cadillac

 

Well known as an American big car for the rich, for Europeans it was difficult to understand that GM intended to make the Cadillac marque popular here among premium D-class car buyers with the arrival in 2006 of the BLS, a Swedish built reshaped 4-year-old Saab 9-3 on the shorter Epsilon platform.  The related Opel Vectra C sedan stood on the longer 270 cm wheelbase, as did the Chevrolet Malibu.

In 2007 a record 3,000 Cadillacs were sold in Europe (4,500 incl. Russia), of which the majority were American models (mainly SUVs), while over 7,000 were sold in China, then a market less than half as large as Europe, with the arrival of the impressive SLS (Seville Luxury Sedan), a (rwd) STS with extended rear compartment, of which 30,000 eventually would be made and sold, the latter half with a 4-cylinder 2-litre turbo engine.  The SLS with Northstar V8 engine was limited for export to the Middle East by March 2008.  The SLS introduced SGM’s OnStar in China late in 2009.

By 2017, GM sold more Cadillacs in China than in the USA and Canada together, and nowadays more Cadillacs are sold in China, than in the rest of the world, but that is no exception.  The Chinese car market surpassed that of the USA in crisis year 2009.  From 2008 to 2010, the Chinese car market doubled.  The Cadillac brand was introduced in China in 2004.  In 2005, nearly 2,800 Cadillac CTS were assembled.  Forty-five years earlier, assembling of Cadillacs had stopped in Europe, after these cars had grown too big.  Cadillacs (and Buicks) were of course already sold in Taiwan in the 1990s, incl. the Opel-built Catera.

Unexpectedly, by autumn 2020, China and not America were granted the latest amenities, such as the adaptive matrix headlight system in the XT6 (a lesser variant is available in the 2020 Buick GL8 Avenir), the facial recognition unlocking and starting system in the XT4, and the Super Cruise semi-autonomous highway driving in the CT6 (earlier available in North America, and by 2021 in the CT4, CT5 and Escalade).

In 2021, Cadillac outsold Chevrolet in China (231,800 vs 229,600).  Things reversed to ‘normal’ in 2022 when Cadillac's sales were 194,100 vehicles vs 198,400 Chevrolets.  The most popular model in China was the CT5, in America the XT5, which was second in China, followed in both markets by the XT4 and XT6.

In 2023 Cadillac deliveries surpassed 183,000, while Chevrolet had deliveries of about 169,000.  Buick had sales of over 517,000 units. 

Cadillac XTS  USA June 2012 - 2020, China: April 2013 – October 2019

The name of this model preceded the time that ‘X’ would mean crossover. This front-wheel-drive car on the extended Epsilon II platform denied its all-wheel-drive option and air springs to China.  US models without air suspension came only for the 2018 model year, after it was decided to continue the XTS with sales in China growing 25~50% in 2016 and 2017, exceeding US sales year by year.  The 2-litre turbo engine in China delivered 45 hp less power, but 45 Nm more torque than the 3.6, abandoned here by 2015.  With the production of the XTS ending in October 2019, some 18,000 were sold in North America in 2018, vs 65,000 in China (11,300 vs 42,200 in 2019).

platform:

ext. Epsilon II

XTS

rear suspension:

see below

GM

GM

GM

wheelbase (cm):

283.7

L850

HF6

HF6

length from (cm):

513.1

4 cyl.

V6

V6

width (cm):

185.2

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

cc:

1998

3564

3564

cc

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

turbo

twin turbo

market:

USA/CDN

curb weight from:

1877

kg

12-19

12-19

rear susp:

12-17

4-link independent, H-arm, air springs

fwd or awd

awd

17-19

fwd: 4-link independent, H-arm, coil springs

6A

6A

17-19

fwd opt., awd: 4-link indep., H-arm, air springs

227

306

kW

305

410

hp

355

500

Nm

China

4-link independent, H-arm, coil springs

13-19

13-14

curb weight from:

1840

kg

28T

36S

fwd

fwd

6A

6A

kW

193

224

hp

262

305

13-18         Nm

400

360

18-19         Nm

353

 

Cadillac ATS-L  China: October 2014 – September 2019

The 8.5 cm longer Chinese ATS-L practically outsold the US ATS from the start.  In the USA, the ATS had arrived in autumn 2012 and, after a year was imported to China until the ATS-L was produced there a year later.  At that time, in America had arrived a 2-door coupe, which would outlive the sedan there from autumn 2018, while the manual transmission was deleted, which was never offered in China, nor was all-wheel-drive.  The ATS-L stopped in 2019 with 26,000 units sold.

