The next-generation Cadillac CT4 and CT5 will be all-electric Ultium.
GM is reportedly planning to discontinue the gasoline-powered generation of the Cadillac CT4 and CT5, shifting to an EV sedan based on the BEV3 platform with the Ultium battery-powered engine, in a sportback configuration, expected to launch at the end of the decade.
Cadillac is preparing to end the era of internal combustion engines in its flagship CT4 and CT5 sedans. According to information published by GM Authority and cited by insideevs, the successors to these two models are likely to switch to all-electric power, using the BEV3 platform along with General Motors' Ultium battery and motor system. The design is expected to be sportback-oriented, differing from traditional three-compartment sedans.
Drivers of the transformation: declining sales, but room for growth in EV sedans.
In a market dominated by SUVs, Cadillac's sedans, despite high praise from experts, have struggled to achieve significant sales growth. In 2024, CT4 sales fell 32% and CT5 sales dropped 20%, making them the brand's slowest-selling models, with the exception of the newly launched Escalade IQ. This makes the plan to discontinue the gasoline-powered CT4/CT5 unsurprising.
Despite expanding its range of electric SUVs (like the Optiq and Vistiq), Cadillac still needs a presence in the EV sedan segment—where aerodynamic advantages, low ride height, and light weight often contribute to better range. That's why the successor sedan to the CT4/CT5 is geared towards being purely electric.
New silhouette: sportback, low hip point, reminiscent of Escala/Celestiq.
GM Authority says the successor models will no longer be traditional three-compartment sedans but will adopt a sportback design with a "low hip-point" to optimize seating position and aerodynamics. The dimensions are expected to be similar to the CT5 and CT6, and the styling will evoke the Cadillac Escala Concept or Cadillac Celestiq.
The Celestiq is currently Cadillac's limited-production ultra-luxury sedan, priced from at least $340,000 (approximately 8.29 billion VND - assuming an exchange rate of $1 ≈ 24,400 VND). The new electric sedans are expected to inherit the design language, but at a more accessible price point.
BEV3 platform, Ultium system: making its debut on a mass-market Cadillac sedan.
Cadillac has deployed the Ultium architecture on EV models such as the Lyriq, Optiq, and Vistiq. According to sources, the successor sedans to the CT4 and CT5 will use the BEV3 platform and the Ultium battery and motor system—making them the first sedans (besides the Celestiq) to fully exploit GM's electrification hardware ecosystem.
Range and performance: 350-mile target, V-Series/Blackwing potential
GM's large SUVs powered by Ultium have already achieved ranges of 300 miles or more (approximately 483 km). With the aerodynamic advantages of its low profile, a future Cadillac EV sedan is expected to reach around 350 miles (approximately 563 km) under ideal conditions.
In terms of performance, the success of the high-performance V-Series and Blackwing variants on internal combustion engine platforms sets the stage for similarly powerful configurations on electric sedans. Cadillac is now preparing to launch the 615-horsepower Lyriq-V, said to be the brand's fastest car—suggesting room for future high-performance sedan variants.
Timing: After the CT4/CT5 lifecycle, 2026, expected by the end of the decade.
The CT4 and CT5 are still in production for the 2026 model year. Therefore, if the product development pace remains stable, the successor EV sedans are likely to appear towards the end of this decade. The specific timeframe has not yet been confirmed by Cadillac.
Summary of key information (according to GM Authority/insideevs)
| Item | Information from the source |
|---|---|
| Drive system orientation | Purely electric, no plans for internal combustion engines in the next generation. |
| Platform/Technology | BEV3; Ultium battery and motor system |
| Design | Sportback, low side profile; not a traditional three-compartment sedan. |
| Expected size | Equivalent to Cadillac CT5 and Cadillac CT6 |
| Contact for design | It evokes comparisons to the Cadillac Escala Concept and the Cadillac Celestiq. |
| Expected range | Approximately 350 miles (≈563 km), based on aerodynamic advantages over the Ultium SUV (≥300 miles, ≈483 km) |
| Performance variant | A similar V-Series/Blackwing configuration to the traditional one is possible; the 615-horsepower Lyriq-V is a current performance benchmark. |
| Time | This is likely near the end of the decade, after the CT4/CT5 era, 2026. |
| Sales context | CT4 is projected to decrease by 32%, and CT5 by 20% in 2024. |
Quick assessment
Within GM's electrification shift, the next-generation Cadillac sedan will be a strategic test: combining the Ultium platform with a sportback silhouette to balance aerodynamic efficiency, style, and performance. If it achieves a range of around 350 miles and maintains the performance DNA of the V-Series/Blackwing, Cadillac has the opportunity to reposition itself in the sedan segment, which is niche but technologically promising.
The information in this article is based on GM Authority and insideevs. Detailed specifications, launch date, and pricing will need to be announced by Cadillac.
