Last year, Chevrolet pulled the sheet off the all-new Colorado, which is now currently launching in Thailand and other countries with a pair of Duramax diesel engines. The first is a base 2.5L mill producing 150 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. The more powerful choice is a 2.8L turbodiesel that promises 180 hp and a heavy 346 lb.-ft. of torque. Fast forward to the 2011 North American International Auto Show, when GM North American President Mark Reuss announced that there will be a diesel variant for the Cadillac ATS in the future, though information on its displacement was kept secret. But the cutting-edge Caddy wouldn’t possibly have anything in common with a pickup truck sold in Asia… could it? As we found out, they will share a significant bond, the size of a 2.8L Duramax diesel engine with 346 lb-ft of mind-altering perception.
Yes, exclusive GM Authority sources have shared with us that it will be this very engine that will power the Cadillac ATS diesel sometime in the future, maybe 1.5-2 years from now. Notably, the engine won’t carry the “Duramax” badge, but will have a wreath and crest in its place. And while we don’t know exactly know how much power the 2.8L diesel will produce in GM’s Alpha architecture, or what kind of fuel economy numbers we’ll see, it’s a safe bet that neither will be disappointing.
Who knows, we might see the diesel outrun the powerful 321 hp, 271 lb.-ft. LFX V6 engine when it comes to a 0-60 sprint. And while we’re fantasizing, it would be a very unique combination if Cadillac ATS engineers went ahead and paired the oil burner with magnetic ride control and Brembo brakes.
Comments
This engine I’m guessing
http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2011/Oct/1005_diesels
great news – if this diesel engine is coming to the US for the Caddy, that should increase the odds the Colorado get’s it here as well – my truck needs (convenient size w/good gas mileage with the torque to handle the occasional weekend tow) will be served!
Very eager to see this set up would be new page for caddy play book to offer car with 6spd man
so this would compete with the 3 series diesel?
Why’s good stuff like this always two years away?
If Cadillac can beat BMW, Mercedes and Audi to market with a diesel alternative for the ATS, it will be an important marker demonstrating that GM can beat the Germans on home (US) turf.
For much too long, the Germans have been reluctant to bring their clean, super-efficient 4-cylinder turbodiesel engines to the US market in the volume 3-Series, C-Class and A4 compact luxury offerings. The usual excuse is that no one will buy them because diesel power plants cost more and diesel fuel prices are high. However, a 30% bump in fuel economy may catch the attention of customers looking for a sports/luxury car that can still achieve great fuel economy and that isn’t a hybrid.
Most German cars demand premium gasoline, so diesel fuel, which routinely cost about the same as premium, shouldn’t be the psychological cost barrier it once was.
Go Cadillac, Go!
yes bring the mini-maxes here. and how a ’bout the 2.5 in the impalla as well?
Why is it 1.5-2.0 years away still? I thought it was going to be available this fall?
The ATS launches this summer, but the diesel variant is said to launch “within its current lifecycle”
If GM could produce a diesel with 260-290 hp and 400 pds plus of twist all while averaging over 28mpg combined all for under say $45k they would have a home run. The problem with the BMW 335d was to get under 48k it had to have 0 options.
The only Chevrolet I would pay $40,000+ for would need to get 40 miles gas free.
Sorry, I meant GM car.
ATS is a great looking and performing car. If GM pairs it with torguee diesel engine and manual transmission (optional) it should become the “ultimate” machine’s worthy competitor. Bring it, bring it now!