Back in June, we reported that the Cadillac XTS sedan was headed to the chopping block, with North American production at the Oshawa, Ontario assembly plant slated to end this month. Now, we’ve received details on the final Cadillac XTS to roll off the assembly line. According to Cadillac, the last Cadillac XTS built was a Luxury FWD model finished in Red Horizon Tintcoat.
The Cadillac XTS was originally slated for discontinuation in 2017, but was granted a stay of execution for 2018 and 2019. In fact, the 2018 model year even received an update with a facelift and trim level reconfiguration. However, as we covered in June, plans to discontinue the model in 2019 surfaced in a union bulletin posted in May, adding yet another nameplate to the list of sedans killed off recently.
The XTS was first introduced in 2013 as a replacement for the Cadillac STS and DTS, and was considered by many to be a sort of stop-gap product to hold over customers until the arrival of the Cadillac CT6. As such, the XTS slotted in above the ATS and CTS in terms of size, but was priced similarly to the CTS. To note, prior to the current CT# and XT# naming conventions, the Cadillac CT6 was originally to be called the Cadillac LTS, following the same naming convention standards as the XTS, ATS, and CTS.
In terms of motivation, the XTS was offered with two engine choices in North America – the naturally-aspirated 3.6L V6 (production code LFX), a twin-turbocharged 3.6L V6 (production code LF3) for the XTS V-Sport. In China, the model was offered with a turbocharged 2.0L inline four-cylinder (production code LTG). Atmospheric V6 models and four-cylinder models were available with either FWD or AWD, while the twin-turbo V6 was exclusively equipped with AWD. A six-speed automatic transmission handled cog swaps across the lineup.
The Cadillac XTS was also offered for fleet purposes in five different models, also known as Cadillac XTS Professional Vehicles. These included a limo, a stretch limo, a hearse, and an armored vehicle.
Going forward, the CT6 serves as a replacement for the Cadillac XTS, though the CT6 is priced to start roughly $10,000 higher than the XTS.
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Joe B.
Cadillac introduced the 2013 XTS with a 60 page 8.5×11 full color brochure. It was their best selling sedan. Now, a rather inglorious end, a FWD Luxury. My ’13 Platinum is all I could ask for in a luxury car. Bold styling that will age well, a superb interior with a huge back seat that folds, and huge trunk. 20+ mpg on regular gas w/300hp n/a power, awd, irs, Brembo powder coated brakes, mag ride, rear air springs,and RELIABLE. Those little extras like the extending seat cushion, speakers in the seat backs, color matched carpet (show me that in any new Caddies, it’s like the Model T, any color as long as it’s black) programmable LCD gauge cluster,even the elegantly designed CUE, which may have it’s flaws. I could go on. I’m trying to like the CT5, but tiny trunk and premium gas are two huge negatives. Why didn’t they give it a lift back? No folding rear seat backs in the CT6? Finally, I will never but a SUV. My junk goes in the trunk. Could be good-bye Cadillac for my next car. I guess they gave up on traditional customers like me that aspired to a Cad for years only to be abandoned.
Tim McMurry
What a shame. I’m driving a 2018 Platinum all wheel drive a sport and love it. The quality of the vehicle is a tribute to all involved-including the Canadian plant workers. I was a four-time STS owner since 1992 who was faced with a decision in 2013. I went XTS. IN 2018, another decision. Again, I went XTS. the CT6 was just too big. I question the decision makers true grasp of the desires of the buying public.
Bill Bunch
I’ve owned to XTS and was very pleased with both. I preferred the larger trunk of the XTS over the CTS as I used the cars in my business where I travel quite a bit. I now have a CT6. It’s good to, but priced quite a bit over the XTS. I never really understood why Cadillac had both the CTS and XTS in the lineup because they were so similar in specifications but I do morn the loss of the XTS. It’s a good, reliable and comfortable car. I hope the marketing strategy works for Cadillac in killing it off.
Ralph Williams
Get a horse
Samuel H. Halter
I traded my 2008 STS for a 2013 XTs Platinum. In 2015, I traded my 2013 for a 2016 XTS Platinum. I still have it, and plan to keep it for a while. I don’t think the CT6 and CT5 are good alternatives. If the XTS was continued, I’d buy another.