Thanks to loyal reader Frylock350, we’ve received a glimpse of what can only be Cadillac’s upcoming 2018 XTS — a long-in-the-tooth model given a stay of execution (and a styling refresh) by its struggling parent.
The XTS was supposed to die after the appearance of Cadillac’s CT6 flagship, but continued healthy sales of the front-wheel-drive full-sizer prompted a change of heart. Why axe a steady performer, especially when your smaller sedans have the sales buoyancy of the Lusitania?
While announcing a years-long new product blitz earlier this year, Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen revealed that a refreshed XTS would come first. Expected to bow later this year, the 2018 model should see changes to its front fascia and rear end, nudging its styling closer to that of its siblings. Certainly, there’s nothing new amidships, going by these photos shot in Chicago.
Underneath those bulky bras, there’s clearly change afoot. While the taillights remain hidden, the trunklid seems to extend further aft. Up front, the grille appears more upright and surrounding fascia more angular, not unlike the sharply chiseled faces of its stablemates. There’s new jewelry, too. It looks like the XTS’ front fenders will carry the same monochrome Cadillac crest seen on the CT6.
While it isn’t known how long the XTS will live, sales through 2019 seems like a solid bet. Of course, Cadillac’s main focus remains elsewhere.
Crossovers and SUVs are kings, and Cadillac’s long-term profitability plan will see several utility vehicles added to the lineup before the end of the decade. The first all-new model will be the XT4 small crossover, with a larger crossover expected to fill the gap between the popular XT5 and range-topping Escalade. An even smaller crossover could appear after that.
The continuation of brougham light up door handles! I approve of it so much.
I’m a published photographer now! Thanks Steph!
Most importantly, will they update CUE to have some knobs and buttons?
Heh.. that hides as much as Clayton Moore’s mask and needs to a little as Janet Jackson’s top.
Sadly, I don’t have the energy or desire to remember which of Cadillac’s full size cars is front wheel drive, and which is rear wheel drive. Perhaps Nysschen will develope a 3 wheel drive vehicle before he actually gets around to making what customers actually want – CUVs.
The XTS is the only front-wheel drive Cadillac sedan.
Sort of wrong. It’s AWD.
That’s incorrect. There are many FWD examples.
You can both be correct.
Fleet.
Lets be honest, for most people interested in a full size Cadillac the XTS is a better car than the CT6 considering it costs thousands less. They don’t care about FWD vs RWD and driving dynamics. That is why the XTS is still outselling the CT6 almost 2 to 1.
The CT6 is a nice looking car coupled with horrible pricing and packaging since there is not enough room between the CTS, CT6, and XTS. Why, for example, does it make sense to have magnetic ride control standard on the XTS but not on the CT6 (you have to jump to the $60k model just to get a chance to check that option box for even more money)? The world may never know.
XTS, the top trim package for the current Impala.
This was my thought, is this an Impala? Also, where are my damn carriage lights on the B pillars!
This is in fact an Impala with Cadillac styling cues and a nicer interior.
It is one of Cadillac’s better badge engineering attempts (which, granted, says more about Cadillac than the XTS).
>Funny<
“This is in fact an Impala…”
XTS came several years before Impala, probably more accurate to describe XTS as a re bodied SAAB. Still, the continued existence of the XTS will bring joy to hearse makers as well as Florida octogenarians for whom this is a half step to riding in the former.
The Saab 9-5 heritage for sure.
Our XTS Vsport has Haldex4 AWD and with the nannies turned off will rotate on snow with the throttle just as easy as a RWD car. The Platinum level is appointed like no Impala or LaCrosse for that matter.
That has to be the ultimate Q-ship. 420 hp in an XTS….never saw one in the wild, yet….
The Vsport is quick enough out of box and I’ve seen more than a few near CLE. Since it uses a 3.6tt tuned to 369 lb-ft torque from the factory, almost 200 lb-ft of available after a ecu tune. It spins the front tires on a 90°F day at 50 mph downshift!
These protective bumper bras are really getting out of hand.
Sadly the gas filler is still on the wrong side of the car.
One thing I *loved* about my CTS was the filler on the “wrong” side. we frequented a popular “one-way” station in Northern NJ which had a wait for the pumps on the driver side while there was, almost always, an open pump on the passenger side.
And if they were ALL on the same side of the car (regardless of which side) imagine how smoothly fill ups would go.
“imagine how smoothly fill ups would go”
I thought fill-ups on gas cars always went smoothly and you guys are always in and out of the station in less than 5 minutes? :^)
I’m not sure what is more embarrassing for New Jersey – the fact that you can’t pump your own gas, or the fact that they don’t have “long hose” technology. I always find it amusing when people maneuver about to select a gas pump, when most pumps in my neighbourhood have hoses long enough to reach either side.
I guess Oregon is a hybrid state- long hoses, no self service. No sales tax either. Really behind the times here.
The side of the Caddy looks identical to a Camry from a few years ago.
Good job, GM.
Eh, not really.
I don’t understand why Cadillac is bothering with covering up the front and rear of the car. No one is going to be stealing styling cues from this car.
I don’t understand why Cadillac is bothering with covering up the front and rear of the car. No one is going to be stealing styling cues from this car.
I’m pretty sure Volvo designers are not constantly hitting refresh on their screens to see the ‘all new for 2018’ XTS.
I want so bad for Cadillac to get it turned around and make great full size cars again. I’ve never owned one or plan to, I just find my self rooting for them like they’re the home team or something. I’m not at all a luxury car buyer but there’s something about that old school box Cadillac look with a big block V8 500/425 that just dominates the road. It’s got this distinct vibe to it I’d love for them to capture that kind of feeling again.
You will be in a self-flying car before you see Cadillac great again.
The one current Cadillac alongside the Escalade that doesn’t look like a Chinese-Audi/Mercedes-Benz/BMW-knockoff. The ATS, CTS, XT5, and, CT6 are so “blah” in their designs. The XTS has a presence the other sedans seriously lack despite their silly-assed LED light arrangements.
I had a 2014 Cadillac XTS 3.6L rental for about a month and I liked it. It was comfy, fairly quick, rode well, and believe it or not, actually drove really well. I was surprised.
Most people don’t care if a car is RWD or AWD. Most that do don’t buy new anyway and just sit around on the internet complaining for companies to RWD all the things.
RWD is useless in a car like this, which is why people buy the Lexus ES in droves and why the GS is about to die on the vine.
Buick death watch.
Cadillac is still outselling Buick this year in the states. I will look up the sales statistics later this week. Cadillac was leading by a couple thousand units last month.
The new XT5 is now Cadillac’s best selling vehicle, and is playing a big role in the divisions comeback.
Buick has Cadillac by almost 20,000 units this year alone. Buick is doing good considering it has Chevrolet below and Cadillac and GMC above it sqeezing out some sales, unlike Infiniti, Acura, Lincoln. … Buick has been 4th behind Lexus, bmw, and Mercedes in $30,000+ segments
Photos taken at the north end of Wacker Drive and Grand Avenue in downtown Chicago.