The Cadillac Expressive Coupe concept never made it beyond the design study stage, but it did serve as design inspiration for several Cadillacs currently in production, including the pre-refresh Cadillac CT5 and the second-generation Cadillac CT6.
For those who prefer to watch (rather than read), we discuss the whole thing in our podcast just below; but if you’re actually into reading, then read on.
As a reminder, the second-generation Cadillac CT6 is exclusive to China, as there are currently no plans to bring the luxury sedan to markets outside the Asian country. The first-generation CT6, meanwhile, departed the North American market after the 2020 model year was built out. In any event, looking at the second-gen CT6 and the Expressive Coupe concept, it’s impossible to ignore the design similarities between the two.
Second-gen Cadillac CT6
Cadillac Expressive Coupe Concept
At the front, the similarities between the Expressive Coupe and the second-gen CT6 are staggering. The horizontally-oriented lamps from the concept vehicle are present on the real-life CT6. The Expressive Coupe also wears a set of vertical lamps, just like the ones on the Cadillac CT6, and the lower front fascia treatment on the CT6, particularly the “X-wing”-shaped treatment, is derived from that of the Expressive Coupe.
Second-gen Cadillac CT6
Cadillac Expressive Coupe concept
From the side, the Cadillac Expressive Coupe concept features a much longer hood than the CT6 as a result of a longer dash to axle ratio, thereby resulting in cab-rearward proportions. Expectedly for a coupe, its cabin is much smaller than that of the CT6. That said, both vehicles sport a sweeping rear window terminating in a sharp, angled spoiler. Here, we can also see that the Expressive Coupe’s pronounced shoulder line has made its way to the CT6. However, the Expressive Coupe features a unique C-pillar “kink” that’s present, albeit in a different form, on the CT5, while the CT6 didn’t get the “kink” as a result of a rear vanity window aft of the rear door.
Cadillac didn’t share any images of the Express Coupe concept’s rear end, but it did provide a close-up of the L-shaped taillights, which are very similar to those used on the CT6. In fact, the resemblance between the two is uncanny.
In all, the Cadillac Expressive Coupe clearly served as a guide for the design language of current Cadillac models, while paying homage to the luxury marque’s past of large, long-hooded, luxurious coupes.
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MJ Dart
Love my V Model CT6 Sedan, big, but drives much smaller thanks to 4-wheel steering.
Quicksilver1
Having a 2017 and a 2020 CT6, I am disappointed in the fact that GM cancelled it for the US, where Cadillac was born, and it lives on in communist China. What a disaster for GM and Cadillac. The sedan market is not dead in the US as they seem to think. I for one, and many others on this forum and in the marketplace, will not purchase an SUV/CUV or whatever they want to call them, no EV for many of us as we travel and have “mileage anxiety” as it is called at my Cadillac dealership. The CT4 is a compact car and the CT5 isn’t much larger. Neither one of them can carry 4 adults and they do not offer the same ride quality as the CT6.
I will be looking at sedans when I go to purchase my next luxury car, and it won’t be a Cadillac…Mercedes, Genesis or BMW will be on my shopping list. If GM would bring the CT6 back and MARKET the car, they would be surprised with the traffic it would bring.
Raymond J Ramirezs
“mileage anxiety” will happen to you when your gas tank is empty and you are too far from any gas station. Pushing a dead CT6 is almost impossible!
Quicksilver1
That’s why you have OnStar Roadside Assistance to bring you gas. They can’t bring you a charging station for the EV that takes hours to charge.
Bob Thompson
I don’t think that we will run out of gasoline in our lifetime, Ray. There is more gasoline under ground in North America than any place else in the world. If the people in Washington will allow the pipeline to be finished, we won’t run out of gasoline for years and years, and we won’t have to buy any from Iran.
Bruce Solomon
The Ct6 must return. The chassis structure was incredibly advanced and strong as well as designed for agility and there’s still a need for both a four and two door vehicle in both the Cadillac and the Buick segments.
America really is thirsting for them
Alex Luft
Completely agree!