The 2020 Cadillac CT4 lineup includes Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, and V-Series trims. Cadillac’s hands-free Super Cruise is optional. Two available engines can be paired with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive systems. Prices start below $35K. The CT4-V gets 325 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque.
We now have the full details on Cadillac’s new entry-level sedan. The 2020 Cadillac CT4 offers multiple engine and trim choices, all using turbocharged four-cylinder engines that send power to the rear wheels. All-wheel drive is optional on every model. The available six-cylinder from the outgoing ATS has been dropped.
“Cadillac is dedicated to building the most exhilarating sport-luxury sedans,” Cadillac chief engineer Rob Kotarak said in a press release. “Every element of the CT4 is designed to bring innovative technologies right to the driver, providing discerning driving dynamics with cutting edge precision.”
The CT4’s aggressive looks are in line with the current trend to lure more buyers into sedans. This is more evident in the V-Series model, which packs more power and features. The CT4 is a bit larger than the ATS it replaces and sits below the CT5.
LED exterior lighting is standard on all CT4s. The Luxury and Premium Luxury trims are dressed in bright exterior accents, while the Sport and V-Series take a darker turn. The grilles, fascias, rocker panels, rear spoilers, and wheels also denote the differences.
Turbos for all
All CT4 models below the CT4-V — Sport, Premium Luxury, Luxury — use a 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged engine producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear axle or to all four wheels. Automatic stop/start is standard.
Selectable drive modes include Tour, Sport, Snow/Ice and Track, and the new My Mode, which can also be found in the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. These modes allow you to tweak shift speeds, suspension, steering and brake feel, exhaust sound, and the front/rear torque split in AWD models.
On the inside is a high-definition 8-inch touchscreen, leather-wrapped steering wheel, full-color dual-display information center, rear camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a premium audio system. Interior LED lighting has a “stealth mode” that dims all but the most essential gauges.
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GM’s new digital platform features faster signal transmissions and over-the-air updates, along with enhanced security against hackers.
Hands free
The available Super Cruise system lets you go hands-free on certain stretches of road. Cadillac says it will function on more than 200,000 miles of highways in the U.S. and Canada. The car is guided via LiDAR map data, GPS, cameras, and sensors. A “state-of-the-art driver attention system” signals drivers it thinks are not paying enough attention to the road.
The car can sense if you are distracted and will pull over. The driver is also required to take over in situations that require more attention, such as railroad crossings. 2021 models will receive an upgrade to the Super Cruise system that includes automated lane change functionality.
“Upon initiation, the gauge cluster will display messages letting the driver know when the automated lane change has begun, or if lane change is unavailable and changing lanes must be manually completed by the driver. The system will display messages, such as ‘looking for an opening’ or ‘changing lanes’ to keep the driver informed on the status of the lane change,” Cadillac said in a press release.
The return of the V
The available Super Cruise system enables you to go hands-free on certain stretches of road
A 2.7-liter dual-volute turbo engine is standard on the CT4-V and available for the Premium Luxury trim. The turbo in this engine is designed to minimize energy loss between the exhaust flow and turbine wheel, especially at low speeds. It produces 325 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque in the CT4-V, and is detuned to 309 horsepower and 348 pound-feet of torque in Premium Luxury form. The engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission in both cases.
The V-Series also gets Magnetic Ride Control on RWD powertrains and passive dampers on AWD models. A limited-slip rear differential is standard, along with Brembo front brakes (the CT4 Sport also gets the brake upgrade). The CT4-V gets an additional V-Mode and a unique instrument cluster. 18-inch wheels with summer tires are standard.
Cadillac revealed the CT-4 V, along with the CT-5 V in May, ahead of the toned-down flavors. Shortly afterwards in June, two V-Series prototypes took to the track at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. Cadillac called these vehicles part of an “additional V-Series variant … representing the next step in Cadillac’s V-Series performance legacy.”
At what cost?
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The base model Luxury trim starts at $32,995 excluding destination. Standard features include rear-wheel drive, 17-inch wheels, an 8-inch touchscreen, and full LED lighting all around. Stepping up to the Premium Luxury raises the price to $37,495. This adds 18-inch wheels, leather seats, and a suite of safety features including automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, and Safety Alert Seat. The latter vibrates the driver’s seat to notify you of a situation that may require your attention.
Buyers opting for the CT4 Sport will shell out $38,585, which nets you get a unique grille, fascia, rockers, tail lamps, and spoiler. 18-way adjustable front seats with bolsters are standard, along with aluminium sport pedals and 18-inch wheels. The flagship CT4-V starts at $44,495 and adds the uprated motor, transmission, and launch control over the Sport. Performance Traction Management includes five modes for wet and dry surfaces as well as sport and track settings. Four trapezoidal exhaust outlets distinguish the V from all the rest.
A brief history of the V
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The V-Series started in 2004 with the CTS-V, which packed a 5.7-liter LS6 V-8 mated to a 6-speed Tremec manual transmission. The CTS-V borrowed its powertrain from the outgoing C5 Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Next came the XLR-V and STS-V. The ATS-V rolled out in 2016 and ended production last year. The limited-production 2019 CT6-V was announced in 2018 and quickly sold out, and order banks are now open for the 2020 model year.
The ATS-V’s twin-turbo V-6 engine produced 464 horsepower and 445 pound feet of torque through a manual or automatic transmission. You could order your ATS-V in coupe and sedan form. These numbers may make the new CT4-V seem underpowered, though the new car offers an AWD option and new technology such as Super Cruise.
Time will tell how the new V-Series will perform, and we’re hopeful that the prototypes rolled out at the Detroit Grand Prix will take us by surprise.
Production of the CT4 is taking place at GM’s Lansing Grand River facility in Michigan.
Update notes: Added pricing and more details for Cadillac’s CT4 lineup.