (or perhaps the CT3, depending on how Cadillac will ultimately call it). As such, this marks our first look at the Cadillac CT4.

Notably, both the CT4 and CT5 will ride on short and long versions, respectively, of Cadillac’s second-generation Alpha platform known as Alpha 2. The models will serve as indirect replacements for the current ATS and CTS. Which of the two CT models will spawn variants such as a coupe and convertible is unknown at the moment, but we believe that it will be the CT5.

We are providing the high-res photos in the galleries below for those who would like to examine the images closer; be sure to follow the greenhouse and door cutlines of both models.