Cadillac, commonly known as an all-electric luxury car brand Down Under, has revealed the second-generation Cadillac XT5 PHEV in China, which was developed and built by the SAIC-GM joint venture.
The company says the new model uses a dual-motor plug-in hybrid system with a 5C-capable lithium battery, which has an unusually large capacity of 35.5kWh for a PHEV. These figures suggest this mid-size crossover SUV operate more like a range-extender setup, although Cadillac has not described it that way.
XT5 lineup gets a semi-autonomous driving system
The biggest technology change in the second-generation XT5 PHEV is its roof-mounted LiDAR sensor that offers drivers an advanced Level 2++ semi-autonomous driving system.
Chinese call this driving assistance system Xiao Yao Zhi Xing, which translates to “Xiaoyao Smart Driving” and is a hyper-advanced alternative to North America’s Super Cruise feature. This technology also makes it the world’s first luxury hybrid SUV to feature AI-based Momenta’s R7 World Model.
The setup allows the XT5 PHEV drivers to navigate city roads while handling situations such as:
- Vehicles cutting in
- Roundabouts
- Pedestrian crossings
- Lane changes
The company says the system should provide more natural responses across these situations.
Big battery for a PHEV
The XT5 PHEV uses a 35.5kWh battery alongside its 1.5-litre turbocharged engine producing 110kW and dual electric motors; the front motor produces 160kW, while the rear motor produces 110kW. According to GM Authority, the new-gen PHEV offers an electric range of 155 km (CLTC) on a full charge; its full combined range remains unknown.
Chinese government filings mention an engine and two electric motors;
This model also stands out within the lineup because it uses a specialised electric architecture that accommodates its advanced semi-autonomous driving technology.
Also read: New Denza N8 gains a massive 1000km electric range in China
Exterior: New face and cleaner rear
Cadillac has given the PHEV an updated exterior – the revised front end gets a new grille with illuminated accents, following the design direction seen on the Lyriq, Optiq and Vistiq.
An active shutter lower intake sits underneath the grille and also gets aerodynamically optimised wheels and red brake callipers. The revised styling also goes clean, without visible exhaust cut-outs.
The updated model also gets unique turquoise lighting elements as seen in the images.
Australia is not getting the PHEV
The new XT5 PHEV does not currently have a path to Australian showrooms. GM-owned Cadillac keeps its traditional internal-combustion and hybrid vehicles on separate platforms from its dedicated EVs, with different naming conventions across the line-ups.
Cadillac currently sells three all-electric luxury SUVs in Australia:
- Cadillac Optiq: Entry-level midsize five-seat luxury SUV
- Cadillac Lyriq: Large five-seat luxury SUV
- Cadillac Vistiq: Large three-row luxury six-seat SUV
The company’s focus remains on a zero-emission, all-electric luxury line-up for now.
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