Sedans are a hard sell right now, but that hasn't stopped Cadillac from trying, albeit on a smaller scale: next year, the full-size CT6 you're reading about here will be one of just two sedans available at Cadillac dealers, following the elimination of the ATS, CTS and XTS, and the addition of a new smaller model called the CT5.
While GM's upscale division gets ready to make a shift dictated by the popularity of crossovers, Cadillac is giving its flagship CT6 a mid-life refresh it hopes will focus more attention on this big luxury car.
All versions gain a new hood and trunklid, front and rear bumpers, new head- and taillights and a new dual-exhaust setup for four-cylinder cars.
Inside, the infotainment system swaps a touchpad controller for a rotary dial and ditches last year's mechanical shift lever for an electronic one.
New standard and available features include a hands-free trunk, an upgraded surround-view camera, a second-generation rear camera mirror with zoom and tilt adjustments, second-generation wireless smartphone charging and rear pedestrian alert.
The rest of the changes consist of the addition and subtraction of paint colours and wheel styles, and packaging of optional features.
As before, the CT6 starts out with a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 265 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque; it can be upgraded to a 3.6L V6 good for 335 hp and 284 lb-ft. A V-Sport model gets a turbocharged 3.0L V6 that generates 404 hp and 400 lb-ft. All three of those engines use an eight-speed automatic transmission; four-cylinder cars are rear-drivers while the V6s use AWD.
There's also a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model that pairs the turbo four-cylinder with an electric motor for the same 265 hp as the gas engine makes by itself. It's a rear-driver that puts its power through a continuously variable transmission.
Notable tech includes GM's Super Cruise semi-autonomous drive system, which allows the car to handle itself in highway driving -- provided you're happy staying in the same lane and moving at whatever speed the car in front is doing.
With the CT6, Cadillac competes with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series, and Audi A8, giving this brand a chance to show off its engineering prowess in a way unlike any Caddy that's preceded it. For example, it's made largely of aluminum so that it weighs little more than the smaller CTS.
Fuel consumption estimates range from 11.0/7.8 for four-cylinder models, and 13.0/9.1 with the twin-turbo V6. The PHEV is rated 10.2/8.1 when running on a combination of gas and electricity, or 3.8Le/100 km on electricity alone, which the car can use exclusively for about 50 km when fully charged.
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed
