So I saw the new CT5 on the road for the first time today...

"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
03/06/2020 at 17:26 • Filed to: Cadillac ct5, Cadillac, The Standard of the World

My first thought was, “wow that’s the biggest and nicest looking 1st gen Cruze I’ve ever seen.” Which quickly morphed into “wait that’s an Altima or maybe an Elantra?”

The funny thing is that I do like it - but boy does it blend in. I don't think that car will save Cadillac.

DISCUSSION (40)

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > WilliamsSW
03/06/2020 at 17:37

Its got the Infiniti style “ crook” on the back window...

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > WilliamsSW
03/06/2020 at 17:39

Yeah, it’s a great point.

Say what you will about the First Gen ‘Scalade and CTS— but the design language was bold and different and said “This is a new era of Caddy”.

This one? I’m seeing a little Kia K900 in the rear treatment. Sigh. Did all sedans have to converge to the same design language? I even glanced at my Impala the other day in the driveway and thought “well, it’s dated, but at least it doesn’t look like every other sedan on the road...”

Kinja'd!!!

WilliamsSW > GoodIdeaAtTheTime
03/06/2020 at 17:42

As does the 5 series and G80, as well as numerous lower end models (Accord). I like it but again, it blends in.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/06/2020 at 17:47

I didn’t realize you had a B-body. My dad had one and I loved that car! I think it’s one of Chevy’s more timeless designs.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/06/2020 at 17:52

Is that yours? It looks extremely nice!!

WilliamsSW > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/06/2020 at 17:53

That looks awesome. Love the wheels!

fintail > WilliamsSW
03/06/2020 at 17:57

That DLO fail makes me twitch. Prior/final CTS was much better styled IMO.

BahamaTodd > WilliamsSW
03/06/2020 at 17:59

Escalade gave a nice glimpse of where Cadillac is headed with the interior , but that’s still basically a reworke d Tahoe. The Cadillac Lyriq EV is supposedly pretty impressive inside and out. We’ll see it on April 2nd.

Kinja'd!!!

Its supposed to be very similar to this:

Kinja'd!!!

WilliamsSW > fintail
03/06/2020 at 18:03

Oh god I didn’t realize that c pillar kink was a DLO fail. Now I can’t unsee it and I hate it.

gettingoldercarguy > WilliamsSW
03/06/2020 at 18:04

I can't wait to see one. The fact that it is 3600 lbs for the baby v is awesome. At first I was upset about what Cadillac has done to the v series, but I'll take the add lightness philosophy over "Power!!!"

Just Jeepin' > fintail
03/06/2020 at 18:13

Translation for the clueless?

WilliamsSW > Just Jeepin'
03/06/2020 at 18:15

Daylight opening fail. Ie black plastic panels pretending to be windows. Apparently the rear quarter window is not a window, which I didn’t realize - I just saw the car drive by at 35 mph, not up close.

WilliamsSW > gettingoldercarguy
03/06/2020 at 18:16

They do look good honestly. I’m whining that they’re not distinguished but they look nice and appear to have a good greenhouse- which I like but apparently no one else does.

Nom De Plume > WilliamsSW
03/06/2020 at 18:18

Save Cadillac from what?

Based on the guy in the car, couple in frame, and the approaching middle age woman rep... this looks like they hit their long term market segment bang on. So long as it cruises below 30 without shifting and does 10 under freeway speeds in comfort.

fintail > Just Jeepin'
03/06/2020 at 18:19

DLO fail - black (usually plastic) piece or panel inserted in the A or C pillar to simulate a “daylight opening” (DLO) (window), often because of a bad relationship between doors and roofline. Some other weirdos like myself whine about it:

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2018/01/vellum-venom-dlo-fail/

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/06/2020 at 18:33

I’m not a domestic fanboi by any means and know nothing about that gen of Impala...but I’ll take two of exactly what you’ve got please and thank you.

Chariotoflove > WilliamsSW
03/06/2020 at 18:55

I think color really matters here. But I do think in this case they went a little too conservative for my taste. It’s handsome rather than striking.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > WilliamsSW
03/06/2020 at 18:59

It is a bit too over styled. Cadillac needs strong , big, long , and confident design. Not this

I take particular issue with the way the windows resolve on the back.

