Tag Archives: Cadillac

Tuning

Larte Design Turns the Cadillac Escalade into a Rolling Work of Excess

The Cadillac Escalade isn’t a common sight on European roads, and that’s putting it mildly. It’s vast, brash, and gloriously excessive—an unapologetic slice of Americana that makes a Bentley Bentayga look demure. Threading one through the cobbled streets of Paris or Prague would be like piloting a luxury yacht through a Venetian canal. But for German tuner Larte Design, that challenge wasn’t deterrent—it was inspiration.

Meet the Larte Esthete, a bodykit so bold it makes even the 682-hp Escalade-V look restrained. This is the sort of visual theater the Escalade was always destined for, now dialed up to eleven.

A Kit with Presence—and Then Some

The Esthete package, developed specifically for 2024–2026 Escalade models, can be crafted from either pre-preg carbon fiber or basalt composite fiber—the latter being a lightweight, heat-resistant material derived from volcanic rock. Larte says there are more than a dozen new components in total, each one sculpted to exaggerate the SUV’s already immense proportions.

The transformation begins up front with a new hood, available in either bare carbon or painted to match the body, paired with a subtle hood deflector and revised trim outlining the Escalade’s massive grille. A sharper front splitter and a pair of small integrated DRLs round off the fascia, adding an extra dash of menace.

Wide Shoulders, Wider Attitude

Along the sides, flared fenders swell over both axles, giving the Cadillac a stance that borders on cartoonish—in a good way. Larte also reshapes the mirror caps, tweaks the side skirts, and offers a set of forged wheels fitted with a carbon fiber aero ring, because, apparently, efficiency matters even when your SUV has the aerodynamic profile of a townhouse.

Rear-End Refinement, the Larte Way

The rear treatment is equally dramatic. A roof spoiler and a reshaped trunk lid trim set the tone, while a revised bumper, quad exhaust outlets, and slim vertical LED brake lights give the Escalade a look that could almost pass for a concept car. The new diffuser ties it all together, adding a final layer of visual aggression.

Form Over Function? Absolutely—and Proud of It

Installation reportedly takes about six hours, and the kit can be shipped worldwide, meaning a few American Escalades are bound to get the full Esthete treatment soon. Pricing hasn’t been disclosed, but given the materials and the craftsmanship, expect a figure somewhere north of “reasonable.”

Of course, none of this makes the Escalade any more practical for navigating Alpine switchbacks or medieval alleyways. But practicality was never the point. The Larte Esthete exists purely to amplify what the Escalade already represents—size, spectacle, and swagger. And in that mission, it’s mission accomplished.

Source: Cadillac

News

2026 Cadillac CT6 (China) Keeps the Flag Flying — For Half the Price

It’s been more than five years since the Cadillac CT6 quietly exited American showrooms, a casualty of the brand’s shift toward SUVs and electrification. But while the flagship sedan faded from U.S. roads, it never stopped breathing in China. In fact, it’s evolved. As it approaches the 2026 model year, the CT6 remains alive and well in Cadillac’s Chinese lineup — refreshed once again to feed the country’s still-voracious appetite for premium four-doors.

The latest update is less a revolution and more a refinement, but what’s grabbing headlines is the price. The CT6 now starts at 289,900 yuan, or about $40,700 at current exchange rates. That’s a staggering deal compared with what American buyers once paid. Back in 2019, the U.S.-market CT6 opened at $58,995 for the base Luxury trim and stretched to $96,495 for the Platinum. Adjusted for inflation, those prices today would range from roughly $75,000 to $123,000 — meaning Chinese buyers now get Cadillac’s full-size flagship for nearly half the old sticker.

Of course, this CT6 isn’t the same beast that prowled American freeways with a twin-turbo V6 or a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Under the hood sits a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 233 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It’s a more modest setup, but Cadillac says refinements to its Magnetic Ride Control system keep the big sedan feeling composed and confident. The adaptive dampers — standard across all trims — continuously adjust via magnetorheological fluid and electromagnets, paired with a double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension to balance comfort and control.

