The last North American-bound Cadillac CT6 rolled off the assembly line back in February 2020, marking the end of the luxury sedan’s run in markets like Canada, the United States, South Korea, and the Middle East. But during 2022, nearly two dozen deliveries of new CT6 units were recorded, indicating that a few units of the luxury sedan remained parked on dealer lots.
Throughout the 2022 calendar year, Cadillac sales totaled 134,726 units in the U.S. Of those, 22 were Cadillac CT6 sedans. Vehicles sold after their production runs conclude are colloquially referred to as “zombie cars,” and such vehicles have likely been on dealer lots for quite some time.
The Cadillac CT6 was initially introduced for the 2016 model year as the luxury marque’s range-topping sedan. It was the first model to feature Cadillac’s alphanumeric naming convention, wherein cars were tagged with CT# nameplates while crossovers carried the XT# moniker. In addition, the CT6 introduced the advanced rear-wheel-drive and mixed-material Omega vehicle platform.
The luxury sedan received a midcycle refresh for the 2019 model year, bringing updated exterior styling, a revised trim level structure in concordance with the luxury marque’s Y-trim strategy, and a host of other updates. This refresh also introduced the CT6-V. Initially debuting as the CT6 V-Sport, the CT6-V featured the twin-turbocharged 4.2L V8 “Blackwing” engine.
Shortly after the refreshed model was introduced, Cadillac announced plans to axe the Cadillac CT6 from its lineup in the wake of plans to close the Detroit-Hamtramck plant, where the luxury sedan was produced. While executives initially backtracked on the decision to kill off the CT6, the vehicle was officially discontinued after the 2020 model year in North America. The final CT6 to roll off the assembly line was sold in July 2020 at a dealership in Maryland.
However, the Cadillac CT6 lives on overseas, both in its current first-gen form as well as the next-gen model. Set to be exclusive to the Chinese market, this new luxury sedan features revised styling as well as a new cockpit that will align it more closely with marque’s electric vehicles like the Cadillac Lyriq.
Leaked image of next-gen Cadillac CT6 for the Chinese market
As previously reported by Cadillac Society, this next-gen CT6 will feature the luxury marque’s 2.0L I4 engine (production code LSY), which is currently found under the hood of every Caddy-badged vehicle in China. We have already spotted a few prototypes undergoing testing stateside and brought you leaked images of the forthcoming model. From what we know currently, the CT6 is not poised to make a North American comeback anytime soon.
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DaveD
I thoroughly enjoy my 2019 CT6 Sport with Supercruise. The 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo provides nice power and fuel efficiency. I was sorry to see this vehicle discontinued from the North American market. There is no direct replacement available.
Jeffrey Orlando
Good evening my name is Jeff Orlando I currently own the 3 l twin turbo Cadillac, I don’t think there’s enough that can be said about the quality the drive the handling the gas mileage is unbeatable, and goes along with an unbelievable amount of power, I for one out of the k&n filter along with the 60 horsepower chip, and now I am little bit north of 460 horsepower, it’s just unimaginable why Cadillac would stop making such a superior automobile, needless to say what is done is done, but one thing I do know and which I will always have in my possession is a beautiful one of the last 3 l twin turbo, just wanted to voice my opinion on this beautiful automobile that I personally own, thank you for hearing my comment, for what it’s worth, I really don’t know but this is my personal feeling on this vehicle, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity of letting whoever reads this to understand that I think it was a huge mistake this continuing the three liter twin turbo is specially.
Frank A Ricciardi
It really is a shame that Cadillac let this car die. I had a 2020 CT6 and loved it. I would have replaced it with another CT6 if it were available, instead I leased a 2023 CT5 Premium Luxury. Its a nice car, but it ain’t a CT6 by any stretch of the imagination.
Petrinia Williams
so true and I agree with you 100%…. I have a 2019 ct6 and love it. CADILLAC made a big mistake getting rid of this one.
