Five Awesome GM Vehicles Launching In 2015

With a new year comes new cars, and 2015 will see General Motors add multiple exciting products to its Cadillac and Chevrolet product portfolios. It will all start at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week, but we thought we’d give you a preview of the product onslaught so you know exactly what to expect from The General throughout the year.

1. 2016 Cadillac CT6

This list is in no particular order, but well start it off with what we believe is the most highly anticipated GM product of 2015. We first caught wind of Cadillac’s full-size sedan in 2012 when GM filed a trademark application for the ‘LTS’ name. A Chevrolet Caprice-based test mule was spotted shortly after, followed by sightings of pre-production versions of the big luxury sedan. Cadillac has now confirmed the car will be called CT6, as per its new naming convention, and released crucial details on its new Omega chassis and powertrain.

The CT6 will make use of a “mixed material body structure” and some aluminum body panels to keep its weight down. The car is eight inches longer than the current mid-size CTS, but is said to be 24 kg lighter. GM has said the car will have the most powerful six-cylinder gasoline engine in the segment, an all-new 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, and will also have a plug-in hybrid drivetrain on offer capable of returning up to 70 MPGe. Inside, expect new technologies like GM’s camera-based rear view mirror, massage chairs and other amenities helping to put it on par with competing luxury sedans.

The CT6 will be Cadillac’s first large, luxury flagship sedan in a long while, and is the automaker’s chance to prove itself in the luxury auto marketplace. GM product chief Mark Reuss has said the car will be the “most advanced vehicle technologically in the world,” so naturally, we’re expecting a lot out of it. It’s set to debut at the New York Auto Show in April, which also happens to be the location of Cadillac’s new offices.

2. 2016 Cadillac CTS-V

Cadillac’s third-generation CTS-V is the largest iteration of the performance sedan yet. The old CTS was meant to bridge the gap between compact and mid-size cars, however the CTS grew up in moving to the third-generation model and is now a true mid-size.

Cadillac spilled the beans on the 2016 CTS-V last month, however its first public appearance is slated for Detroit. Powered by a 640 horsepower version of the Corvette Z06’s supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8, the new CTS-V will be the fastest, most powerful car Cadillac has ever made. There’s other goodies too, like an eight-speed automatic transmission, a carbon fiber aerodynamics package, Recaro seats and Brembo brakes.

Cadillac has amassed a solid following with its V-Series performance models, so the fastest and most luxurious model yet is probably on many of their customers’ wish lists. Pricing and on-sale dates have yet to be announced, but you can bet there will be a lineup at your local Cadillac dealer once orders are open.

3. 2016 Cadillac ATS-V

The CTS-V may get more attention, with its 6.2-liter V8 and 200 mph top speed, but the ATS-V is arguably a more important product for Cadillac. The automaker has never before made a true performance compact car capable of doing battle with the BMW M3, Mercedes-Benz C63 and other performance cars, so the ATS-V is unchartered territory for GM’s luxury arm.

Despite their lack of experience in the compact performance segment, the ATS-V seems to be quite the first attempt. Its 455 horsepower, twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter LF4 V6 is more powerful than the M3’s twin-turbo inline-six, and its unmistakably American styling helps set it apart from its German rivals. Like the CTS-V, the ATS-V also offers Brembo brakes, available carbon fiber aerodynamics package, and other performance necessities.

The ATS-V is said to start at around $63,000 when it goes on sale this Spring. Excited yet? We are.

4. 2016 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon 2.8-liter Duramax

Chevrolet and GMC’s 2015 Colorado and Canyon are already on sale, available with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a range-topping 3.6-liter V6. For the 2016 model year, GM will add a 2.8-liter XLD28 four-cylinder turbo diesel to the engine portfolio, making it the only mid-size pickup on sale in North America with a turbo diesel engine.

GM has yet to say how much power and torque its 2.8-liter Duramax will produce under the hood of the Colorado and Canyon. In other global applications, the 2.8-liter engine produces 200 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, however its unclear if these figures are subject to change when it goes on sale in North America.

The 2.8-liter diesel Canyon and Colorado is important as it will offer a good mix of towing capability and fuel economy, without a doubt two of the more important aspects of a contemporary pickup. It will also be North American customer’s only choice if they want a diesel mid-size, which ought to win GM more than a few new customers.

5. 2016 Chevrolet Volt

The 2016 Chevrolet Volt has already been heavily previewed and detailed, however its official unveiling won’t come until next week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The current iteration of the Volt didn’t live up to GM’s sales expectations, but with improvements to its powertrain and overall refinement, the all-new model should up the nameplate’s appeal.

A new, more powerful 1.5-liter four-cylinder generator will help with the Volt’s overall range, while larger batteries should improve its all-electric range by 5-12 percent. The new car is also expected to be cheaper, despite having a more upscale-feeling interior and more refined powertrain, which may set it up to be a hot-seller. If GM can get the price right, the arrival of the new Volt will be exciting for everyone, not just environemtalists and other electric vehicle enthusaists willing to pay the premiuim for an EV.