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Cadillac CT6 refresh has hints of Escala

Almost a year after Cadillac showed its stunning Escala concept at Pebble Beach, we're finally seeing some of that car's influence on production cars. These spy shots reveal that the CT6 will undergo a mild refresh, and despite the camouflage, we can make out details that show it will have looks more in line with the concept. One of the defining characteristics of the Escala were narrow, horizontal headlights, while the current CT6 has long, vertical lamps that go up the tops of the fenders. This prototype seems to split the difference. The bases of the lights terminate higher up on the fascia, emulating the Escala, but still travel up the fenders. It also appears that the LED accent lights remain, but it's possible they've been separated from the main lamps to become more like the concept. The grille has also been revised. It's hard to make out the exact shape, but the insert is the same type of mesh as the Escala's, with little highlights that look like miniature Cadillac crests. The full-size, full-color crest also appears to sit higher in the grille, which is another nod toward the concept. The lower grille in the front bumper also looks larger and more angular. That doesn't really lean toward either model, but should give the car an edgier look. The rest of the car looks generally the same as the current model. Even the tail shows little indication of changes. It's possible that the rear taillights could have an Escala-like horizontal section at the top of the trunk lid, but there's nothing visible on this prototype that would confirm that change either way. Since this is a relatively mild refresh, we would expect to see it fully revealed early next year. Related Video:

Why does this Cadillac fob seem to be for a mid-engine roadster?

Is GM bringing back its Caddied-up Corvette sibling, the Cadillac XLR — only this time based on the mid-engine Corvette? That's the question posed by photos of a wedge-shaped Cadillac key fob someone provided to The Drive. The buttons show a trunk — and also a frunk. So, mid-engine, unless the fob goes with an EV that has its motors and other electrical bits scattered to the wheels and elsewhere. Also, there's a button to operate a droptop. And the car profile on the fob is Corvette-like. All of which makes for some pretty great speculation. Except that Cadillac's way back from the failures of its sedan-centric lineup was thought to be through SUVs such as the new XT4 compact crossover, the XT5 and the somewhere-in-testing three-row XT6. Plus, the XLR, which was produced between 2003 and 2009, hit its sales peak in 2005 of just 3,730 cars, or about one-tenth the sales volume of the Corvette. So it's hard to imagine there's a vast untapped market out there for the luxury roadster — plus the XLR's demographic of well-to-do grandpas is dying off, or at least thinks it is. So a resurrected XLR would seem to be an unlikely savior. A lot's happening with GM's luxury brand — the debut of the XT4 at long last, a new boss, a thinning of the sedan herd but expansion of the V's, a backtrack to Detroit after its New York sojourn, the cash-cow Escalade under direct assault from the fine new Lincoln Navigator, and the impressive performance of its Super Cruise technology. But an XLR? So what is this fob's story? The Drive speculates it's a universal test fob and the buttons don't necessarily mean a thing, or that somebody stuck a Caddy emblem on it just to yank our chains. Who's to say. What would you like it to mean? Related Video:

2020 Cadillac XT6 Review & Buying Guide | Sneaking in through the back

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 is arriving late to the party, literally decades after some of its rivals. It's a new, three-row luxury crossover that serves as a much-needed, more-modern and less ostentatious family hauler than the Escalade (which is getting overhauled next year, by the way). The question about the XT6, then, is it fashionably late? The XT6 is indeed quite handsome and refined -- we thought it looked particularly excellent in one our test car's Red Horizon Tintcoat. There's a classic sophistication to it that evokes Cadillacs of the 1960s rather than the overwrought and borderline-tacky designs of other eras (including recent ones). We think the exterior design will age quite well, especially in light of some competitors. However, we're also not sure it's distinctly a Cadillac. Worse, the interior is drab, unimaginative, and blighted with unremarkable materials. A Volvo XC90 and Lincoln Aviator instantly look and feel more special, while a range-topping Hyundai Palisade isn't as far behind as the price gap would indicate. The driving experience also leaves something to be desired. Besides the ho-hum engine, the XT6 has neither the sharp handling of Cadillac's recent sedans nor the stately ride comfort one also might expect given the brand's past. Overall, the XT6 sneaks in through the back of the party rather than making a grand entrance; an unremarkable effort in a toughly contested segment. What's new for 2020? The XT6 is an all-new model and fills a gap in Cadillac's lineup. What's the XT6's interior and in-car technology like? Answering this question is all about perspective. In a vacuum, the XT6 interior seems nicely put together, its leather is soft and features are in abundance. The range-topping trim's gold carbon fiber trim is particularly interesting. If you sat in one after a Buick Enclave, the step up would be obvious. However, come from a Lincoln Aviator or Volvo XC90, to cite two excellent examples of the breed, and the difference is stark in terms of design and materials quality (there are too many hard plastics throughout). The XT6 quite simply isn't as cool, isn't as luxurious and doesn't seem to justify its price tag. At least features content is strong with six USB ports, wireless charging, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and satellite radio all included along with a panoramic sunroof and various driver assistance technologies. Other brands nickel-and-dime you with this sort of content.