In 1981, Cadillac announced on the cover of their full-line brochure that they were "Answering today's needs with tomorrow's technology." While the needs of buyers in 2018 may be a tad different than those of buyers 37 years ago, the sentiment which backed up that statement is as fervent as ever at Cadillac House. For those who cast doubt on that claim, just sneak a glance at the 2018 CT6, Cadillac's flagship sedan.
What's New for 2018
It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's Super Cruise! For 2018, buyers can now equip their CT6 with Super Cruise, Cadillac's latest innovative example of tomorrow's technology. While the name might sound like marketing shtick, the handle is indeed apt: this is a system which offers fully autonomous freeway driving at speeds of up to 85 mph. Simply pick a lane and get up to speed, and once the Super Cruise icon appears on the dash, press the appropriate button on the steering wheel. That's it - the big Cadillac will then pilot itself along the highway while handling all braking, steering and acceleration duties as needed. Just don't try to read the paper or scroll through Facebook – the system demands drivers keep their eyes on the road, and will emit audible alerts along with seat vibrations to restore a driver's attention if it catches them looking away for too long. Still, Super Cruise is notable in that it is the first system from a legacy automaker that lets drivers keep their hands off the wheel as long as the system is in control.
Other than the availability of Super Cruise, there are no significant changes for 2018.
Choosing Your Cadillac CT6
Four trim levels abound for the CT6: Base, Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Platinum. Rear-wheel drive is standard on Base and Luxury trims, with all-wheel drive an option; the top two trims are exclusively all-wheel drive. Rear-drivers are powered by a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four that makes 265 horsepower, while the AWD cars are upgraded to a 335-horse 3.6-liter V6. A twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 puts out 404 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque, making it the closest thing to a hot-rod CT6, but only if you grab an all-wheel-drive CT6 Luxury, Premium Luxury, or Platinum.
That said, don't mistake this saloon for a CTS-V. First and foremost, this is a luxury car, and the options list speaks to that purpose without a stutter. Consider, for instance, the availability of a whopping 34-speaker Bose sound system, or the night-vision option that uses infrared technology to see objects beyond the illumination of the headlights. There is also the rear camera mirror that usurps the traditional rearview mirror with a wide-lens camera that eliminates blind spots, and the Platinum models boast 8-way power rear seats with 15 massage settings.
Nine paint colors and two interior hues are on offer, and numerous wheels ranging from 18 to 20 inches are available.
A car of this size and stature needs to move with some authority, and the 2.0-liter turbo is unlikely to give that impression. If one of the lower two trims catches your fancy, do not hesitate to upgrade to the 3.6-liter V6, whose 70 additional horses will give the CT6 more appropriate levels of thrust.