Cadillac SRX becomes XT5

General Motors luxury brand Cadillac has staged the surprise reveal of its all-new XT5 at the Dubai motor show overnight, ahead of its expected debut at next week's Los Angeles show.

The brand-new American mid-size SUV (whose name stands for Crossover Touring 5) is a replacement for the six-year-old SRX and follows the upcoming CT6 large sedan in adopting Cadillac’s new naming strategy, with all future crossovers to wear the 'XT' prefix.

Aimed directly at mid-size luxury SUVs like the Audi Q6, BMW and new Mercedes-Benz GLC, the XT5 enters production next year in the US and China, where it will be available with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine.

Weighing at least 1814kg, it is based on a new platform that helps it shed 126kg over the SRX it replaces (and undercut the Q5 by a claimed 45kg), and is powered by GM’s new-generation 3.6-litre petrol V6 from the ATS and CTS, offering 231kW and 365Nm.

The XT5 measures 4815mm long, 1903mm wide, 1675mm high and rides on a 2857mm wheelbase – about 50mm longer than the SRX's. Wheel sizes will be 18- and 20-inch.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto infotainment and an eight-speed automatic transmission will be standard, and front-drive and 'twin-clutch' AWD configurations available.

GM claims an extra 81mm of rear legroom over the SRX, which has notched up almost 57,000 US sales to October this year – up 25 per cent year on year.

“The all-new XT5 not only enters the most popular segment in the worldwide luxury auto market, it is the first of four new crossovers from Cadillac,” said Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen.

“It’s pivotal to our ongoing growth, which is why we’ve developed XT5 from the inside out to provide customers more space, more technology, more luxury and more efficiency.”

Cadillac executive director of global design, former Holden designer Andrew Smith, said the XT5 design is based on a philosophy of clean, modern elegance and craftsmanship.

“Our team continues to evolve the design language of Cadillac," he said. "The XT5 has a great stance, with wheels further to the corners and overhangs reduced.

“We believe that luxury crossover customers particularly focus on interior design and materials. This design direction is predicated on modern craftsmanship and the artistic integration of technology.”

The XT5 is the first of four all-new SUVs from Cadillac in coming years, some of which may become available in Australia next decade if GM's global premium brand finally establishes a business case for right-hand drive markets.