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Cadillac Announces New 3.0L Twin-Turbo LGW 400HP V6 ‘LGW’ Engine For Upcoming 2016 CT6

Cadillac today announced a new family of six-cylinder engines, which will be featured in the upcoming 2016 Cadillac CT6 full-size sport-luxury sedan. The highlight of the new engine lineup is this 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine which “leverages the latest technology to balance efficiency, performance and refinement,” in the range-topping luxury sedan, Cadillac says.

Carrying production code LGW, the 3.0-liter twin turbo engine will be mated to the 8L90E eight-speed automatic in the CT6. The combination makes 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, qualifying it as one of the most power-dense V6 engines in the world. It’s also one of the most powerful six-cylinder engines in its segment, topping BMW’s 315-horsepower 3.0L twin-turbo inline-six and Audi’s 3.0L supercharged V6. According to Cadillac, the 3.0L LGW V6 will be exclusive to its vehicles and not shared with others from among GM.

Last year, General Motors product chief Mark Reuss said that the CT6 would be “the most advanced vehicle technologically in the world,” and with the debut of the full-sizer’s new 3.0-liter twin-turbo LGW engine, we’re beginning to see what he meant. The power unit is the only one in the world to combine turbocharging, stop/start technology and cylinder deactivation to preserve fuel, a combination which by itself improved fuel economy by six percent. The engine also boasts several new features designed to improve refinement and reduce noise levels including:

  • A stronger, stiffer aluminum block with increased structure in the bulkheads for superior rigidity
  • Tough, refined rotating assembly with a stiff forged-steel crankshaft, friction-reducing polymer-coated pistons and strong high-copper-content, sinter-forged connecting rods
  • New four-cam phasing system with intermediate park technology that enhances efficiency by enabling late inlet valve closing in certain conditions
  • All-new, patented “targeted” cooling system that provides strategic cooling of the engine’s hottest areas while simultaneously fostering faster warm-up, which enhances efficiency
  • New cylinder heads that enhance combustion performance and include direct injection and feature integrated exhaust manifolds
  • Revised, simplified timing drive system with cushioned chain sprockets contributing to quieter engine operation
  • All-new oiling system which moves the pump inside the block for quieter operation. The two-stage oil pump also enhances efficiency

These features will also be present in the entire range of new Cadillac V6 engines, however the 3.0-liter engine has several specific components that help with the additional 18 psi of cylinder pressure provided by the turbochargers. To start, the 86mm bore stroke is 10 percent smaller than that in new naturally-aspirated 3.6-liter LGX, which allows for smaller and lighter pistons. There’s also larger 36mm intake valves and 29mm exhaust valves, and a lower 9.8:1 compression ratio.

The turbochargers use lightweight, low-inertia titanium-aluminide turbine wheels, similar to the ones used in the ATS-V’s twin-turbo LF4 V6. Combined with a patented low-volume charge-air cooler, the turbos help sustain peak torque from 2,500 rpm all the way to 5,000 rpm. Cadillac says the engine produces “nearly zero turbo lag” thanks to the small size of the turbos and their featherweight titanium turbines. Additionally, a single, centrally-mounted throttle body has been used instead of two separate units, which also contributes to improved engine response and torque delivery.

The new 3.0-liter V6 engine will be built alongside Cadillac’s new 3.6-liter engine at GM’s Romulus Powertrain assembly facility in Michigan. GM invested $540-million into the plant in 2013 in order to accommodate production of the new engine family.

Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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Comments

  1. Wow. Impressive. A hat tip to Cadillac for developing a true class leading engine with world class engineering to back it up.

    This is what is necessary to build the brand long-term. World class, premium features and exclusive to Cadillac.

    Does this mean a re-work to the 3.6TT to create some distance between it and the 3.0TT?

    Reply
    1. A hat tip to GM powertrain you mean. And no doubt a well deserved one. I just wish Cadillac built their own engines. I remember the days when each company or division built their own engines in house. Back when they each had an in house.. To me personally, that’s what made each company or division that GM owned special. Buick built their Nailheads, Olds built their Rocket’s, Chevrolet built their Small Blocks and their Big Blocks, and Cadillac built even Bigger Blocks! 500 CID. Stock no less.. The sourcing of a common transmission or a few small parts from GM or Delphi among the various companies was ok. The engines were the heart and soul of the companies though..

