Cadillac has introduced the newest member of the family ahead of its official debut on Monday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Meet the 2020 Cadillac XT6.
And yes, it’s another SUV. Cadillac’s designation system gives the game away before you even see the XT6, which will take position above the new XT4 and the XT5 on the luxury automaker’s roster. Only the venerable Escalade will outrank it.
t will share one feature with that bigger sibling: three rows of seats. Some 20 cm longer that the two-row XT5, the new XT6 sits on a modified version of the platform that underpins the Chevrolet Traverse and the Buick Enclave, and is about 15 cm shorter than those models. Its format more closely approximates that of the GMC Acadia.
Esthetically, there’s little doubt as to the identity of this model: it’s a Cadillac through and through. There are some tweaks, for example the more linear headlights. The vehicle is also quite large, as in wide, and this gives it a solid and imposing demeanour when at rest. The CX6 sits on standard 21-inch or available 21-inch wheels. In the rear, the L-shaped lights respect the Cadillac tradition of having a vertical orientation.
Under the hood sits a 3.6L V6 with an output of 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque; its power is transferred to the wheels via a 9-speed automatic transmission. Buyers can choose from a front-wheel-drive system, included on the base versions, or AWD as they move up the trim levels. Other engine configurations are expected but for the moment Cadillac is staying mum on details.
As for those trims, there will actually be two offered initially when the vehicle launches commercially, the Premium Luxury and the Sport. The letter will benefit from an adaptive suspension and performance settings, for example for the steering. As for the AWD, it is the same as found on the XT4; it consists of a dual-clutch system that allows for disengaging the rear wheels in order to gain better fuel economy.
Inside, a big focus continues to be luxury, no surprise there, but also notable is the different accents the cabin is fitted with depending on the trim chosen: the Premium Luxury gets wood finishing, while the Sport gets carbon fibre. The 8-inch multimedia screen includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Buyers can add numerous options to their purchase like heated rear seats, premium audio system, softer leather and so on.
In terms of safety, no surprise either to see a comprehensive package included with the XT6. Features include automatic emergency braking, rear collision alert with automatic braking, a night vision system and a 360-degree camera. On the other hand, Cadillac’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous drive system is conspicuous by its absence. We do think it’s just a matter of time before that system is included, however, given that the division has previously said that all of its models would feature it by 2020.
The 2020 Cadillac XT6 is expected at North American dealerships this summer.
