Cadillac boss Johan de Nysschen is wasting no time in implementing the brand’s new naming structure, with a raft of new products planned for the end of this decade.
In an interview with Reuters, de Nysschen, who’s only been on the job since August, shared a number of new models planned for GM’s luxury brand as it hopes to secure its position as a credible rival to Audi, BMW and Mercedes – at least in the U.S. and China.
The successor to the Cadillac SRX will the first model with the new “XT” naming structure for crossovers, according to Reuters, due sometime in 2016. The on-again-off-again three-row Cadillac crossover is reportedly on again for 2017 or 2018.
You can bet de Nysschen is pushing this model’s case as it will give Cadillac a proper rival to the Audi Q7 and BMW X5, not to mention the top-selling Acura MDX. He also apparently indicated a rival to the Mercedes GLA and BMW X1 is on the drawing board, possibly a companion to the sub-ATS model that is reportedly being based on the D2XX platform shared with the likes of the next Chevrolet Cruze and Opel Astra.
De Nysschen revealed that he’s been given the go-ahead for a larger rear-wheel drive luxury sedan to slot above the recently announced CT6. Rumored to be called CT8 or CT9, it is targeted at long-wheelbase versions of high-dollar sedans like the Mercedes S-Class and Jaguar XJ.
Furthermore, Cadillac is doubling down on its electrification game. In addition to the CT6 plug-in, there are plans for a successor to the much-maligned ELR and a full-on electric car.
The next few years are going to be busy for Cadillac, but with a full line of premium cars, it has a better chance than ever to be taken seriously in places that aren’t Palm Beach.
By Zac Estrada