The 2025 Cadillac CT5 finally brings a highly-anticipated midcycle refresh for the luxury sedan, headlined by a redesigned front fascia with brand new headlights. When Cadillac Society Executive Editor, Alex Luft, had the chance to check out the refreshed luxury sedan in person, he noticed that those new headlights feature an Easter egg of sorts in the form of a “Mondrian” style pattern engraved within.
The refreshed 2025 CT5 features a vertical lighting strip hemming in the vertical headlight clusters. Unlike the pre-refresh CT5, which featured a similar lighting strip that was “interrupted” in the middle by the front bumper cover, the accent on the refreshed CT5 runs non-stop from top to bottom. A closer look at the side of that strip reveals unique crosshatched décor, which creates a checkerboard-like pattern.
The so-called Mondrian pattern is an homage to the Cadillac crest itself, which features a tricolor checkerboard pattern reminiscent of the works of abstract artist Piet Mondrian.
The 2025 CT5 also features the “Cadillac” script in the corner of the headlight assembly, which is a carryover from the pre-refresh model, but a nice touch nonetheless. Also new is the vertical lighting signature that traces the seam of the hood, serving as the turn signal or the emergency flasher. There’s also a cornering light beneath the vertical lighting signatures that illuminates while the vehicle is turning at lower speeds.
As a reminder, the 2025 Cadillac CT5 ditches the base Luxury trim, meaning that Premium Luxury represents the new entry level model in the “regular” CT5 lineup, followed by Sport. However, the luxury sedan does retain the pre-refreshed model’s powertrain lineup. That starts with the turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine (production code LSY) as standard, which is capable of 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Models with this engine carry the 350T badge on the decklid.
The twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6 engine (production code LGY) is optional, boasting 335 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. Models with this engine are badged 550T. Rear-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional, with the 10-speed automatic transmission as standard.
In the absence of the base Luxury trim, the forthcoming CT5 has a much higher starting price point than its 2024 model year counterpart. Specifically, the Premium Luxury 350T starts at $48,990 when fitted with the 2.0L I4 engine and rear-wheel-drive.
Raymond J Ramirez
“…That starts with the turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine (production code LSY) as standard, which is capable of 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.” The Optiq has more HP and torque with AWD but without the complexity of such an engine and transmission. In a race, the Optiq will beat the CT5.
Roger Sears
Due to its inefficient battery pack, the Optiq will be considerably heavier than its ICE sister vehicle, blunting much of the HP increase.
Alex Luft
Sure… but the race will last about 30 minutes for the Optiq before it runs out of energy. Will you be near a charging station when that happens?
KEVIN
RIDE IS TOO HARSH ENGINE IS UNDER POWERED WITH TURBO LAG IM NO LONGER BUYING CADDY AFTER OWNING 4 IN A ROW
Rick H
Cadillac enthusiasts, on the street, refer to those white marker lights as the “boomerangs”. Nobody knows what a Mondrian is.
Alex Luft
Rick:
We are NOT talking about the DRLs themselves, but rather a specific detail with them. That is the Mondrian accent, and it’s new for the 2025 model year. It was not present on any prior model year CT5 or other Cadillac model.
Now, I’ve been a Cadillac enthusiast my entire life and have never heard anyone call anything on any Cadillac a “boomerang.”
Mondrian is Cadillac’s official term for the detail we’re discussing here. The daytime running light, which is what I suspect you’re referring to, is simply referred to as a DRL.
– Alex