Denny
As a born and raised ‘Car Guy’, who was raised in the Midwest, and even though our one car in the family, was my Grandfather’s beloved, never let the family down 50’s Chrysler, my first car was a Pontiac, as was my 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and our second cars in my family, were either Pontiac or Buick models.
I also owned some Cadillac Coupe De Ville’s from the late 60’s, to the mid 70’s that I loved driving, built well, handled well, and the 472 V-8, was bullet proof 👍 I did own a 1984 Oldsmobile 98 Regency, which I truly enjoyed driving, but I missed that V-8 power from my Cadillac 472’s and Buick 455’s.
It saddens me, along with many of ‘Car guy and gal’ friends and acquaintances, to see the demise of automobiles like the CT5 and CT6 Performance, and the amazing
Batwing editions from Cadillac, which could have easily extended to a true sports/
luxury Coupe model, like the models still available from our friends in Europe.
I, and others are even more saddened, a sadness that has pretty much ended are GM loyalty, due to the loss of the Greatness of all things Buick, and the Excitement of
the Pontiac motor division.
With the current, alleged plans, for the American automobiles, we will probably buy two new gas powered, full size automobiles, and possibly a 6.2 powered Tahoe, in their final year, with extended Warranties…and hang on to my late model Silverado 6.2 LTZ Crew Cab, yep, we’re Old School, it has worked well for us. Thanks much for dropping by.
Janet
I absolutely agree, just had to do the same thing for myself. I finally thought that Cadillac was getting back on track with their luxury cars.
Jess
I agree with you, Frank. But it’s more than a shame – it’s a slap in the face to us loyal Cadillac guys. As far as I’m concerned, the CT6 is the finest car Cadillac has made in many decades and should still be available for the North American market. I truly enjoyed my 2016 and continue to enjoy my 2019 (that I’ve extended the lease on for about as long as they will let me). I came extremely close to leasing a Mercedes E 350, but just couldn’t do it; I still think Cadillac gives you so much more for the money. I have ordered a CT5 V (not a Blackwing), but have no idea when I will see it, and can only hope that I like it when it does surface. Come on Cadillac, you need some sort of flagship sedan other than the crazy expensive and (in my opinion) incredibly unattractive Celestiq.
Hayes Jackson
I have had luxury cars, sports cars, hot rods, you name it and I had it. But, the best, nicest auto I have ever had was my 2020 CT6, turned it in after a 20 month lease in Aug.I am still UPSET!! Thanks Cadillac. Not
Quick Silver 1
I have a 2017 CT6 Premium, AWD, AWS, Super Cruise and a 2020 CT6 Premium Luxury, AWD, AWS, Super Cruise. I get asked all the time what kind of car it is and how good looking the cars are. GM/Cadillac need to bring this full-sized luxury sedan back to the US market. I have driven CT4’s and CT5’s as loaners when I have taken the CT6’s in for routine services and they are nowhere near the car the CT6 is. The second generation CT6 was tested in the US, so what can’t GM make a second generation in the US. China gets a 120th anniversary car. What is the US getting…oh, wait the fugly Celestiq at $300K that is supposed to rival a Rolls or Bentley. LOL!!!!
GM/Cadillac need to recognize that not all of us want a CUV/SUV or mall-crawling pickup truck. I have had 3 SUV’s (GMC Tahoe, GMC Terrain and Caddy Platinum Premium SRX) and went back to a Cadillac full-sized sedan in less than a year. We still own a 2002 Cadillac DHS with under 100K miles and the 2-CT6’s. We have also owned a 2013 Cadillac XTS Premium. We ordered our 2020 knowing that they were going out of production, but that is what we wanted.
No EV’s for us either as when we travel, we max the mileage in a day…I’ll keep all my ICE cars, the 3 Cadillacs and my Corvette. When I can’t get a full-sized sedan from GM, I’ll search and buy when I find one.
Paul Pelletier
A Chinese CT6, that’s a joke. Ha Ha
I switched to Lincoln in 2020 and my next sedan will probably be an Audi, said to say.
Dixie Cox
New colors of Cadillac are terrible looking striped like a leopard? Ugh