The all-new 2020 Cadillac CT4 was just officially announced in China, marking the first time that the new sedan has been shown in that country. The new CT4 will go on sale early next year in the world’s largest auto market, where it will be position in the compact car segment as the brand’s entry sedan.
In this regard, Cadillac executives confirmed what we suspected all along: the CT4 was conceived for the luxury C-segment, a space Cadillac refers to internally as “Lux 2.” Cadillac has never before competed in this space, excluding the long-forgotten Cadillac BLS. The primary rivals to the new Cadillac CT4 in the Chinese market will be the Audi A3, the BMW 1 Series Sedan and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan L. However, the 2020 Cadillac CT4 distinguishes itself from its competition by being the largest and featuring rear wheel drive that’s completely unique to the segment.
As expected, the Cadillac CT4 for China has exactly the same body design and configuration as the version offered in the United States and Canada. This is in line with plans announced a few years ago by the brand’s former leadership team to develop a single global variant of a model to satisfy all markets, thereby differentiating itself from German rivals that offer extended-wheelbase (“L” or “Long”) version of their vehicles for the Chinese market. Cadillac refers to this new, single-size strategy as “right sizing” the models.
Although the Chinese-market reveal for the Cadillac CT4 only showed the CT4 in the Sport trim level, the new compact sedan will also arrive in China in the Luxury and Premium Luxury trim levels, in line with Cadillac’s new Y trim level strategy. At this time it is not clear if Cadillac plans to introduce the CT4-V variant in the Chinese market.
While the official details surrounding the 2020 Cadillac CT4 powertrain for China were not disclosed, the model is expected to arrive in that country with a single mechanical combination. That includes the brand’s latest turbo-charged 2.0L Cadillac engine (production code LSY). The boosted four banger makes a maximum of 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission. In addition, the car will be available in both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive.
The 2020 Cadillac CT4 will begin production in the coming months at the Cadillac Jinqiao plant in Shanghai, the facility where the luxury automaker makes all vehicles with the newest CT# and XT# nomenclature intended for sale in the Chinese market. Sales will begin during the first quarter of 2020.
Pricing will be revealed closer to launch.
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