 

platform:

Alpha

ATS/ATS-L

rear suspension:

5-link independent, coil springs

GM

GM

GM

GM

GM

GM

L850

L850

L880

HF6

HF6 II

HF6

4 cyl.

4 cyl.

4 cyl.

V6

V6

V6

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

cc:

1998

1998

2457

3564

3649

3564

cc

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

turbo

turbo

twin turbo

market:

ATS-V

USA/CDN

ATS

sedan

coupe

sedan:

12-14

14-18

12-16

12-15

15-18

15-18

curb weight from:

1505

1547 kg

coupe:

14-19

14-15

15-19

15-19

wheelbase (cm):

277.5

277.5

rwd/awd

rwd/awd

rwd

rwd/awd

rwd/awd

rwd

length from (cm):

464.3

466.3

6M'/6A

6M'/6A8A

6A > 8A

6A

8A

6M'/8A

width (cm):

180.5

184.2

kW

203

203

151

239

250

346

kW

hp

272

272

202

321

335

464

hp

Nm

353

400

259

373

386

603

Nm

'rwd only

'rwd only, -18

'15: 8A

' 6M: -18

'15: 6A > 8A

 

China

import

ATS

sedan

13-14

28T

rwd

6A

kW

203

hp

272

Nm

353

China

ATS-L

sedan

14-15

14-19

curb weight from:

1600

kg

25T

28T

wheelbase (cm):

286

rwd

rwd

length from (cm):

473

6A

'15: 6A > 8A

width (cm):

182.4

kW

164

200

hp

223

272

Nm

353

400

 

Cadillac CT6  China: January 2016, USA: March 2016 - 2020

The first vehicle on the light-weight Omega platform, with a weight from 1655 kg, the impressive CT6 set new standards for an over 5-meter car on an over 3-meter wheelbase.  This is just 55 kg over the much smaller ATS-L.  The CT6 features a multi-material body-in-white that has 20% fewer parts and is 100 kg lighter than a comparable steel structure.  Conceived as a rear-wheel-drive sports sedan (with available all-wheel-drive), there is no air springs option. 

Although the wheelbase (nearly 311 cm) of the CT6 is 5 cm longer than that of the earlier Chinese SLS (a 10 cm stretched STS), the rear legroom is almost 5 cm less.

Two months earlier on the market in China than in the USA, the Chinese CT6 outsold the American CT6 from mid-2017.  A plug-in hybrid model, actually an extended range electric vehicle, was made from autumn 2017 till autumn 2018 in China, and also imported to North America.  This 2-tonne vehicle at a price of $75,000 was $16,000 more expensive than the regular model with the same 2-litre engine, actually a green vehicle in disguise with the 2.0E badge at the back, but with a second ‘filler’ cap at the left side of the car.   With two US-built electric motors mated to the 2-litre turbo engine, three power sources were its characteristic, and as drawback a reduced trunk capacity due to the battery pack. 

Some 1,450 CT6 Plug-in hybrid models were built, of which about 200 went to North America.  During its sales period in China, a notable 8% were hybrids (in Chinese manner with a 30E badge on the back, as well as a ‘plug-in hybrid’ badge, whereas the regular 2-litre model has a 28T badge).  In August 2019, VW and GM said they believe that hybrid cars have no future, though a PHEV (E-REV) Buick Velite 6 will arrive in 2020. 

