At the end of 2023, the high-end US carmaker saw impressive delivery numbers along with an unexpected best-selling brand: the CT5 mid-size sedan. This success prompted the upgrade of the CT5 for the 2025 model year, swiftly followed by enhancements to the CT5-V and Blackwing high-performance variants. However, the fate of the CT4 and CT5 in the long term remains a pertinent question.
It appears that the CT4, an American compact executive sedan, might not extend beyond its current iteration, potentially marking the end of the ATS lineage.
Yet, the unexpectedly strong performance of the CT5 suggests a compelling argument against the notion that passenger cars are facing imminent demise, as initially feared by the US automaker. Nevertheless, adaptation to evolving trends, particularly embracing the electric vehicle (EV) environment, seems imperative for survival.
Cadillac appears well-prepared to cater to future automotive demands, as it prepares to introduce a comprehensive EV lineup. This lineup includes the Caddy Optiq, a compact luxury crossover SUV produced in China by SAIC-GM, alongside the existing Lyriq mid-size luxury CUV introduced as the brand’s inaugural fully electric vehicle on the BEV3 platform in 2023.
Furthermore, the upcoming 2026 Vistiq three-row mid-size crossover, along with the Escalade IQ and Celestiq flagships, contribute to Cadillac’s expansive EV portfolio. Although the anticipated pricing of the Escalade IQ is likely to exceed that of the base $82k ICE-powered Escalade, it remains significantly below the $340k Celestiq.
This considerable price gap hints at potential opportunities for Cadillac to introduce additional EV passenger cars within this range. Speculation suggests that Cadillac is already developing two new EV sedans to complement its EV lineup, hinting at the brand’s commitment to embracing electrification and future automotive trends.
Digital car content creators, such as Vince Burlapp, play a pivotal role in envisioning the future of automotive design. Burlapp recently revealed speculative illustrations of these hypothetical Cadillac EV sedans, envisaging models smaller and sleeker than the Celestiq yet retaining fastback styling to establish continuity with the flagship sedan.
These illustrations suggest potential integration with GM’s updated BEV Prime architecture, positioning them as premium offerings within the evolving EV environment.