No High-Performance Variants Of Cadillac XT5, XT6 Planned

For those holding out hope that Caddy would produce high-performance variants of the Cadillac XT5 and Cadillac XT6, we’ve got some bad news: it ain’t happening.

According to sources familiar with future Cadillac product plans, Cadillac has no intention of offering go-faster versions for either the XT5 or the XT6, at least for the current generations. The news will surely come as a disappointment for those looking for more pep from their luxury crossover utility vehicles.

For reference, the Cadillac XT5 is a midsize five-seat CUV first introduced in 2016 for the 2017 model year to replace the SRX. The latest 2020 model year receives a refresh and draws motivation from either the turbocharged 2.0L inline four-cylinder LSY gasoline engine, which produces 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, or from the naturally aspirated 3.6L V6 LGX gasoline motor, which produces 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive are available, with the Luxury models getting regular AWD and the Sport model getting the twin-clutch AWD system.

Meanwhile, the Cadillac XT6 “midsize plus” three-row CUV was introduced in the spring of 2019 for the 2020 model year, and features seating for as many as seven passengers. In North America, the standard powerplant option is the naturally aspirated 3.6L V6 LGX, which once again produces 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, sent to the ground via either front- or all-wheel drive (in regular flavor for the Luxury models and twin-clutch AWD for the Sport trim. In China, the XT6 is available exclusively with the turbo-charged 2.0L I4 LSY.

While it’s certainly a letdown that high-performance variants aren’t in the cards for the current generations of the XT5 and XT6, the fate of the high-performance variant of the XT4, potentially called XT4-V, may be different.

Cadillac may indeed be planning a hot-to-trot version of the XT4, as evidenced by rumors followed by a series of leaked images showing an XT4 model equipped with a V-Series badge. While not yet confirmed, an XT4-V variant gives hope that the brand’s crossover lineup will finally cater to those who want more from their CUV than a plebeian engine.

For its part, the XT4 is currently offered exclusively with the turbocharged 2.0L I-4 LSY engine making 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A new turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine has been announced for Europe.

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