When the plug-in model was deleted, another ‘Tripower’ model arrived in autumn 2018 with a long-stroke 2-litre engine with cylinder deactivation and low or high intake-valve lift, depending on power of driving, but it was deleted the next spring in America, possibly as the engine was needed for the Chevrolet Blazer and Cadillac CT5 and XT5.  This meant that all CT6 models there featured four-wheel-drive.  In China, in the first three quarters of 2019, only a quarter of a percent were four-wheel-drive models (68 units), of which sales stopped that year.  Here the new 2-litre engine became the only offering in 2019.  Cylinder deactivation has been earlier practised by Cadillac for the 1981 model year with the ‘Displacement on Demand’ V8-6-4 L62 6-litre 140 hp engine, realizing a 15% better gas mileage, but rather powerless when riding on 4 cylinders.

Production of the CT6 in North America stopped in February 2020, after from 2016 till 2019 some 9,500, 11,000, 10,000 and 8,000 units were sold, compared with 6,000, 12,000, 17,000 and 22,500 in China, where 11,000 were sold in 2022.

In July 2020, Cadillac in China added two CT6 2-litre Super Cruise editions (Leading and Flagship), after its availability had stopped earlier this year when the V6 model was deleted.  In 2017, the Cadillac CT6 with Super Cruise was launched in the U.S. and Canada, and the next year in China.  It is China's first mass-produced intelligent driving technology to let go two-handed driving on the highway (semi-autonomous highway driving).  In November 2021 the Super Cruise was limited to the Platinum version.

A model with new sheet metal and a more horizontal rear window slope, still without 48V mild hybrid system, came in May 2023.  The length of the car is unchanged, but it is over one cm wider to accommodate the wider track for the 19-inch wheel model.  This would be the first Chinese Cadillac design.  Prices start from 359,700 Yuan, vs 399,700 earlier.  Super Cruise is optional.

platform:

Omega

CT6

rear suspension:

5-link independent, coil springs

GM

GM

GM

GM

GM

GM

curb weight from:

1655

kg

L850

L850

CSS

HF6

HF6 II

Blackwing

wheelbase (cm):

310.9

4 cyl.

4 cyl.

4 cyl.

V6

V6

V8

length from (cm):

517.9

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

width (cm):

187.9

cc:

1998

1998

1998

2990

3649

4192

cc

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

turbo

turbo

turbo

twin turbo

twin turbo

plug in

market:

CT6-V

USA/CDN

16-18

17-18

18-19

16-19

16-20

19-20

19-20

2.0T

2.0E

2.0T

3.0TT

3.6

4.2TT

V

-19

400

800T

V (ext)

19-20

rwd

rwd

rwd

awd

awd

awd

awd

8A

EVT

10A

   '8A, 18> 10A

10A

10A

kW

198

198+52

177

301

250

373

410

kW

hp

265

265+70

237

404

335

500

550

hp

Nm

400

400+186

350

542

385

778

867

Nm

EPA electric drive range

km

50

China

2023 model (tbe):

16-18

17-18

18-

16-19

curb weight from:

1745

kg

28T

30E

28T

40T

wheelbase (cm):

310.9

rwd

rwd

rwd

awd

length from (cm):

522.3

(since 18.11)

8A

EVT

10A

8A, 19 > 10A

width (cm):

189

max kW

198

198+52

177 > 174

298

max hp

269

269+71

237 > 233

404

Nm

400

400+186

350

543

NEDC electric drive range

km

80

l/100 km

7.9

1.7

7.1~7.2

9.3 > 9.2

WLTC l/100 km

7.49~7.74

2023 model:

7.59~7.66

EVT: electric variable transmission

 

Cadillac XT5  China, USA: April 2016

As the first model on the new C1 platform, which is the crossover version of the E2 architecture, the XT5 was introduced in April 2016, in the USA with the new V6 3.6 engine, and in China with the 2-litre turbo engine, both markets with the choice of front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive.  In 2017 China added a mild hybrid awd version (6.6 kW/49 Nm motor) with a nine-speed automatic gearbox, reducing the fuel consumption from 8.7 to 7.9 l/100 km.  By 2018 Chinese sales exceeded those of North America, with one out of every eight a hybrid.  In summer 2019, the only engine for China became the new 2-litre turbo with cylinder deactivation, which engine was added to the line in the USA.   In China, a 48V mild hybrid came by February 2021.

