As far as we knew, the upcoming Cadillac CT6 was going to be the flagship of the American luxury brand. But according to an interview with new Cadillac boss Johan de Nysschen, the real flagship won't be here until the end of the decade and will be called CT8. Or CT9. Wait. What?
de Nysschen is promising an onslaught of new products between now and 2020, and one of the most anticipated (and long overdue) models is a proper flagship to compete with the range-topping models from Germany. And now it's got a name. Well, two of them.
Reuters spoke with de Nysschen at the Paris Motor Show where he revealed plans to double the Cadillac range from 5 to 10 models in the next six years, and the headliner is the much-anticipated flagship.
De Nysschen said Cadillac has "just signed off on" a range-topping luxury sedan that will come to the market at the end of the decade and likely will be called CT8 or CT9. He added it would compete head to head with long-wheelbase versions of the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
Caddy's new CEO reconfirmed plans to offer a plug-in hybrid version of the CT6, which we should see in Detroit before it goes on sale late next year. De Nysschen also said that an ELR successor, which has failed to set the world on fire, is under development, and it might not be a two-door coupe like the current Volt in drag.
The other three models could include at least two new crossovers and one sedan, smaller than the ATS and based on the Chevrolet Cruze platform, due out in 2017. According to Reuters:
Without confirming their existence, de Nysschen strongly hinted that Cadillac is also considering at least two new crossover models, one positioned below the current SRX and one above. Both would compete with similar entries already offered by the Germans. And he alluded to a smaller sedan that could be slotted below the ATS and aimed at the BMW 1 Series and Mercedes CLA.
Finally, with talk of a 200-mile Chevrolet EV, de Nysschen said that Cadillac is planning it's one pure battery-electric car, although he wouldn't provide any details.