As for the US, Cadillac has rein luxury segment for years, being the first thing that comes to your mind when term automotive luxury is used. Then came some other times and European and Japanese extravagant offensive decimated its sales, leaving it with mostly older gentleman still loyal to its brand. When an overall majority of your customers have quite more than a few wrinkles on their faces and seeing them sitting in big, visually dull and outdated saloons, will certainly leave you thinking that that’s not wanted impression to leave for a car maker. Something has to be done, and Caddy did it.
UPDATE: 02/17/2017
2018 Cadillac XT3 Spied
Although the vehicle is wrapped in some heavy camouflage, it seems that underneath it is the new 2018 Cadillac XT3. We base this prediction on several noticeable features. If we take a look at the photos, we can see that the model has a few sharp angles and features that correspond to other Cadillac cars. The LED running lights and side mirrors are prime examples, and the rear end looks like the current XT5 if you neglect the difference in size. Likely borrowed from the latest Escalade, the rear lights stretch all the way to the D-pillars.
These images clearly show us the model’s rear suspension which is independent and features coil springs. Although the company decided to use this setup on some of their vehicles, we cannot link it to a single representative model. The new car will likely be based on the current XT3, but it will also probably have a modified platform and suspension.
General Motors might borrow the D2XX platform for the 2018 Cadillac XT3 from the Buick Envision. The latest report revealed that the new version will be manufactured at the same facility where the Chevy Malibu and Buick LaCrosse are produced. The XT5 is underpinned by an altered version of the Malibu/Lacrosse chassis, and the company might want to modify the XT5’s platform for the new XT3.
If the model ends up in the same league with Chevy Trax and Buick Encore size-wise, it might have the same underpinnings as those vehicles. But, this is the least believable scenario if we include their economy car roots along with the torsion-bar rear suspension.
The company is expected to introduce the new Cadillac XT3 in 2018, so stay tuned as we get closer to that date. It is still unclear if this will be a 2018 or 2019 model when it reaches customers.
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NEW THINKING
GM’s luxury division entered the new millennium with fresh ideas, and new “Art and science” design thinking took its momentum over the years, and that is how we came to some gems in the current lineup, preferably ATS. It’s not just about sharp design, ATS drives better than the traditional king of the class BMW 3 Series.
V moniker of ATS and CTV can easily be interpreted as short of Vett, which goes as brief of Corvette because both are nothing less than four-door GM’s supercar. Since Escalade had quite a following regardless of anything, Caddy had to try its luck in growing crossover segment, so mid-size SRX was born, and what was today XT5. Sales were decent so why stop there.
WHERE XT3 FIT?
The name says it all. It will be positioned below XT5, so it would be the smallest Cadillac SUV, occupying compact SUV segment. ATS is a pure success, so we don’t see Caddy messing up with future smallest SUV. Honestly, that market is quite populated, and with a predictable price of around $30k it will stack against Merc GLA, BMW 1 Series, Audi Q3, Infiniti QX30, Range Rover Evoque, Lincoln MKC and I think you had enough.
2018 Cadillac XT3 STYLING
Now we know that Caddy has no more problems with delivering something sharp and modern looking so new XT3 should follow stylish traces of bigger XT5 and top CT6, presumably regarding those LED daytime lights pouring out from headlights.
For the end add some dash of funkiness to the whole story as it is quite usual for compact segment. As for the cabin, maybe it is unrewarding to speculate anything yet, but some scaled down version of XT5’s is presumably going to happen, while what is almost certain is a V-shaped dash, as it is unavoidable within brand in these days.
NATURE OF IT
2018 Cadillac XT3 is not going to rush for great paper figures when we talk about space. It is a premium product in the first place, and it is probably going to focus on the trendy part of it, maybe it will even feature slightly sloped roof, hurting space, but pleasing eyes. Count on vigorous driving pleasures that latest Cadillacs are bringing, since it will come on shortened platform that ATS is currently using, and since it will be RWD, there would be hardly an adequate rival for it especially when we are talking about cornering capabilities, mostly since latest generation of BMW X1 went to FWD.
To makes this happen, under the hood will probably sit 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine delivering 220 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque mated with manual or 10-speed automatic as for a start, with definitely more powerful stuff as an option. Expect “expected” top American luxury inside and, God hopes, revised CUE infotainment system, dealing with huge frustrations that touch controls are currently causing to buyers.
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CAN’T WAIT!
Yes, we know, and neither do we. ATS dynamics in compact crossover body proves more than alluring and 2018 Cadillac XT3 is going to pose as one of the top choices in the segment when we come to driving enjoyment. The path seems clear at the moment since BMW changed the tune, but this Caddy is due to arrive in 2018, the same year when Jag’s E-Pace is coming, so it will be fun to watch.
| 2018 Cadillac XT3 | |
| Dimensions And Weight | |
| Wheelbase | N/A |
| Length | N/A |
| Height | N/A |
| Width | N/A |
| Weight | N/A |
| Engine And Transmission | |
| Engine type | 2-liter four-banger |
| Displacement | N/A |
| Power/torque | 220 HP/250 pound-feet of torque |
| Transmission | six-speed manual transmission |
| Performance | |
| 0-60 mph | 7.5 sec. |
| Top speed | 130 mph |
| PRICE RANGE:$ 35.000 |
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| Competitors:Audi Q3, Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class |
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