In China in 2019, 7% were hybrid models, and in 2020, about three, in America four out of every ten is four-wheel-drive.  In April 2020 in China, the power was slightly reduced, improving the fuel consumption from 7.5 to 7.3 l/100 km (awd: 7.9 > 7.8 l/100 km).  In Russia, since February 2020, the awd XT5 is imported with the 2-litre engine derated to a tax-efficient 200 hp.  Some 1,250 units were sold there of the earlier model with V6 engine.  46,000 units were sold in China in 2022, and 35,000 in 2023.

The next XT5 was designed in China on the XT6 platform and is exclusively sold there. 

platform:

C1UL

XT5

rear suspension:

5-link independent, coil springs

GM

GM

GM

GM

GM

GM

curb weight from:

1795

kg

L850

L850

L850

CSS

CSS

HF6 II

wheelbase (cm):

285.7

4 cyl.

4 cyl.

4 cyl.

4 cyl.

4 cyl.

V6

length from (cm):

481.2

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

width (cm):

190.3

cc:

1998

1998

1998

1998

1998

3649

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

turbo

turbo

turbo

turbo

turbo

mild hybrid

mild hybrid

market:

USA/CDN

19-

16-

20: 350T

20: 400

fwd/awd

fwd/awd

9A

8A, 19 > 9A

177 '20 > 175

231

kW

237 '20 > 235

310

hp

350

367

Nm

fwd -19

Russia

20-22

16-20

350T

awd

awd

9A

8A, 19 > 9A

147

228

kW

200

310

hp

350

367

Nm

China

16-19

16-19

17-19

19-21

21-24

25T

28T

28E

28T

(28T)

fwd

awd

awd

fwd/awd

fwd/awd

8A

8A

9A

9A

9A

max kW

179

193

193 + 6.6

177 '20 > 174

174 + 10

max hp

243

262

262 + 9

237 '20 > 233

233 + 13

Nm

400

400

400

350

350 + 50

l/100 km

8.2

8.7

7.9

-20: 7.5/7.9

7.0/7.4

l/100 km

20-21: 7.3/7.8

 

Cadillac XT4  China, USA: September 2018

This light-weight crossover on the E2 platform also was launched simultaneously in USA and China, both with the new 2-litre CSS (Cylinder Set Strategy) turbo engine with power dependent valve management and cylinder deactivation, and front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive, with 32,000 US sales vs 47,000 in China in 2019.  In the US, the fwd/awd sales split was about fifty-fifty.  In China, the two-wheel drive top configuration accounted for more than half of the XT4's sales.

In October 2020, the XT4 arrived in Europe with a new 4-cylinder 2-litre diesel engine, developed at the former GM Powertrain Torino, also to be fitted in the Insignia.  The 3-cylinder version came in the Astra in August 2019, and a 6-cylinder ‘Duramax’ in the Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra.

From September 2020 in China only, at a price of 10,000 yuan, the XT4 can be equipped with a facial recognition unlocking and starting system, at which the touchscreen on the B-pillar is activated automatically through the driver’s mobile phone's Bluetooth recognition wake-up function.  In China, a 48V mild hybrid came by December 2021.

In 2021, 2% of the XT4 in China were four-wheel-drive.  34,500 units were sold in China in 2022, and almost 20,000 in 2023.  In July 2023, the face-lifted XT4 became available with the 155 kW 1.5 dual fast cam phasers turbo engine, and four-wheel-drive is now optional on the mid-range ‘Luxury’ 2-litre model.

platform:

E2UL

XT4

rear suspension:

5-link independent, coil springs

SGM

GM

GM

GM

curb weight from:

1642

kg

'8th gen.'

CSS

CSS

CSS dsl

wheelbase (cm):

277.9

4 cyl.

4 cyl.

4 cyl.