      I think if this is going to be the engine for a Cadillac car, only Cadillac should have it. Cadillac should stake claim from GM. Same with Chevrolet’s V8 and V6. Chevrolet needs to stake claim back from GM. And whatever Buick is using or will be, ditto. Sharing engines needs to go. That was the beginning of the downfall in the first place.

      Reply
      1. Everyone shares engines, unless it is a purpose built one for Lamborghini or something. Otherwise you are just wasting money trying to meet the emissions regulations we have now.

        Reply
        1. I haven’t checked ahead to see if anyone else has pointed this out, but the Audi R8 uses a detuned Lamborghini engine. Just another example though of what you guys have been saying, that everyone shares engines. Oh, and Ferrari shares engines with maserati.

          Reply
      2. Shared engines help reduce prices, and maintain long life quality. My 1995 Buick Regal has the classic normal-aspirating 231CI (3.8 L) V6 that was used in thousands of other GM vehicles, both RWD and FWD, yet it is over twenty years old, never has been serviced, still has plenty of low end torque (It idles at 650 RPM and can hold 60 MPH with less than 1700 RPM and a 4T60-E transaxle), and has no oil leaks!

        GM makes the best V6 engines in the world!

        Reply
  2. This is more like it! An EXCLUSIVE engine befitting of a genuine luxury division striving for EXCLUSIVITY and prestige!

    The 3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 should deliver on all fronts! Now let’s get a 4-cylinder, a TT V8 and potentially the “resurrected” V12 GM had planned for Cadillac about a 12 years ago!

    Cadillac is on a roll now!!!

    Reply
    1. Not going to get a V12 so let it go.

      You will get a 4 6 and 8 at some point that will be of their own.

      Reply
  3. Could make for a good SS engine in the Colorado

    Also, specs on a new version of the 3.6NA engine was released today, 335hp 284lb-ft 9% more efficient than the current 3.6L

    Reply
    1. I disagree. I’m a Chevrolet man at heart but let Chevrolet have an engineering dept. again and let them design their own engines. If they come up with a better mousetrap, that just puts more pressure on Cadillac to become even more world class. It’s a win/win. Enough of this corporate GM engine stuff. Cancel GM Powertrain entirely and give control back to the brands. And turn the brands back into real divisions or companies again.

      Breathe old school life back into this big machine once more.

      Reply
      1. Lou the same folks who make the Chevy engines will make the Cadillac and visa versa. It is all GM powertrain and they will do engines for both brands in the coming years that will serve both well and also put differenced between them.

        GM is not going to split the powertrain design all up and say these are your and these are mine. But they will be tasked with doing more advanced and more expensive engines at Cadillac to better suit the market they are in. Given the price range they will a have more room to play with in design. Some of the things they learn there will be used in the work at Chevy on any of their new models too.

        Because of the economics of scales GM is not going to make each company autonomous of GM as a whole. GM will still do much of the engineering as a corporation but they will offer more engines and models that are more different for each division. The cost to do everything as single individual companies is off the chart. But they can work well under one umbrella and still make product for each division vs. trying to make one fits all like they have been doing.

        There are no Chevy Engine guys or Cadillac engine guys or Chevy suspension guys and Cadillac Suspension guys, There are GM guys that make all the stuff needed for each division. They will do fine and how do I know this same concept was used with the GM Performance division making Chevy, Cadillac, Saturn, Pontiac and other performance models. They did a great job no matter the badge to the standard of the name. They are not integrated in these projects from the start now and not at the end trying to fix what did not get done. This is how GM operates now.

        Reply
      2. This isn’t the old days when Pontiac, Buick, Olds, Chev all had engine programs. Sharing is the name of the game, whether it’s GM, Ford, FIAT, VW

        Reply
        1. Not really, Ford shares all their engines across platforms. The v6 tt 3.0L is exclusively for Cadillac, which is stupid. Why not tune these engines for the full size trucks, like Ford has done with the 3.5L TT V6. Nope GM wants to stick to their NA OHV engines for their trucks. Ford is doing it right IMO and GM is just being stupid with its product line-up which is boring!

          Reply
      3. “Cancel GM Powertrain entirely and give control back to the brands.”

        Really? You want to break one of the world’s best powertrain engineering teams into fragments so that they can be less functional and more redundant…all for the sake of a ‘brand’? You think stellar powertains like the GenV block and Voltec would come about by the work of brands with in-house powertrain engineers?

