Cadillac CT5 2020 spied testing in Melbourne

Camouflaged Cadillac spotted in Melbourne. (image credit: Matt Harradine)
Andrew Chesterton

Contributing Journalist

2 min read

A heavily camouflaged Cadillac sedan has been spotted prowling suburban Victoria, reigniting fervour among local fans keen for a long-rumoured Australian launch.

While it is impossible to confirm, what with the thick layering of camouflaged wrapping, our keen-eyed spotter was convinced the car in question was the 2020 CT5 (the first time one has been spotted in Australia), which was parked outside the Woolworths supermarket in Vermont, Victoria.

The Cadillac was sporting Victorian numberplates, with only the front grille, headlights and DRL banks poking through the heavy camouflage. At the rear, only the rear lights and quad exhaust tips are visible. The CT5 is an incoming luxury sedan from the American brand - the size of a BMW 5 Series - which is expected to be powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.2-litre V8 when it goes on sale in the States in 2019.

The heavily camouflaged Cadillac popped into the local Woolworths supermarket. (image credit: Matt Harradine)
The heavily camouflaged Cadillac popped into the local Woolworths supermarket. (image credit: Matt Harradine)

But local fans are being told to once again cool their jets. Holden says the host of Cadillacs being spotted in and around Melbourne are actually here as part of GM’s “global workshare program”, making use of Holden’s recently upgraded emissions lab and proving ground for engineering and powertrain testing. 

"This is one of the many cars we’re testing as part of GM's global workshare project," says Holden spokesman Mark Flintoff. "The proving ground has recently had close to $20m invested in its emissions lab and in the resurfracing of its banked circular loop, and the engineering and powertrain teams are putting it to good use.”

And so the next the car Holden launches in Australia won’t be a screaming Cadillac CTS-V, then? 

“The next vehicle Holden will launch is the Acadia - a large seven-seat SUV - in Q4,” Flintoff says.

Are you keen on a Caddy? Tell us in the comments below

Andrew Chesterton

Contributing Journalist

CarsGuide contributing journalist Andrew Chesterton is an award-winning Australian automotive reporter with more than 20 years of experience across newspapers, magazines, digital publishing and automotive corporate communications. Andrew began his journalism career at Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph, reporting across business, courts, crime, property and state politics before moving into automotive journalism. He joined Top Gear Australia as its online editor in 2008, later being appointed editor of Top Gear New Zealand. He subsequently worked as an assistant editor during the Australian launch of the Daily Mail Australia, and as communications manager at FCA Australia, now Stellantis. His experience on both sides of the media industry gives him an unrivalled understanding of the automotive industry, and the relationship between car manufacturers, the media, and Australian consumers. Andrew’s work has appeared across leading automotive, news, business, luxury, travel and lifestyle publications, including CarsGuide, EV Central, DMARGE, The Sydney Morning Herald, Marie Claire, Top Gear, GQ Australia, The Australian, WISH Magazine, Boss Hunting, The West Australian, The Nightly, Women’s Day Australia, Carsales, NRMA, Men’s Health, CEO Magazine, Australian Financial Review and more.   Andrew specialises in industry news, vehicle reviews, policy,  performance and luxury cars, electric vehicles, automotive technology, EVs hybrid and plug-in hybrids, and the broader Australian new-car marketplace. In 2025, Andrew was named Newspress Australia News Journalist of the Year and was a finalist for the overall Journalist of the Year award. Earlier honours include Website of the Year wins at the Australian Magazine Awards and ACP Awards, the ACP Rising Star Award and recognition in the Bauer Media and News Ltd journalism awards. Expertise Electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles Performance, luxury and supercars New-car reviews and road testing Australian automotive industry and new-car sales Chinese automotive brands and emerging manufacturers Utes, SUVs and family vehicles Automotive technology Policy Awards 2025 Newspress Australia News Journalist of the Year Featured Publications CarsGuide EV Central DMARGE The Sydney Morning Herald Marie Claire Top Gear GQ Australia The Australian WISH Magazine Boss Hunting The West Australian The Nightly Women’s Day Australia Carsales NRMA Men’s Health CEO Magazine Australian Financial Review The Daily Telegraph The Sunday Telegraph Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
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