Cadillac’s Future: Say Goodbye to Gas-Powered CT4 and CT5

The end of ICE

Cadillac’s push into electrification is gaining momentum, and it looks like two of its sportiest sedans, the CT4 and CT5, are on the chopping block. According to a report from GM Authority, the brand has no plans to replace these models with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Instead, Cadillac will roll out fully electric successors, likely on a new “BEV Prime” platform that promises more premium underpinnings than GM’s standard BEV3 architecture.

A shift away from gas-powered sedans

The CT4 and CT5 have been bright spots in Cadillac’s lineup, offering sharp handling, powerful engines, and in the case of the Blackwing variants, manual transmissions — an increasing rarity in the modern automotive landscape. However, sales figures in 2024 weren’t encouraging. The CT4 saw a 27% drop, moving only 1,398 units, while the CT5 fared slightly better, selling 4,128 units but still seeing a decline of 6% year-over-year.

Despite a refresh for the 2025 model year, Cadillac appears ready to move away from these models entirely. The replacements, expected to arrive after 2026, will reportedly be electric only, a decision that underscores GM’s commitment to an EV future even as demand for battery-powered vehicles shows signs of slowing.

What’s next for Cadillac’s sedans?

While details are scarce, the new electric sedans will reportedly be similar in size to the outgoing CT5 and the discontinued CT6. However, they won’t be direct replacements. Instead, they are expected to adopt a sportback-style design influenced by Cadillac’s Celestiq ultra-luxury sedan and the Escala concept. This move would align Cadillac’s sedan styling with the rest of its expanding EV lineup, which includes the Lyriq, Escalade IQ, Vistiq, and Optiq.

One big question remains: Will Cadillac retain the CT4 and CT5 nameplates? The brand’s recent EVs have moved away from alphanumeric names, and it’s possible the new sedans will follow suit. That could signal a significant rebranding effort for Cadillac’s performance-oriented offerings.

The end of an era

For enthusiasts, the loss of the high-performance CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwing models is particularly disappointing. The CT5-V Blackwing’s supercharged V8 and the CT4-V Blackwing’s twin-turbo V6 helped these cars stand out in a shrinking sports sedan market. While future electric replacements will likely be faster, they won’t have the visceral engagement of their gas-powered predecessors — especially with the likely absence of a manual transmission.

Final thoughts

Still, Cadillac is betting big on an electric future, predicting that EVs will account for 30-35% of its sales by 2025. Whether that gamble pays off remains to be seen, especially as the overall market for EVs faces challenges like affordability, charging infrastructure, and buyer hesitation. For now, it appears the days of Cadillac’s internal combustion sports sedans are numbered. Fans of the CT4 and CT5 — especially in their Blackwing forms — might want to grab one while they still can.