Sedans to fight back in the EV era

Stand by for sedans to make a fightback in the electric era against the “necessary evil” that are SUVs.

That’s the prediction of General Motors global design chief and Holden hero Mike Simcoe.

Speaking to Australian media ahead of the local launch of GM’s Cadillac luxury brand in late 2024, Simcoe was upbeat about the prospects for traditional three-box sedans, which have taken a sales hammering globally at the hands of SUVs over the last 20 years.

He primarily cited the aerodynamic efficiency critical to achieving optimal range from battery-electric vehicles being easier to achieve from a low-slung sedan than a high-riding SUV.

But he felt there were some other contributing factors too.

“Sedans aren’t dead,” said the mastermind behind the Holden Commodore VT, VE and reborn Monaro.

“Even where it’s a bit more of struggle because of battery height, everyone is trying to do [EV] sedans or low vehicles.

“A part of that is obviously they are way better things to look at and people prefer driving them.

“But also right now about 40 to 45 per cent of the efficiency of a battery-electric vehicle is the aerodynamics.

“So if you’re pushing a brick through the air it’s using up energy.

“Take a low vehicle, whether it’s a sedan or low CUV [crossover utility vehicle] or whatever. It is a much easier thing to do.”

Simcoe also made the point that the need to deliver slick aero didn’t preclude cars from having strong design values.

“Anyone who tells you that to do an efficient vehicle you have to do a lozenge on wheels is not the case,” he said. “You can do very efficient vehicles that have style as well.”

While Cadillac was relaunched as an EV-only vehicle brand with the handbuilt Celestiq luxury saloon as its flagship, every electric model it has released since then has been an SUV.

That includes the Lyriq, which will be Cadillac’s launch model in Australia, the smaller Optiq, the larger Vistiq and the gigantic Escalade IQ.

But Simcoe was unequivocal about Cadillac’s sedan future beyond the current CT4 and CT5 ICE models. “We will certainly have a sedan in the portfolio at some point,” he confirmed.

Perhaps significantly, Cadillac has also this year teased the V Series Opulent Velocity concept, which could be an electric take on the V Series performance sedans that have been around for 20 years and include focussed iterations such as the current supercharged CT5-V Blackwing (pictured).

Or it could be the hypercar Simcoe has previously hinted at.

Simcoe is philosophical about the rise of the SUV.

“SUVs are a necessary evil. They have taken over the market because as the world around you starts to grow you want to be part of that as well.

“With everyone sitting higher in vehicles you have to do it too. So it’s comfort on the road when you’re driving, security and particularly it’s a comfortable, rational purchase.

“[But] for those who can afford it there is always a second car that isn’t an SUV.”

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