        Have ever read about the demise of British Leyland, and the inter-company rivalry between division that crippled it’s efficiency?

        If you haven’t, here old rubber face giving you a lengthy description of how the Triumph Stag was made terrible because an inter-company bullshit rivalry kept them from using the legendary Rover V8.



        Next, you’ll be telling us that each division should be in charge of their own platforms. Like Buick in going to have over $10billion in revenue in 5 years to have a new platform that would underpin their entire range.

        “Breathe old school life back into this big machine once more.”

        Would you like whitewalls, fins, landau roofs, and curb feelers on your CT6?

        Doing things “old school” is what crippled and nearly killed Cadillac, and the same negative behavior of “it’ll do, just shift more units” spread out into the rest of GM.

        Reply
  4. Good news about the 3.6NA but I think you are missing the point on exclusivity.
    If Cadillac wants to really compete as a world class premium luxury auto maker then they can’t and shouldn’t share parts with Chevrolet period .

    Reply
    1. Porsche audi VW share parts…

      Reply
      1. Don’t forget Lambo and Bentley too.

        The same type W block was used in a Passat as well as the Bentley.

        Reply
      2. Doesn’t mean much. Very few know that any of those companies have anything to do with each other. Not so with GM.. They have a 100 year + history in America that they can’t sweep under the rug.

        Reply
        1. A lot of people know actually know there is extensive sharing between VW, Audi, Lambo, SEAT, Skoda. They’re all under V.A.G, same as GM’s brands.

          Reply
        2. Lou just because you don’t know does not mean it is common knowledge to most of the world.

          Reply
          1. FYI Cadillac in 10 years should have their own engines not shared but will still be done by GM powertrain.

            Reply
      3. Hell, a lot of Audi cars and SUVs are just badge engineering jobs of VWs. And the automotive press says it’s great while slamming GM when they share.

        Reply
    2. Dave you have to understand the new Cadillac just started last summer where GM fully committed to make things exclusively for Cadillac. You are not going to see them 8 months later. 2020 and on you should see more and more things just for Cadillac with minor sharing with the rest of GM.

      You have to consider the time it takes to make your own stuff and 5 years min is the best you will see. This is why they will not largely invade Europe with much product till then.

      Reply
    3. Didn’t you read the article – “According to Cadillac, the 3.0L LGW V6 will be exclusive to its vehicles and not shared with others from among GM.” This is bullshit, GM needs to start leveraging its engines across platforms like Ford does. I mean Ford is using the 3.5L TT v6 in their F150, Explorer, Expedition and Flex as well as the Mustang. Tuned differently for each vehicle. GM is stuck with their crappy NA 4.3L, 5.3L and 6.2L OHV pushrod motors. GM needs to pull their heads out of their butts and start offering some competing products. Ford has the Focus with the 2.3L T and it’s a performance vehicle. Why can’t GM put a 2.0L T in a Cruze or Sonic and make it an SS. Or put this v6 TT in the full size trucks and SUVs which can offer economy when the driver doesn’t need the power, but when the power is needed it will be there. The 3.0L TT is an incredibly powerful motor. Why not offer it a Camaro of Impala as an SS, not everyone can afford $100k for a Cadillac. I’ve been a GM guy all my life, but Ford has the more appealing products right now.

      Reply
  5. I believe you should switch the 315hp for BMW’s 3.0 TT to 315kw

    Reply
  6. I hope that this engine will eventually end up in new Insignia (B) OPC, with around 350 PS!

    Reply
    1. Could

      Reply
    2. I was just thinking the same thing. No need for power reduction, though 🙂

      Reply
    3. And AWD. It would be awesome! It would finally be worthy of the GS badge on the Regal.

      Reply
  7. Does this mean we can finally say the EcoBoost 3.5L V6 in the Lincoln Navigator is Class leading and World class? I mean it has a twin turbo V6 with 380hp and 460ft/lbs of torque. Or is it only great when Cadillac makes one?

    Reply
    1. Oh the Ecoboost powertrain could be world class if it wasn’t surrounded by a 14 year old heap of metal that can scarcely command list price.

      I mean, Ford spent many millions on industry-leading aluminum frame engineering, only to debut the fruit of their efforts on the F-150.

