Cadillac cooks up more alphabet soup

Cadillac's next wave of product introductions and redesigns will gradually usher in the brand's new naming system, with sedans taking the prefix "CT," crossovers using "XT" and numbers designating their size and position in the hierarchy. The new entries aim to position Cadillac for more head-to-head competition against German luxury brands.

Small sedan (CT2?): Cadillac boss Johan de Nysschen has cited the lack of an entry-level sedan as a key reason for Cadillac's sales slump. But Cadillac's answer to the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA will arrive much later than he'd like. Cadillac hopes to get an edge on those front-wheel-drive rivals by offering rear-wheel drive on the sedan, which isn't expected until the first half of 2018.

ATS (CT3?): The compact sedan that debuted in September 2012 will get a refresh in the second half of 2016, when it also should see the addition of a Vsport top-trim model. A redesign is scheduled for showrooms by mid-2018. 

ATS convertible (CT4?): The ATS-V performance sedan and coupe were launched in the late spring. GM had been holding off on a convertible, but the engineering for a droptop was baked into the car's development. Expect to see a topless model by late 2017 or early 2018.

CTS (CT5): The CTS-V track-ready performance sedan will roll out this fall. A re-engineering of the CTS is due for the 2017 model year, when an eight-speed transmission could make its way across most of the lineup (it's available only on Vsport models now). A redesign is slated for 2019, when the car will be renamed the CT5. 

XTS: The handsome, fwd sedan that debuted in spring of 2012 was always intended to appease loyal Cadillac buyers as the brand transitioned to a more performance-based, rwd lineup. Even with the arrival of the large CT6 by early 2016, the XTS should live into 2018 and possibly beyond, thanks mostly to strong sales in China and demand from livery fleets.

ELR: Despite light sales, the edgy plug-in hybrid coupe is scheduled to live on into 2018 and possibly longer. 

CT6: GM is slated to start production of the large, lightweight sedan in December. A plug-in hybrid is expected sometime by early 2017. A diesel version could bow in 2019. 

Flagship sedan (CT7?): The CT6 that hits showrooms by early 2016 is as large as a BMW 7 series (short wheelbase) but is not the 7-series/Mercedes S-class fighter that Cadillac executives have discussed. That car won't be ready until closer to the end of the decade, de Nysschen has said. 

Subcompact crossover (XT1?): A small crossover -- think Buick Encore-size -- isn't expected to go into production until the first half of 2019, ceding a huge head start on a fast-growing market to the likes of the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. GM plans to make the petite crossover at its Orion Assembly plant near Detroit, industry sources say. 

Compact crossover (XT3?): A compact crossover, slotted below the SRX, is due sometime in late 2017 or early 2018. 

XT5: Production of the midsize crossover, which replaces the SRX, is set for the first quarter of 2016. Recent spy shots show evolutionary styling changes, with a bolder front end and more sculpted side panels. A 2.0-liter turbo is a good bet for the base engine. GM's new 3.6-liter V-6 is a likely option, matching the only displacement option on the current SRX. 

Large crossover (XT6?): A large cross-over, to be slotted between the XT5 and the Escalade SUV, is scheduled for the second half of 2017 as a 2018 model. A V-series entry based on this vehicle is possible (de Nysschen has talked about his desire for a Porsche Cayenne Turbo fighter). 

Escalade: The popular SUV should get a 10-speed transmission in 2017, a rwd gearbox being jointly developed by GM and Ford Motor Co. That would follow the eight-speed tranny added for the 2015 model year. Its name won't be touched.