Mysterious Cadillac coupe leaks out of patent office

Jul 8, 2018, 2:42am ET

Will this concept spawn a production model?

Several images of a mysterious Cadillac coupe have leaked out of the patent office. They depict a low-slung, elegant-looking two-door model with a stunning design.

Before you get too excited, keep in mind there's a very good chance we're looking at a concept car, not a model we'll see in showrooms in the near future. It looks almost ready for production but note the door mirrors are far too small to comply with safety regulations.

The front end borrows styling cues from the Escala concept without copying it, a sign Cadillac wants to avoid following most of its rivals into the pit of Russian doll styling. The back part of the car is characterized by punched-out wheel arches, a spoiler integrated into the trunk lid, and a wide diffuser. We'll reserve our final judgement until we see the real car but the patent images make it look more upscale than the ATS Coupe currently on the nation's roads.

Enthusiast website Cadillac Society uncovered the images. The proportions suggest the model could share its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Camaro, a link that would ensure it's engaging to drive on both road and track. Technical specifications aren't available yet, but the potential Camaro connection hints at what to expect. It's most likely rear-wheel drive with six- or eight-cylinder.

If Cadillac already applied for a patent, odds are it won't wait too long to show us its coupe in the metal. We'd bet on seeing it for the first time next month during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, which is the same event where the aforementioned Escala concept made its debut in 2016. If it's approved for production, it could replace the ATS