Chariotoflove > BahamaTodd
03/06/2020 at 18:59

Cadillac has some really good design talent, or at least they did in recent years. I’m excited to see if they’ve unleashed some of it on these production models.

way2blu does a rev update > gettingoldercarguy
03/06/2020 at 19:00

I saw 3600 lbs for the 3.0T \\\V series and immediately went to Cadillac’s website, all like “that sounds amazing!!”

https://media.cadillac.com/media/us/en/cadillac/vehicles/ct5-v/2020.tab1.html

Unfortunately, it looks like the 3600 lbs is for the 2.0T RWD model; the 3.0T weighs 3900 lbs.

It’s still about 100 lbs lighter than a 540i xDrive though and most definitely will handle better. The GM Alpha chassis is amazing.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/06/2020 at 19:02

That is the design language Caddi should be using. Simple, strong, confident

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/06/2020 at 19:02

Yeah, I’ve got one “stock”, one with an engine transplant (Grand Sport LT4, T-56 and Porsche Big Red Brembos) and one Derelict Roadmaster wagon with a stroker.

T hey aren’t “refined” in the least, but they do have a solid, old school, feel on the road. It’s funny how much more power “normal” cars have 25 years on, though.

wafflesnfalafel > WilliamsSW
03/06/2020 at 19:11

M y one quibble is the the use of the Infiniti styling little wrinkle in the c pillar trim - why would they try to make the car look like an Infiniti?

WilliamsSW > Chariotoflove
03/06/2020 at 19:49

The one I saw was white like the photo. That's as dull a color as you can find, but "handsome rather than striking" is a perfect description.

WilliamsSW > wafflesnfalafel
03/06/2020 at 19:50

Because everyone else is doing it too, I guess?

gettingoldercarguy > way2blu does a rev update
03/06/2020 at 19:50

Well damn, I read a review on the drive which sta ted it was 3660 and I didn’t check up on it as you had. 3900 is light, but not as magical as 3600 would be.

WilliamsSW > Nom De Plume
03/06/2020 at 19:51

Hey that’s me you’re describing!

Except I drive a v8 sedan at 15-20 over, though.

WilliamsSW > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
03/06/2020 at 19:52

It does have a long hood and short deck, which I like a lot, but yeah.

WilliamsSW > BahamaTodd
03/06/2020 at 19:58

I do want to drive the CT5 and check out the interior. It’s certainly on a great handling platform.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > WilliamsSW
03/06/2020 at 20:05

“wow, is that an Elantra?” is actually a compliment now.

WilliamsSW > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
03/06/2020 at 20:09

True. The CT5 is good looking but not exciting.

Nom De Plume > WilliamsSW
03/06/2020 at 20:13

By which you mean drives the most mundane commonplace looking vehicle to camouflage the driver behaving like anything but the dull and serious minded person is normally drawn towards these designs.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > WilliamsSW
03/06/2020 at 20:21

After the “art + science” theme that finally made Caddies unique about 10 years ago, they slowly went back to “some generic theme with brand-mandated details.” In other words, it went back to Old GM.

way2blu does a rev update > gettingoldercarguy
03/06/2020 at 20:23

An executive sedan with 400 lb-ft of torque under 4000 lbs is a pretty nice combo in my opinion. Magneride is standard on the Vs too. They just need an AWD V8 at this point.

gettingoldercarguy > way2blu does a rev update
03/06/2020 at 21:19

Yeah, I agree. I’d love to have one of these. The car is way way lighter than anything else in its class. The chassis is beyond brilliant. In my head I believed the 3600 lbs and said “perfection”. Not that 3900 is bad at all, just that nothing else would touch it in my head at 3600 pounds.

BadMotorScooter > WilliamsSW
03/06/2020 at 22:41

I walked by one in the showroom twice and thought it was a CT6, which I really like. The sales guy said have you checked out the new CT5 and I did a double take. It is a bigger car than I thought it would be. Actually really nice looking in person. The interior is very roomy and looks very high quality. Curious how it drives.

WilliamsSW > Nom De Plume
03/06/2020 at 23:19

My DD is an ordinary W212 Mercedes - but with a TTV8. 2nd choice was a Chevy SS when I bought it . So yeah, that suits me. :)

WilliamsSW > BadMotorScooter
03/06/2020 at 23:24

The thing that kept me from seriously considering a CTS the last time I bought a car was the rear seat room. I'll have to look at this one up close.

KnowsAboutCars > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/07/2020 at 16:33

That’s a good color/wheel combo. Looks very period correct. I didn’t even know Impalas came in dark green(?).

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > KnowsAboutCars
03/07/2020 at 16:43

Yep, Dark Green Grey Metallic came late in the run, as did a shade of Maroon.

Most were built in black.