      To me, that says that the Lincoln Navigator, no matter what it’s powered by, isn’t worthy of the best material engineering in the industry, and therefore isn’t a world class product.

      FoMoCo seems more interested in fattening up the F-150’s unit sales instead of making a proper full-size luxury SUV that doesn’t need a price discount to make it competitive.

      Reply
  8. Good job, but I wonder if GM’s engineers had given any thoughts to making this 3.0 a straight 6 instead of the V6? It is definitely class leading, at the moment (excluding, off course, the 3.0 straight 6 in the M3/M4) but, maybe, not for too long. BMW will be introducing their new straight 6 engine family in a few months, and Mercedes is reportedly going back to straight 6 in their upcoming E class. Whilst V6 does have a packaging advantage, the balance, smoothness, torque and sound of the straight 6 is a definite plus. Whilst Cadillac is catching up with the germans, the bar is consistently being raised. I hope this engine will allow Cadillac to finally produce the ATS V sport, to compete with the C450, Audi S4 etc.

    Reply
    1. You are not going to see an inline as they are heavy and take up a lot of space that can not be used for anything else.

      Sure BMW has one but it is almost like a tradition more than it is for technology.

      If you take the time to really look at the V6 and the size of it the engine is incredibly small and light for the power it puts out. The weight removed here adds performance and handling. Also the weight makes for a lighter car but yet it gives them the ability to add things that weigh more but still remain lighter than the BMW.

      I think GM will exploit the old world companies weakness with the new engine as it is smooth and refined but yet efficient and powerful.

      BMW also has made a history of building cars that all loo pretty much alike. good for recognition but a royal pain for advancing the design. I feel the inline is more of a tradition than anything else for them. If they wanted to they could be much more innovative like VW and do a W block that has proven very effective.

      Into the future packaging and weight will be a very important point and the V model will lead in this class. Again get to where you have one of these engines on the stand and you will be shocked at how small of a package it is. This opens doors to so many more options on the car.

      Reply
  9. This Cadillac thing has me disgusted . The rest of the divisions have been carrying Cadillac on their backs for many years and this hit and miss Caddie division now gets billions more dollars to create exclusive , to them , engines and vehicles . Chevy needs this 3 liter engine now ,Chevrolet generated the bulk of GM’s profits for many years and it is now getting to be like a third class citizen . This is totally unacceptable , you make your most impact , reputation and popularity where the biggest amount of total sales come from , not individual profits . Getting the best total sales brings the most people to the dealerships , keeps the sales people , the Service depts and management thriving !

    Reply
    1. USA you need to understand how a division like Cadillac can be as important as Pick Up Trucks.

      The reality is Cadillac will make up 10-15% of GM sales like most luxury divisions but in the end they will product 50% of the profits of all the cars GM sells. The only thing as or more profitable is a truck that of late is profitable but not as much as they used to be.

      Chevy is also getting the proper funding and has a lot of things coming in the near future too. They are anything but ignored and far from a Third class citizen. A new world class Malibu, Corvette and Camaro are only a start.

      Chevy for years has been the problem as they held control over much of what GM had and the rest were treated as third class citizens.

      For example the Fiero was Killed not just buy mistakes Pontiac made but Chevy wanted them killed as they feared the 1990 GT with the DOHC was going to cut into already declining Corvette sales. They would not give Pontiac engines like the 305 HO for the GP and 2+2 etc. They killed off many plans for the Trans Am that would have given them an advantage over the Camaro even more so.

      Today GM is getting the balance right and the funding is not better just because of the bail out and profits but because they are not trying to support so many models and division on the same amount that they are supporting 4 with today.

      It’s the things you don’t know that are coming and not things you think you know that will be the game changes here.

      Reply
    2. “you make your most impact , reputation and popularity where the biggest amount of total sales come from”

      Wrong. You make your most impact, reputation and popularity from products that captivating and sexy; products that are both beautiful and richly appointed. Products people lust for.

      Chevrolet may sell many, many thousands of Cruzes and Sonics, but nobody really lusts for one like they do for a CTS-V.

      Cadillac gets the special treatment from GM because the products they build are expected to be special and exceptional. They are expected to be better than ANY Chevrolet. Cadillac is expected to be better than any car America makes period.

