Cadillac may be pulling a fast one on us. Eagle-eyed readers sent in spy shots of a pair of completely undisguised Cadillac CT6 sedans, and there are some interesting things going on.
The report states the vehicles were air dropped in overnight and arrived with documentation stating the vehicles are of the 2018 model year. There is what seems to be a base model, with the 2.0-liter LTG turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and one with 3.0-liter LGW twin-turbo V6 badges.
The fact these were flown in during the night and are surrounded in secrecy could mean there’s something much greater going on here; it could very well be that these vehicles are housing the upcoming 4.2-liter twin-turbo V8 engine Cadillac has promised for the future.
Holden has stated the cars are simply on their way to the Lang Lang Proving Grounds for continued development, but it’s not the first time we’ve seen Cadillac down under. Australia seems to have become a haven for future Cadillac development and engineering.
Spy shots: Wheels.
Comments
Twin turbo 4.2 V8-a good start. Let’s hope they do this. I’d also like to see a normally aspirated V8 in the CT6 and the CTS. I think there should be more engine options available across the lineup.
I completely agree !!! A V-8 CTS would be a great car. Maybe call it the CTS-S!
CTS-SS?
SSS… not something Cadillac will want to be called
No, a V-8-powered CTS would be called the V-Sport. They should retire the twin-turbocharged 3.6L and replace it with this 500-hp 4.2TT. The non-turbocharged 3.6L should be replaced by the 3.0TT. All engines should be mated exclusively with the 10-speed automatic and have AWD available as an option.
Leave the CTS-V alone for now, unless to add the 10A.
I agree with more engine options but I do not think a normally aspirated engine is the way to go.
Downsizing and hybridization is trend across the industry even for high end vehicles and a normally aspirated motor would have to have a big displacement to make big power. Also GM does only has pushrod V8s that are normally aspirated that although make good power, lighter and better on gas are not sexy enough for Cadillac applications.
There would not be enough volume to justify developing a n.a. multivalve DOHC motor just for Cadillac.
This is the first step in the right direction. Cadillac having their own engines would give them a lot more image and added perceived value.
I know to us we love the Chevy engine but to those outside the GM love train they see it as a Chevy engine even though it really is a GM cooperate engine. When people spend lot of money they want something extra to show for it than what they see in a pick up truck.
Make sense to test this in Australia as it would attract less attention and they can do warm weather testing now to help speed development.
I still would like to see on what engines they continue to share to still get their own tunes with an extra 20-30 HP min.
Check your facts. 3.0TT CT6 already has quad exhaust tips. Quad exhaust tips does not necessarily mean a V8. Could be a 10-spead though.
Hopefully it’s a 10 speed and a v8
I expect your wish will be fulfilled.
Charles- that fact was missed in the article.
Charles,
You’re quite right. My brain slipped CTS and CT6 together. I stand corrected.
Cheers,
-Sean
Surely you folks can’t be serious! 3.6L V6 and 3.0L TT V6 models both sport chrome quad exhaust tips exactly like the ones pictured, and they always have. The 2.0L Turbo I4 gets a single dual chrome tip off to one side. The CT6 has, sadly, never had “trapezoidal” outlets (a shame, as I think they would look better).
You are right.
I think these vehicles spotted down under are there to do final engineering on RHD models.
Although volumes are low there is potential for Cadillac to expand to the Australian market and make some noise with it RWD focussed line up.
The Australian car market is about the same size as Canadas and Cadillac has been there for years.
Dedicated plants are not going to happen with current volumes especially with diverse platforms as Escalade, XT5, and even radical difference between XTS vs CT6 vs ATS and CTS!
Exclusive plants are not needed and are not going to happen.
The keys to Cadillac’s future is to provide more exclusive thing that make Cadillac separate in the market place. 99% of the customers do not know where the cars are built nor care. Can you name the location of any plant Benz has and offer anything special about it. Hell one is in Alabama where Red Necks build them and no one cares. Might add they do a good job too.
GM has a good handle on the car for the most part. It handles and performs in a class leading way. They need to focus on the details now. They need more advanced power plants and exclusive power plants and tunes of their engines that you can not duplicate in a Camaro or Pick up truck.
They need to seat the details and quality of their interiors like they do their suspension tuning. They need to make sure that their models get the best transmissions first. They need to just detail the cars like they have their suspensions.
This is like planting a garden. You need to prepare the soil and plant the seed. Then you have to continue to water and nurture the plants. then you harvest the sales. It takes time, work and investment.
You have a good crop and then word travels and then the next years sales of the harvest grows.
Just sticking a V8 in a CTS is not a long term solution as the V8 they would give the car would only duplicate the CT6 and would get yanked away in the near future with growing CAFE problems.
Even the V8 here will grow more expensive and lower in volume. Even Benz is focused on a new series of Inline Six models many of which will replace v8 models in the future. They are going to the difficult to package I6 because they are going modular. The 90 Degree V6 is rough running and they have plans on doing away with the 8 at one point. The I Six can be cut to a 4 cylinder for the masses.
With the displacement rules taxes, CAFE and Emission rules things are going to be difficult for most larger engines and they will become expensive and they will become very limited in the future due to price. This is how they plant to regulate them.
Turbo engines meet the needs of the rules and the Displacement taxes many see globally.
Cadillac is going to have to be a global player and they will have to deal with not only what we have to deal with but many others around the world. It is not 1952 anymore.
I really hate to say it but the cost of cars is already so high that the MFG are looking at ride sharing. So lower volume luxury brands will become even more limited and higher priced. You will have to make sure they are worth the money in the eye of the customer.
First question is whether Cadillac’s twin-turbo DOHC-4v V8 match the performance of a Chevy LT4 640-650 hp supercharged 6.2L OHV-2v V8 because substance is more important than style as consumers would probably do a rethink whether to buy a Cadillac CT6-V that was slower and yet more expensive as buying a Camaro or Corvette would make more sense unless they needed the passenger space and a Hennessey Escalade might work.
Way off on many levels.
First there is no cross-shopping a Camaro, Corvette to the CTS-V so the argument that if the CTS is less powerful shoppers will chose the Chevy’s make no sense.
Second, throwing a Hennesy Escalade into the agument at well over $120000 for more space also doesn’t hold water.
Why not then get a M-B AMG GLS63 then? Same price, faster and with a OEM warranty.
Third – for many customers who can drop up to $100K on a vehicle style matters as much or more than substance. Many would rather buy a slower and more expensive Porshe 911 than a faster and less expense Corvette Grand Sport or Z06 because the Porshe is more impressive when trying to keep up with the Jones.
the should be developing more advanced EV hybrid technology with high HP…..they need to stop being stuck in the past.
Isn’t the CTS V-Sport or CTS-V fast enough. Who needs a V8 now in a Cadillac.
The 2.0T is faster than the Northstar V8, although the V8 sounded a lot better.
A V8 tends to add prestige, but that is wearing off, with what the TT V6 can do now.
And when the V8 only comes in the Premium and V models, how many V8 lovers will be paying in the $70-90K
range? Adding a low volume engine or trim also adds cost to all trims,. since the cost isn’t recouped just by
the high cost of the rare trim.
what about a 500-600HP EV hybrid technology.
Cadillac are building High horsepower EV hybrid technology. Cadillac’s EVT technology, that’s what’s coming.