Three trims make up the lineup, ranging from the base model to versions priced at 309,900 yuan ($43,500) and 329,900 yuan ($46,300). For 2026, the most eye-catching option might be inside: a Cloud Tranquility White interior that wraps the cabin in bright leather and brushed aluminum trim. It’s Cadillac meets Shanghai chic.

Front and center inside is a 33-inch curved 9K display — the same high-resolution panel found in Cadillac’s newest models — powered by the brand’s latest operating system and capable of over-the-air updates. Buyers can also tick the box for Super Cruise, GM’s semi-autonomous driving suite, which relies on a network of six cameras, six millimeter-wave radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. Notably absent? LiDAR, which has become something of a badge of honor among China’s luxury EVs and tech-laden sedans.

Rounding out the cabin experience is a 19-speaker AKG sound system (yes, with headrest-mounted speakers), active noise cancellation, configurable ambient lighting, and the expected modern conveniences like wireless charging and a carpet of aluminum trim.

Despite the upgrades and bargain pricing, the CT6’s role in Cadillac’s Chinese portfolio remains small. Through the first half of the year, the company sold just 209 examples, proof that even in the world’s largest car market, not every luxury flagship finds its audience. Still, the CT6’s persistence feels almost romantic — a stately survivor from a time when Cadillac measured success in sedans, not SUVs.

So, while America moved on, China kept the flame alive. The CT6 may no longer be Cadillac’s global flagship, but in Shanghai showrooms, it’s a quiet reminder of what used to make the crest and wreath great — long, low, and still unmistakably Cadillac.

Source: Cadillac

News

Cadillac’s Sedan Lineup Shrinks—But the CT5 Will Live On (with Gas Power!)

Sedans keep vanishing from American roads, and Cadillac’s lineup is the latest casualty of that ongoing extinction. After axing the CTS and CT6 a few years ago, the brand will lose two more nameplates when production of the CT4 and CT5 wraps up in 2026. But before you cue the funeral procession, there’s good news buried in the fine print: the CT5 isn’t dead yet.

Cadillac has confirmed that the CT4 and CT5 will both end production after the 2026 model year, with the smaller CT4 bowing out in June and the CT5 lasting through December. And while the CT4 is officially done for, a next-generation CT5 is already in the pipeline—and it’s sticking with good old-fashioned internal combustion.

In a statement to Motor1, Cadillac said it “will continue with a next-generation internal combustion engine vehicle.” That’s music to the ears of enthusiasts still clutching their gas cards while the industry rushes headlong into the EV era.

The new CT5 will be built at GM’s Lansing Grand River Assembly plant in Michigan—the same factory that currently assembles both sedans and once produced the Chevrolet Camaro. That shared DNA isn’t just trivia; the Camaro’s platform underpinnings helped make the CT5 one of the best-handling luxury sedans in its class.

News of the brand’s future sedan strategy first surfaced on CadillacVClub.com, which published a letter from Cadillac VP John Roth. In it, Roth wrote that Cadillac is “well positioned to adapt its portfolio to meet customer demand by offering the luxury of choice.” Translation: Cadillac isn’t giving up on gasoline just yet, even as it pushes deeper into its all-electric future.

Exactly when the next-gen CT5 will debut remains unclear. The letter mentions “a future model year,” which likely points to a 2027 launch window, though the wording leaves Cadillac some wiggle room if timelines shift. Given the industry’s current turbulence—supply chains, regulations, and the EV transition—it’s a smart bit of flexibility.

And Cadillac would be wise to keep the CT5 alive. Through the first nine months of this year, the larger sedan has outsold the CT4 by a three-to-one margin, with CT5 sales climbing 10.7 percent while the CT4 slid 17 percent. Clearly, if there’s still life in Cadillac’s sedan lineup, it’s beating in the CT5’s chest.

There’s no official mention yet of a CT5-V or CT5-V Blackwing, but with Cadillac openly committing to a gas-powered successor, enthusiasts are already crossing their fingers. After all, if the next CT5 keeps room under the hood for a big V-8—or even a hot twin-turbo V-6—it might just carry the torch for old-school performance a little longer.

So yes, sedans may be fading. But in Cadillac’s world, at least one four-door still refuses to go quietly.

Source: Motor1