Cadillac CT6 To Receive Turbocharged, Naturally Aspirated V6 Engines
When the Cadillac CT6 hits showrooms later this year, power for the flagship will come in the form of two V6 engines.
The mills are a 3.6-liter naturally aspirated unit, and a 3-liter twin-turbo. Both engines are equipped with active fuel management and start-stop, helping to improve fuel economy when compared to the engines they will replace in other Cadillac products.
Power figures for the 3.6-liter come to 335 horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque, while the twin-turbo engine pumps out 400 horses and 400 lb-ft of torque. Both V6s will be paired with versions of General Motors’ Hydra-Matic eight-speed auto: the 8L90 for the turbocharged unit, the 8L45 for the naturally aspirated engine.
Both engines use aluminum blocks with more structuring in the bulkhead for increased rigidity; forged-steel crankshafts; polymer-coated, high-copper-content cylinder heads; cushioned chain sprockets for greater noise reduction; and a new two-pump oiling system for greater fuel efficiency and quieter operation.
Both V6s will be produced at GM’s Romulus Powertrain Operations in Romulus, Mich. — thanks to a $540-million investment to build the new engines — and will be placed under the bonnet of CT6 prior to delivery, which is set to begin between October and December of 2015.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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I think the 3.0tt engine will be fine (and with that smaller displacement, hopefully smoother and more refined than the 3.6), but I am not sure the 3.6 will have the guts to move the car. Unless it comes in under 4000 lb curb weight, while the 330ish hp is competitive, 285 lb-ft of torque may not be enough to move this much car as much as effortlessly as buyers expect. The FI competition from Jag, BMW, Audi, and Maserati all have over 330 lb ft from their sixes, and probably over a much broader curve than the NA Caddy six. While it won't be slow, I'm not sure owners of these cars will appreciate having to rev the engine more on the Caddy to get it's power. I would've thought a low pressure variant of the 3.0tt, or even a FI version of the 2.5 I4 with 300+lb-ft would've worked better. If GM were Ford or Toyota, I would've also said this would be an excellent opportunity to use a hybrid system to assist the V6, but that hasn't been GM's strong suit up to this point.
'while the twin-turbo engine pumps out 400 horses and 400 lb-ft of torque' Always makes me feel a little sorry for the gearheads I knew who spent hours putting together engines with ported and polished heads, hi po intakes, huge cams, and big carbs trying to coax that kind of power out of their engines.