General Motors Rules Out Cadillac Corvette
General Motors’ luxury brand Cadillac is undergoing another significant transformation, but its flagship model will be an ultra-exclusive, ultra-luxury fastback rather than a V8-powered supercar.
According to a report by CNBC, GM president Mark Reuss has confirmed that a Cadillac version of the mid-engine Chevrolet C8 Corvette is not in the works. Reuss stated that such a vehicle wouldn’t fit into Cadillac’s new strategy and would have to share most of its components with the Chevrolet supercar.
While Reuss mentioned potential room for more specialty, Cadillac-specific vehicles beyond the ultra-luxury Celestiq, he emphasized that the premium brand would not offer a Corvette variant – a decision that contrasts with their past approach. In 2003, Cadillac launched the XLR, its first and only Corvette-based model, which preceded the C6 Corvette by a year. Although it shared the Corvette’s platform, the XLR had distinct interior and exterior styling.
The XLR initially featured a double overhead cam 4.6-litre Northstar V8, producing less power and torque than the base C6 Corvette’s 6.0-litre ‘LS2’ V8. For 2006, Cadillac introduced the XLR-V, powered by a supercharged 4.4-litre version of the Northstar V8. Despite its higher performance, the XLR experiment was discontinued in 2009 due to poor sales and GM’s impending bankruptcy.
Cadillac has since released models priced above US$100,000, culminating in the Celestiq, which starts at around US$340,000. While they’ve offered high-performance variants like the CT5-V Blackwing, these have primarily been sedans. Cadillac’s decision to abandon the XLR roadster in 2009 left a gap in their lineup, with their most recent concept, the Sollei, potentially filling this void in the future.
The Sollei, a flagship electric convertible based on the Celestiq, could be Cadillac’s first convertible since the XLR’s discontinuation. While Cadillac previously aimed to go electric-only by 2030, they continue to offer high-performance sports sedans and are set to join the Formula 1 grid in 2026.
Reuss’ hints at other Cadillac-exclusive specialty models potentially joining the Celestiq suggest a possible production future for the Sollei concept. Should it be built, it would mark Cadillac’s return to the convertible market after a long hiatus.
