We’ll open up this piece will a internet round-of-applause for Cadillac. Rather than dilute its V-Series badge, the brand will continue to place V-Sport vehicles in place, an opposite move from what BMW has done with its “M” badge. The dilution hurts, BMW.
Anyway, the latest surrounding a V-Series model may upset some Cadillac faithful, but the brand’s commander-in-chief, Johan de Nysschen, has said we shouldn’t expect a Cadillac CT6-V. According to Automotive News, the CT6 was never engineered to fit the mighty 6.2-liter LT4 supercharged V8 under the hood. We’ll politely call bull crap on that.
“[The CT6] was not conceived with a V-series model in mind,” de Nysschen said during an interview. “We have to reflect then on what top-of-the-line performance engine we could use,” he said. “We don’t have something immediately available.”
Instead, Cadillac will introduce an all-new twin-turbo 4.2-liter V8 engine will join the 2016 Cadillac CT6 eventually, but the engine has been developed for luxurious feel and refinement over sporting nature.
Alas, de Nysschen said to keep the faith over a V-Sport CT6 instead, which would be much more plausible over a track-ready, tire-shredding V-Series model. V-Sport models have come to hold a place above a standard trim, but far below the capabilities of a true V-Series vehicle.
“There certainly could be a high-performance derivative,” he said. “We’re thinking about it.”
Comments
I agree with this move; note BMW doesn’t make a M7 and Audi doesn’t have an RS8 (not the 2door coupe but the A8 full-size sedan). Only Mercedes-AMG is crazy enough to make a S63 & S65 AMG, but they have the capacity to fulfill that niche due to the S-class being a perpetual best seller in the segment.
Let’s focus on the core product first. The derivates can come later down the pipe once demand has been reached.
the 6.2 V8 could be for the CT7 and CT8.
Johan de Nysschen, said the CT6 was never engineered to fit the mighty 6.2-liter LT4 supercharged V8 under the hood; but this comment is just a lie because the LT4 supercharged 6.2L V8 is a very compact engine and almost any car capable of fitting the 3.6L DOHC-4v V6 could fit the LT4.
De Nysschen should just say the LT4 wouldn’t fit the image Cadillac wants the CT6 to project.
So…no TT 5.0L V8 that JdN said he wanted to package in the CT6?
there are going to be 2 cars above the CT6 witch are CT7 and CT8…..I believe the 6.2 V8 will be saved for the cars above the CT6….the 4.2 V8 will be CT8 base engine and the 6.2 will be the top…..I believe that the CT8 will engineered different from the CT6 witch could have a longer hood and longer rear than the CT6…..I just doen’t see low end engines like the 2.0- 4 banger and V6 in the CT8.
Agree that the 2.0T and 3.6NA are unlikely to see duty in the expected CT8 but 6.2 (LT4) is not exclusive or perceived high-tech enough for such a high end vehicle. Remember these are going to be $100K+ vehicles being sold in very low volumes to well off clients. Exclusivity is the name of the game.
As powerful as the LT4 is it just to common and perceived ‘low’ tech for the perspective clients.
Johan de Nysschen is taking the long and more expensive approach to getting the CT6 to super-car status and spending a hundred million or more to develop a new twin-turbo 4.2L DOHC-4v V8; instead, Cadillac could have taken a cheaper and easier approach by skipping the 335 hp LGX 3.6L V6 and going with the 460 hp LT1 before skipping the LGW twin-turbo 3.0L V6 for the 640 hp LT4.
The LT4 works brilliantly in the CTS-V and given that the CT6 weighs about the same as the CTS which means similar performance numbers; why spend a ton of money for less performance as the twin-turbo 4.2L V8 reportedly will generate 500-550 hp.
Caddy styling is pretty nice these days however Caddy has lost some exclusivity. First off paying a super high premium for standard run of the mill engines: turbo I4 Buick engine and rental car 3.6 v6 engine used in every other gm car, suv, and even trucks, except the their TTV6’s and those are not available with awds in any rwd based platform. For the price of a 3.0tt ct6 awd, the caddy is wanting to compete straight on with BMW excellent TT v8s and the v8 offered from Lexus, Benz, and even the Korean luxury brands. Without a v8 Caddy is missing the mark on the prestige of having a v8 engine for their luxury vehicles including the awesome torque curves of a v8. (Excluding the v series of course which is not nearly close to a volume car) even the CTS should have an exclusive v8 engine offering instead of the v6’s and 4 bangers. Even the 5 series still offers a 4.4TT v8 with awd option and sad to say the Korean luxury car makers offering their direct injection v8s and awd.
Don’t get me wrong I love my Caddy which is a STS awd Platinum V8. The CTS is still way small compared to that and the CT6 still doesn’t have a V8. Hopefully my 2008 STS will last till Caddy starts making a proper v8 for all their models otherwise I need to start looking elsewhere. Definitely for some folks they don’t care what the power plant is as long as it meets a certain performance and I think caddy has done that with the corporate 3.6 and 4 bangers, but luxury segment folks also care about what makes up the power plant.