      This isn’t like a social experiment, where Chevrolet and Cadillac are both in different income brackets and you have to judge how much of Chevrolet’s money should be used to support Cadillac. This is an automotive corporation, not some kind of dreamland where what you earn is what you keep. Money comes into the company from many different sources and can redistributed as unequally as management sees fit. They have objectives and long-term goals they want to meet, and to them money that comes in from Chevrolet is no difference than the money that comes in from Cadillac.

      If they intend Cadillac to be among the top luxury automakers on Earth, you can expect that many Chevrolets will finance that goal.

      Reply
  10. I agree Grawdaddy and furthermore think Cadillac does not as much propping up as many people think.
    Each Cadillac sold has a significantly higher profit per unit sold than any other GM brand which is why GM brass can justify committing $12 billion to 2020.
    Mercedes Benz makes more money on 1.5 million units sold than GM does on nearly 10 million units.
    Audi is the biggest profit Centre in the VW group.

    GM is finally realizing that a healthy Cadillac is a healthy GM.

    Reply
  11. Wait how is this 3.0 TT different than the ones on the equinox/terrain besides TT?

    Reply
    1. umm… this engine has nothing to do with the 3.0 from the equinox, this 3.0L TT is an all new engine, they’re completely different

      Reply
      1. You are correct only the size is the same.

        Turbo 3.0 liter has been found by most engineers to be the best size for Mileage performance and refinement by most MFG. This is why so many companies are all doing the same size. Same with 2.0 4 turbo and 4.0 turbo v8 engines.

        We will also see 1 liter Turbo 3 cylinder more often too.

        Reply
  12. Yes I agree Grawdaddy, but GM needs to still transfer a little of this quality stuff to the Chevys, GMCs and Buicks in order to make those products even more competitive in their segments.

    No don’t put that 3.0TT in a non Cadillac product, but a derivative of that LGX NA 3.6 V-6 must see duty in the 2016 Camaro, certain Buicks and GMCs as well. After all, this new 3.6 should be use to enhance other GM products, thus improving GMs overall image.

    Reply
  13. I think many would agree that from the 30’s to 1960’s GM was in it’s prime. Cadillac pretty much lead the way with automated systems and leading technology in the cars. Advancements like OHV and other things that trickled down to the other lines and even Chevy.

    GM by 1957 really tried not to hide that many of the advancements that started high up were being put into all their products even Chevy> Even the 57 Chevy was alluded to be a average mans Cadillac.

    You can trickle down technology and image but over time GM tried to just revamp platforms conceived as a general GM platform and tried to dumb them up to be a Cadillac. They sprinkled the Cadillac’s with some extra not ready for market technology and killed the brand.

    The Cimarron [Chevy}, Catera {Opel} were their worst forms of this attempt as was the 864 engines and other mistakes.

    GM has learned that a half hearted attempt worked back in the 90’s to just a few years ago but only to a point. Finally they got the company to learn they had to fully commit to make the change happen and it will still take even more time now they fully have gone all in.

    We will see this engine deal sort itself out over time but we still will see some sharing for the near term as they have a lot of work to create their own line of product and to find ways to build world class engines in low volumes be it all in house of if they join forces with someone like Ilmore, Cosworth etc.

    For right now the CT6 and the new engines will be the next step but they are still not the exclusive Cadillac product we will see. This was the vision of Cadillac before GM going all in. If you like this be aware it will only get better.

    Reply
  14. As I said, that’s just the first sign that the CT6 will be the first true Cadillac that North America has always wanted to see.

    The first car to return the pride of true American luxury, but Lincoln also going well

    Regards from Spain

    Reply
  15. I’m curious. All the descriptions on the new 3.0 liter twin turbo state the differences from the outgoing 3.6, including the lower compression ratio. But nowhere does it state whether it requires premium or regular gas. Does anyone know?

    Reply
  16. Can we have this in the silverado 1500 ???

    Reply
  17. While Im excited about this engine and its design seems pretty perfect I drive a saturn sky redline with 2.0 liter 4cyl that is incredibly power dense and love it. my engine is 7 yrs old so this isnt to me as innovative as I know gm engineers can be has gm considered making a TT4.0 liter v8 again with a 3 mode cylinder deactivation that would give u a high output v8 3.0 liter v6, 2.0 liter 4cyl all with forced induction in a single package i cant think of a more perfect engine IMO and if it was as power dense as mine the potential for well over 520 hp!! if you want to win wards best engine this is what you build GM. you already have the technology just need this package.

    Reply

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