4 cyl.

length from (cm):

460

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

width (cm):

188.1

1498

1998

1998

1995

cc

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

turbo

turbo

turbo

turbo

mild hybrid

mild hybrid

diesel

market:

USA/CDN

18-

20: 350T

fwd/awd

9A

177 '20 > 175

kW

237 '20 > 235

hp

350

Nm

China

23-

18-21

21-

(25T)

28T

(28T)

fwd

fwd/awd

fwd/awd

9A

9A

9A

155 + 10

177 '20 > 174

174 + 10

max kW

211 + 13

237 '20 > 233

233 + 13

max hp

270

350

350 + 50

Nm

WLTC

7.38/7.75

l/100 km

23-

7.25

7.44/7.81

l/100 km

Europe

20-

20-

350T

350D

fwd/awd

fwd/awd

9A

9A

177 '20 > 172

128

kW

237 '20 > 230

174

PS

350

380

Nm

Russia

21-22

21-22

350T

350D

fwd

fwd

9A

9A

147

128

kW

199

174

PS

350

380

Nm

 

Cadillac XT6  USA: June 2019, China: July 2019

This is a 3-seat row model, featuring the same engine availability as the XT5, except that the 2-litre initially was denied to America, but added by model year 2021.  In America the standard seat layout is 2-3-2, and optional 2-2-2 with captain’s chairs in the middle.  In China, this latter option initially was the standard layout, with a 7-seater available free of charge for the entry-level front-wheel-drive model, but by November 2019 more models got this seating choice.  In China it is offered for about half of the price of other luxury SUVs sold in the form of imports.  In June 2020, the power was slightly reduced, improving the fuel consumption from 7.8 (awd: 8.2) to 7.6 (awd: 8.1) l/100 km, and by February 2021 to 7.2 (awd: 7.6), adding a 10 kW electric motor (mild hybrid).

There is a choice of single or triple headlights, the latter with a new adaptive matrix system that continuously assesses the profile of the oncoming and preceding traffic and adjusts the headlamps’ 14 LED segments to provide 28 independent lighting zones for the driver while reducing glare for the other concerned road users.  It was a standard feature across XT6 variants in China, until more basic models were added by June 2020.  Unfortunately, in North America, this system is for the present forbidden by federal motor vehicle regulations (though it is legal in Canada).

11,559 units were sold in the United States in 2019, vs 11,053 in China, where sales started two months later.  Over 60% were all-wheel-drive in the US.  In Russia, the American awd XT6 is imported with the 2-litre engine with a tax-efficient 200 hp, similar to the one used in the regular 2020 Insignia models.  In the second half of 2021, Super Cruise became available in the United States.

22,000 Cadillac XT6 units were sold in China in 2022, and 16,000 in 2023.  The six-seater version was discontinued in China in November 2024, and the front-wheel-drive version was replaced by a single-clutch four-wheel drive model.

 

platform:

C1TL

XT6

rear suspension:

5-link independent, coil springs

GM

GM

GM

curb weight from:

1980

kg

CSS

CSS

HF6 II

wheelbase (cm):

286.3

4 cyl.

4 cyl.

V6

length from (cm):

505.6

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

width (cm):

196.4

cc:

1998

1998

3649

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

turbo

turbo

mild hybrid

market:

USA/CDN

20-

19-

350T

400

fwd/awd

fwd/awd

9A

9A

kW

177 '20 > 175

231

kW

hp

237 '20 > 235

310

hp

Nm

350

367

Nm

Russia

20-22

350T

awd

9A

kW

147

hp

200

Nm

350

China

19-21

21-

28T

(28T)

fwd/awd

fwd/awd

9A

9A

max kW

177 '20 > 174

174 + 10

max hp

237 '20 > 233

233 + 13

Nm

350

350 + 50

l/100 km

-20: 7.8/8.2

7.2/7.6

l/100 km

20-21: 7.6/8.1

7.76/8.24

WLTC

fwd -24

 

Cadillac CT5  China: November 2019, USA: December 2019

This is the first Cadillac on the new Alpha 2 rear-wheel-drive platform with digital feature connectivity.  With 43 sold in 2019 in the United States vs 6,191 in China, China again took the lead.  The CT5-V with twin turbo 3-litre engine is not offered in China, nor is all-wheel-drive.

