Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V Are In The Works (Probably)

It’s been a busy week for GM’s top-flight luxury division.

Following the official media launch of its vitally important new compact crossover, the XT4, this week, Cadillac promptly followed that up a few days later by announcing the new CT6 V-Sport would from here on out be known as the CT6-V, joining the ATS-V and CTS-V under the V-Series performance banner.

We knew the former was coming but the latter took just about everyone by surprise. It was announced as part of Cadillac’s larger push to give each car in its lineup a full-blown V-Series variant, even if the change from CT6 V-Sport to CT6-V is effectively just a new name. The move to expand the V-Series stable also conveniently coincides with the beginning of the end for both the ATS-V and the CTS-V.

But don’t take my word for it: “First and foremost the renaming of the [CT6 V-Series] to CT6-V represents the next chapter of V-Series and is only the beginning of the next generation,” wrote JL Lavina, Assistant Manager Cadillac Communications, in an email to CarBuzz.

“The CT6-V is not a replacement, but is joining the V-Series in the final model years of the ATS-V and CTS-V.”

2019 is expected to be the last model year for the 464-hp ATS-V, and the 640 hp CTS-V, but realistically, losing the pair of high-performers was always going to be inevitable as the current-generation cars ended their production runs.

“We’ve previously stated that both the CTS and ATS are at the end of their current lifecycles, and naturally, this will include the high-performance variants,” Lavina continued.

“These cars will be replaced by the next generation of Cadillac sedans - two completely new sedans, positioned in different segments and clearly differentiated by size and price, and will sit below the CT6.”

The incoming pair of vehicles are expected to arrive wearing the CT4, and CT5 designations as part of Cadillac’s new nomenclature strategy, and both will be built in Lansing, Michigan. Even though nothing has been confirmed outright it’s fairly easy to conclude that Cadillac is already busy planning for the upcoming generation of factory-backed lead sleds, the CT4-V, and CT5-V.

It’s thought the CT5 will debut at some point during 2019 as part of the brand’s push to introduce a new model every six months through to the end of 2021.