Cadillac Defends The Internal Combustion Engine
7
Sponsored Links
Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen went on the record to discuss quite a few topics in his latest interview with Motor Trend. Specifically, he talked a lot about future Cadillac design and how the Escala concept plays into the brand’s future.
But, he also won major brownie points with enthusiasts when he defended the internal combustion engine. de Nysschen spoke about the 4.2-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, which can be found underneath the hood of the Escala concept vehicle, and stated, “it’s hard to imagine for us to make a credible brand statement of sophisticated refinement and emotional appeal without a modern eight-cylinder engine.”
Although, he quickly followed that statement up with, “I’m not announcing it for production yet.” As for the future, de Nysschen seems to be a realist in stating:
We are just illustrating some things we are contemplating. We can also embrace new-energy vehicles. There’s not an automaker not contemplating electrification. But the internal combustion engine has a lot of headroom for efficiency improvement and will be around for a long time. We can effectively utilize the time runway to develop and commercially amortize a modern generation of engines in parallel to introduction of plug-in hybrid tech.
Of course, the long run will feature full electrification, but the technology that has yet to come for the modern internal combustion engine will likely solidify its future for some time.
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a 2023 Corvette Z06 Convertible. Details here.
Sponsored Links
I’m all for the development of hybrid technology and electric power trains, but it’s reassuring to know Cadillac is still committed a true V-8! They certainly need it!!!
The ICE is not going away anytime soon.
The fact is all variations will be offered and ratio’s will change but ICE will remain and only a radical call from an elected official will change that. That is always a possibility as they are removing many things now with no real replacement in other fields. Lobbyist are powerful in the green segment.
ICE’s are necessary for Cadillac for the foreseeable future. As JdN mentioned there is still a lot of room for efficiency improvements in ICE’s.
I have owned and driven General Motors cars for most of my life of 86 years. Only two cars were Ford products and even when renting I try to get GM products. With that said I am dismayed that Cadillac, the top – of – the line GM brand has pretty much lost the top market spot to the Europeans and Japanese.
I still refuse to consider buying any one of them although they now offer the type of mid-size SUVs that have the engines that I prefer = V-8s.
The new 2017 XT5 comes to mind and it would be a wonderful car except it only comes with a 3.6 liter V-6 of 310 HP which I consider inadequate after having enjoyed nothing but V-8s in all my past cars. I still own and drive a 2006 Cadillac DTS with a Northstar V-8 and a 1965 Buick Skylark convertible, also with a 4.9 liter V-8 of which I am the original owner for now 51 years.
I would hope and wish that GM executives and engineers decide to offer a V-8, such as the Escala 4.2 liter V-8 as an option in the new 2017 XT5 AWD. And should that not be possible, at least the turbocharged V-6 of the new XTS producing 420 HP.
Ed’s post is a perfect example that Cadillac ( GM ) owners are not satisfied with just a 6 cyl. engine . There is alot to be said for being able to purchase an 8 cyl. in a car or SUV. An exclusive Cadillac 8 cyl. engine would be a good direction to take for an image boost .
Essentially, Cadillac needs to offer the best powertrain.
ICE, hybrid, voltec, EV. Whatever it is, it needs to be the absolute best.
Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen is right in that a modern V8 engine has an appeal; but one has to think that the twin-turbo 4.2L DOHC-4V V8 will most likely generate about 550-600 hp and while it would be fantastic in Cadillac’s CT6, one has to wonder whether the age of V8 engines is over especially with CAFE approaching near 50mpg in just a few years as car buyers may want a GM Hydrotec (hydrogen fuel cell) electric drivetrain instead as you can get the performance of a sports car with absolute zero emissions.