For America, a Cadillac CT5-V ‘Blackwing’ will follow in summer 2021, offering a six-speed manual gearbox in addition to the 10-speed automatic, equipped with an updated supercharged 6.2-litre V8, as was in the CTS-V.  This vehicle, like its CT4-V stablemate, will be equipped with magnesium wheels.  It is worth mentioning that this magnesium alloy wheel is an open innovation achieved by the General Motors Chinese Academy of Sciences in conjunction with Chinese suppliers and universities.

By early 2021, Super Cruise semi-autonomous highway driving became available in North America, and by May 2021 (until late 2023) in China.  67,000 Cadillac CT5 units were sold in China in 2022.  By April 2023, among other upgrades, the car also offers an optional Le Mans Orange paint color.  83,600 were sold in 2023.  A completely revamped front end was installed at the end of December 2023 and the car is officially positioned in China as a "new American-style sedan".  The production of the American model will start in spring 2024 as a 2025 model.

The Chinese CT5 will soon be available with the 150/155 kW 1.5 dual fast cam phasers direct injection turbo engine.

platform:

Alpha 2

CT5

rear suspension:

5-link independent, coil springs

SGM

GM

GM

GM

curb weight from:

1660

kg

'8th gen.'

CSS

HF6

LT4

wheelbase (cm):

294.7

4 cyl.

4 cyl.

V6

V8

length from (cm):

492.4

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

OHV

width (cm):

188.3

1498

1998

2990

6162

cc

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

turbo

turbo

twin turbo

supercharger

market:

CT5, CT5-V

CT5-V

USA/CDN

19-

20-

21-

350T

550T, V

V (Blackwing)

rwd/awd

rwd/awd

rwd

10A

10A

6M/10A

177

250-265

498

kW

237

335-360

668

hp

350

542-550

893

Nm

China

tbe 24-

19-

25T

28T

rwd

rwd

8A

10A

max kW

155

177 '20 > 174

max hp

211

237 '20 > 233

Nm

270

350

l/100 km

6.9

WLTC

7.13

7.64/7.88

2312:

7.51/7.78

 

Cadillac CT4  USA: March 2020, China: April 2020

Also on the Alpha 2 platform, similar in length to its predecessor ATS, and actually not that much different in appearance, the early batch at the dealers in the US are equally divided between rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models.  It will compete with BMW 1-series, Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz A Class.  The 4-cylinder tripower 2.7-litre engine is not offered in China, nor are the all-wheel-drive models.  The Chinese ATS-L’s successor is the CT5.  In China, by April 2020, the portfolio for Cadillac extends from CT4, CT5, CT6 rwd sedans, to XT4, XT5, XT6 fwd/awd crossovers, all with the 2-litre engine with cylinder deactivation, next to the awd V8 6.2 Escalade ESV, imported since April 2017.

For America, a Cadillac CT4-V ‘Blackwing’ will follow in late summer 2021, offering a six-speed manual gearbox in addition to the 10-speed automatic, equipped with an updated twin-turbocharged 3.6 V6, as was in the ATS-V.

By early 2021, Super Cruise semi-autonomous highway driving became available in North America.

By November 2022, the Chinese CT4 became available with the 150 kW 1.5 dual fast cam phasers direct injection turbo engine, dubbed 25T.  With a price of 219,700 yuan, it is among the cheapest and most sporty rear-wheel drive models in China.  It is worth mentioning that the car also offers an optional new Le Mans Orange paint color.  Almost 11,000 units were sold in China in 2022, and 7,350 in 2023.

platform:

Alpha 2

CT4

rear suspension:

5-link independent, coil springs

SGM

GM

GM

GM

curb weight from:

1525

kg

'8th gen.'

CSS

CSS

HF6

wheelbase (cm):

277.5

4 cyl.

4 cyl.

4 cyl.

