General Motors president of global product development Mark Reuss recently showed off multiple future products to the company’s investors during a private event. Among the topics of discussion was Cadillac’s upcoming full-size flagship sedan, the Omega-based CT6, which according to Reuss will be “the most advanced vehicle technologically in the world.”
Reuss said the CT6 will have a plug-in hybrid option capable of travelling up to 75 mph on electric power alone and accelerating from 0-60 mph in “under 6 seconds.” Don’t make any assumptions if you’re a little underwhelmed by that figure, because it could be subject to shrink. Chevrolet reported their 2015 Corvette Z06 would accelerate from 0-60 mph in “under 3.5 seconds,” and then revealed yesterday it would do the sprint in an incredible 2.95 seconds, so they could be purposely selling themselves short once more. More high performance variants will also be on offer.
In an addition to a new plug-in hybrid drivetrain, Reuss also revealed the CT6 will have a special rearview mirror which displays a camera feed instead of an obstructed view out of the back window. Jalopnik notes having a camera in place of a rear view mirror is not yet legal in the United States, so it’s not clear how GM will find its way around the law with the technology.
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Well, my curiosity has certainly peaked. I’m still a bit confused as to what class this car will compete in; but judging by the looks of things, it could be in a class of its own. Boy! 2015 can’t come quick enough!!! I’m definitely interested in seeing the final product. This is quite unusual for a company to spill so much information about a future vehicle; they’ll usually keep things minimal at best for competitive reasons. I guess it goes to show how confident GM is in CT6 to really set Cadillac on the grand stage!!!
It is very hard to see the rumors of the rear-view true.
With weather and dirty roads I don’t see the camera being very reliable ever.
This article makes it sound like the standard vehicle will be a plug in hybrid. Other sites are saying it will just be an option. An option sounds more logical to me. I also saw that a new 3 liter twin turbo was going to be the base engine and offer the most power out of any 6 cylinder on the market.
A center rear-view mirror isn’t even legally required (as long as you have a passenger side outside mirror), is it? It seems simple enough to get around this as long as there are no state laws on the books prohibiting a screen in that location (i.e. GPS units stuck onto the windshield).
To me, the biggest challenge, in addition to what others mentioned (dirt and snow buildup), would the annoyance of more light shining in your face at night. I’d like to see Cadillac include a separate brightness adjustment for this type of mirror so it can be turned down even more than the gauge cluster lighting when in night mode.
To solve the snow issue, maybe they could design the third brake light similarly to the one on the Escalade with a slight “notch” or wing over the back window that could house and protect the camera. They could also take a lesson from the Nascar “in-car camera” systems that clean a protective cover over the lenses.
The inside review is required unless you get a waiver. It is not easy or cheap but it can be eliminated.
But Lotus in the competition Elise included one even though it had no rear window. It was cheaper and easier to stick on vs. dealing with the government.
This is the kind of stuff Benz and Tesla were worried about. GM waking up and enabling their people to do what they can do. The greatest enemy of GM has been it’s culture and management of just good enough. Now we are seeing what happens when a giant of great ability awakens.
GM has not really spilled much here than just some outlines. This is not like they used to do where they showed you the entire car 5 years ahead of the release like the Volt and Camaro.
I think they are now sending a signal that they will be a force that will be felt in the industry again.
I am not sure who did it but some one has finally broken through that cultural blockage that has hampered GM for decades. Lutz started to chip away and like the Berlin wall it has fallen. If it was the board, Mary, Mark or a combination of these job well done.
And thank you Mr Lutz for getting this started. I just wish you had come 10 years earlier Like Patton you mashed a few toes and made a few people uncomfortable but you knew how to fight! You have helped the good guys win for once at GM.
GM is the most able and capable Automaker in the world. There is nothing they could not surpass in the market or lead in. But in the past they had people that never made use of their true ability. I believe we will see this thinking not just at Cadillac but Chevy and Buick too.
This weight loss issue is not just going to be a Cadillac deal but it will be a GM trade mark. It is the way forward to better cars in the future and GM is by far going to take the lead. We have seen this in the latest coming Cruze
I agree with everything you said here. But the interesting question is what exactly is the CT6 supposed to be? Is it a replacement for the XTS? Its too small at 203 inchs to go against cars like the s-Class or 7 series. I remember way back in 2012 when GM had stated they approved 2 flagship cars, in which one would be a ultra flagship. Then we heard later on that GM put the ultra flagship on hold. So the question is now what is this car going to prove? And does GM have a actual proper sized flagship still in the works. This still dont sound like no Cien or Sixteen.
203 inches long is not “too small” to go against the 7 and S. In fact, it’s right in the dimensional territory of those segment leaders.
I think we have two things going on.
This was the top flag ship that has been under development. It is not replacing the XTS as the XTS was only a carry over from pre chapter 11 GM to fill gaps in the line up for a few years. While it was not perfect a good car is still better than no car in the show room. Also GM had most of the investment already done years ago. This is why they never really defined the car.
The CT6 I think was to have been the flag ship and it will be one of sorts for now. With the new manager I think the game plan has been expanded to the point it is not going to stop here.
Also keep in mind GM is not always going to match the others head to head and have the ability to try to break into new segments and definitions of new segments.
If Cadillac is going to lead they can and will have to in some cases do their own thing.
I expect that there will be two larger cars to come yet but GM.
I think there has been a big change in things and we will just have to see how they adjust to it.
There is a lot we have not heard or seen yet so it will be interesting.
Reuss said the CT6 will have a plug-in hybrid option capable of travelling up to 75 mph on electric power alone and accelerating from 0-60 mph in “under 6 seconds.”
So there you have it; the probable upgrade for the ELR and Volt. About double the range. The interesting thing is accelerating under 6 seconds. Definitely an improvement but let’s hope the cost does not soar.