The 2016 CT6 is Cadillac's latest luxury sedan, designed to occupy a peculiar spot between the likes of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the larger S-Class luxobarge. The newly New York-based company likes to compare the dimensions of the CT6 to a short-wheelbase 7-Series, though in terms of size the new sedan is remarkably close to an existing but different Cadillac: the XTS. So what, exactly, is new about yet another large luxury sedan from Cadillac? Agility, connectivity and indulgence are the three main themes propounded by the company, even if at first glance the new CT6 only gently advances the Art and Science design language introduced in the CTS a distant 13 years ago. We've had a generation to get used to the new look of Cadillac, and the CT6's looks are evolutionary rather than revolutionary, as the company itself will readily concede. If you look closely, Cadillac has actually toned down the brightness of the chrome in designing the new sedan, and while the familiar elements are still there the company has tried to achieve an understated elegance in sculpting the CT6, opting for balance over brashness. While the CT6 is unlikely to be mistaken for anything from Germany, at least from the outside, one engine you won't find (at least not yet) in the new sedan is a V8. Instead, the CT6 starts off its powerplant lineup with a 2.0-liter inline-four producing 265 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, with a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 taking up the middle position with 335 hp and 285 lb-ft of torque on tap. The top engine for now, before the plug-in hybrid and the V8 arrive, is a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 good for 404 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. All three engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which can be controlled via paddles when the need to battle other luxury sedans arises. A new lightweight body and chassis should give the CT6 more than a fighting chance. The Caddy joins aluminum and high-strength steel parts to achieve impressive weight savings -- it’s lighter than midsize competitors from Team Germany, as the company is keen to point out -- and to lend the chassis a characteristic that Cadillac sedans have strived to develop only in this century: agility. Cadillac designed the CT6 from the ground up to use not only all-wheel drive but also four-wheel steering and Magnetic Ride Control to mask its exterior dimensions, which are not exactly European-sized. Four-wheel steering operates in two modes depending on the car's speed, giving the CT6 a tighter turning radius when maneuvering at low speeds and improving chassis response at higher speeds. The CT6’s interior reinforces the kinship to the CTS, with a similar design theme using layered materials; it is a bit too busy for our taste. Our test car features not one but two different wood grains on its dashboard. Three different colors of leather cover various surfaces in the car, including a curious swath of perforated material that surrounds the infotainment screen and resembles seat leather. Even as Cadillac’s exterior-design team seems to have nailed simple elegance, its interior people continue to try too hard. An equally important ingredient that Cadillac emphasizes in the CT6 is connectivity. There is connectivity everywhere -- even in the rearview mirror, which is now a video screen connected to a rear-facing camera. Don't worry; an old-fashioned glass mirror can still be had in the lower trim levels, though Cadillac has aimed to raise its game when it comes to safety features and infotainment. The CUE infotainment system can be controlled with a touchpad positioned next to the gear lever or via the touchscreen itself, while rear-seat passengers enjoy two infotainment screens that deploy from the backs of the front seats, lest they become disconnected from their virtual world. Actually, Cadillac will let buyers decide just how much technology they want to let into their lives. With a starting price of $54,490 for the 2.0-liter version, there is plenty of room to add beefier engines and options should buyers reject the whole concept of understated luxury and instead want to build a luxury tank. Cadillac hopes the edgy and angled CT6 will help return the automaker to the realm of full-size luxury cars worth considering. The CT6 features an aluminum-intensive structure as well as high-tech goodies such as LED lighting, massaging seats, and a super-premium audio system. Powertrains include a 265-hp turbo four, a 335-hp V-6, or a 404-hp twin-turbo V-6—all with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The V-6 models have all-wheel drive; the four-cylinder has rear-wheel drive only.

• published: 21 Mar 2016
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