V6

length from (cm):

475.6

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

DOHC

width (cm):

181.5

1498

1998

2727

3564

cc

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

turbo

turbo

turbo

twin turbo

market:

CT4, CT4-V

CT4-V

USA/CDN

20-

20-

21-

350T

500T*, V

V (Blackwing)

rwd/awd

rwd/awd

rwd

8A

10A

6M/10A

177

231-242

352

kW

237

310-325

472

hp

350

475-515

603

Nm

China

curb weight from:

1525

kg

22-

20-

wheelbase (cm):

277.5

25T

28T

length from (cm):

476

rwd

rwd

width (cm):

181.5

8A

8A

max kW

155

174

max hp

211

233

l/100 km

6.7

WLTC

7.03

7.36

* 1,155 CT4 left the factory with incorrect 450T badge

 

Cadillac Lyriq (L233) USA: July 2022, China: September 2022

The launch of this electric crossover on GM's BEV3 Ultium electric vehicle platform has been postponed for two years.  The (rear-mounted) single-motor Lyriq model went into production in March 2022 in the United States, and in May 2022 in Shanghai, China.  The driving range in China under CLTC conditions is 653 km, and 608 km for the four-wheel-drive.  The Chinese name of the Lyriq is Ruige (sharp song), IQ Ruige by November 2023.  Delivery of the rear-wheel-drive model in China started at the end of September 2022 (July in America) and of the four-wheel-drive model in late December (May 2023 in America).  In China 2,366 units were delivered in 2022, vs only 122 in the United States (where almost 8,200 were built).

The rear engine in the four-wheel drive Lyriq reduces its power/torque digitally to 220 kW/405 Nm, while the additional front engine produces 155 kW/305 Nm.  Chinese four-wheel drive Lyriqs deliver 710 Nm vs a detuned 610 Nm in America, but a Velocity over-the-air software upgrade was made available in America in September 2023, boosting torque to 710 Nm and 0~100 km/h acceleration to 4.4 seconds (4.6 seconds in China), but may result in a ca. 25 km lower driving range. The 2025 models saw an increase of the output and range.

The Chinese Lyriq is equipped with NCM 811 (Nickel 80% – Cobalt 10% – Manganese 10%) ternary lithium-ion 95.7 kWh batteries (352.3V/271.6 Ah), jointly developed by SAIC-GM and local suppliers.  The American Lyriq is equipped with NCMA (nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminum) quaternary lithium-ion (ca) 102 kWh batteries made by Ultium Cells LLC (a joint venture between GM Group and Korean LG Chem, now LG Energy Solution), which effectively reduce the dependence on rare earth elements.

Only 1,086 Lyriqs were delivered in China in the first half of 2023 (2,316 in the USA), prompting SGM to reduce the price of the whole series in July 2023 by 60,000 yuan, resulting in 1,836 deliveries in the third quarter of 2023 (3,018 in the USA).  The price range before adjustment was 439,700 yuan to 479,700 yuan, and the adjusted guide price range is 379,700 yuan to 419,700 yuan.  Almost 2,700 were delivered in the second half of 2023.  3,784 units in 2023 compares to around 9,000 in the United States.

In November 2023 SGM added another 100,000 yuan (14,000 USD) cheaper and 215 kg lighter entry-level model for 297,700 yuan, reducing the power of the motor from 255 kW to 250 kW and decreasing the (187 kg lighter) battery capacity from 95.7 to 68.4 kWh (352.3V/194 Ah), resulting in a cutting of the CLTC driving range from 653 to 502 km.  This also reduces the gross vehicle weight to well below the 3 tonnes of the other models, causing the IQ Ruige Standard Range Edition to be almost half a second faster when accelerating from 0-100 km/h.  The Super Cruise driving assistance system is optional for 20,000 yuan.  Cadillac also announced that IQ users will be connected to the Tesla charging network within the year.

Following SGM, in actual user testing, the IQ Ruige Long Range Edition has a maximum battery life of 761 km, far exceeding the official CLTC battery life of 653 km.

platform:

BEV 3

Lyriq

22-

22-

front suspension:

double wishbone, coils

USA

China

rear suspension:

5-link independent, coils

wheelbase (cm):

309.4

309.4

length (cm):

499.6

500.3

width (cm):

197.6

197.7

 

height (cm):

162.3

163.7

all-electric

rwd

4wd

USA

22-

22 > 25

23 > 25

450E

600E4

curb weight from:

2520

2625

kg

drive motor:

255 > 265

375 > 384

kW

340 > 365

500 > 515

net hp

440

610

Nm

Velocity upgrade:

710

Nm

battery capacity:

101.7

101.7

kWh

EPA electric drive range -23:

502

km

23 > 25

505 > 524

494 > 513

km

0-100 km/h:

6.35

4.7

sec

Velocity upgrade:

4.4

sec

China

22-

23-

22-

22-

450E

700E4

curb weight from:

2320

2535

2600

kg

drive motor:

250

255

375

kW

335

342

503

net hp

440

440

710

Nm

battery capacity:

68.4

95.7

95.7

kWh

CLTC electric drive range:

502

653

608

km

0-100 km/h:

5.9

6.35

4.6

sec

Power consumption per 100 kilometers:

14.4

15.6

16.7

kWh

 

Cadillac GT4   China: May 2023

Sharing the E2 front-wheel-drive platform with the XT4, but with the wheelbase extended to 280 cm, and 10 cm lower, this coupe SUV is available with the 150/155 kW 1.5 dual fast cam phasers turbo engine, or as four-wheel-drive with the 2-litre turbo, with 4 exhaust pipes.  Both engines are equipped with the 48V mild hybrid system, which is always one step faster at the start.  Almost 6,000 were sold in 2023.

platform:

E2QL

GT4

rear suspension:

5-link independent, coil springs

SGM

GM

curb weight from:

1610

kg

'8th gen.'

CSS

wheelbase (cm):

280

4 cyl.

4 cyl.

length from (cm):

463.3

DOHC

DOHC

width (cm):

187.8

1498

1998

cc

dir. inj.

dir. inj.

turbo

turbo

mild hybrid

mild hybrid

market:

China

23-

23-

25T

28T

fwd

awd

9A

9A

150 +10

169 + 10

net kW

155 + 10

174 + 10

max kW

204 + 13

230 + 13

net hp

211 + 13

237 + 13

max hp

WLTC

6.74, 6.82

7.47

l/100 km

 

Cadillac Optiq   China: April 2024, USA: tbe 2024

Sharing the 295.4 cm BEV3 Ultium electric vehicle platform with the Buick Electra E5, both 150 and 180 kW front-motor versions are offered in China, as well as a 143/68 kW (part-time) all-wheel drive version.    Length/width/height are 482/191/164 cm.

The Optiq made its world premiere at the 2023 Guangzhou Auto Show on  November 17, when the launch of a Chinese name collection campaign for this new car from netizens was announced.  The Chinese name of the new car is "Ao Ge", meaning proud song.

 

platform:

BEV 3

Optiq

24-

front suspension:

Coilover strut

USA

China

rear suspension:

5-link independent, coils

wheelbase (cm):

295.4

length (cm):

482.2

width (cm):

191.2

 

 

height (cm):

164.4

all-electric

part-

time

fwd

4wd

China

24-

24-

24-

curb weight from:

2130

2220

kg

drive motor:

180

143/68

kW

245

194/92

hp

330

305/160

Nm

battery capacity:

65

79.7

kWh

CLTC electric drive range:

536

600

km


Cadillac XT5  China: September 2024

With a length of 489 cm, the new China-only XT5 is on the longer wheelbase of the XT6, but ca. 17 cm shorter.  Engines are the same mild hybrids.  The front-wheel-drive version is replaced by a single-clutch four-wheel drive model.  Both passive and active safety are on a high level.

 

platform:

XT5

rear suspension:

5-link independent, coil springs

GM

curb weight from:

1970

kg

CSS

wheelbase (cm):

286.3

4 cyl.

length from (cm):

488.8

DOHC

width (cm):

195.7

cc:

1998

dir. inj.

turbo

mild hybrid

China

24-

(28T)

awd

9A

max kW

174 + 10

max hp

233 + 13

Nm

350 + 50

l/100 km

8.23/8.33

 

                                                          Net output data are approximate.

                                                          

                                                         with thanks to carsalesbase.com, http://db.auto.sohu.com, gmauthority.com

 

For recent specifications on Cadillac cars built in China, see:
On a Global Mission: The Automobiles of General Motors International
                                  

 

Far East Auto Literature

21 December, 2024