Cadillac’s first brand-exclusive engine in years, the 4.2-liter LTA twin-turbo V8 engine, will not serve as the basis for other engines.
Unlike rival makes, Cadillac’s V8 engine sits as is, and engineers don’t plan to lob off two cylinders to create a dual-overhead-cam V6 engine, our affiliate publication Cadillac Society reported last Friday.
General Motors’ V8 chief engineer Jordan Lee told the publication, “Whether it was engineered that way (to accommodate V6 engines), no.”
From Lee’s remarks, the LTA V8 engine will clearly serve one purpose for now: providing kick-in-the-pants power to the 2019 Cadillac CT6 V-Sport and much-needed power for the regular 2019 CT6. He insinuated there would still be additional engineering and development costs to build a derivative associated with the new V8 engine.
Lee said it doesn’t mean engineers can’t do it, but the idea was never part of the engine program from the start.
“Anything can be engineered… if we wanted to re-engineer (the LTA) as naturally aspirated, we could. If we wanted to re-engineer it as a V6, we can do that, too,” he said.
Other automakers have consolidated engine families over the years. Mercedes-Benz now has an inline-six engine based on its four-cylinder engine architecture, while Alfa Romeo utilizes a high-strung 90-degree twin-turbo V6 that was born from a Ferrari V8. GM rolled out a new V6 engine with the introduction of the Cadillac CT6, with the 3.6L LGX and 3.0L LGW twin-turbo V6 engine. The V6 engines share nothing in common with either GM’s four or eight-cylinder engine families.
Comments
I pray GM makes a new inline six engine from the new 4 Cylinder engine family. That would set it on Par with BMW/Mercedes and something above even Audi.
Cadillac desperately needs a new 6 cylinder. Either adapt an inline from from the new 4 cylinder, or do more with the 3.0TT from the CT6. The 3.6 is outdated and unrefined compared to the competition.
Cadillac needs to do an exclusive inline six and the 3.0TT should be detuned for the rest of GM. The 3.6HFV6 is not refined enough.
The 3.6L LGX is new and launched with the 3.0L LGW. And it’s pretty strong in the horsepower department.
The LGX is decent in the horsepower department but lacks the low-end torque of all the turbo competitors (BMW, M-B, Audi, Jaguar). GM should use the LGW, develop a new I-6, or maybe try combining the LGX with some hybrid torquefill techniques.
Cadillac making a big mistake by not upgrading the 3.6 engine. I’m a little worried about the upcoming CT5–Car and Driver says the base engine will be a four banger with a boosted four as the upgrade–a six cylinder will be available in the V- Series. I want the six cylinder as a upgraded base engine–will be a lot more expensive in the V cars.
Sounds like an Audi A4/5 engine strategy; 4 cylinder in the base car, with the 6 cylinder reserved for S4/5. With Cadillac we’d probably see 4 cylinders in the base CT5, 6 cylinders in the V-Sport, and 8 cylinders in the hardcore V.
There is a new 2.7-liter Inline four cylinder Turbocharger engine. As for TT 3.0-liter V6, 3.6-liter HV V6 Na, TT 3.6-liter V6 engine, I don’t known. There was talk of them having these own, Six and Four cylinder engine’s it will most likely wanted be on there V8 base platform/block. Cadillac will have there own four and six cylinder, new diesel engines.
If I’m spending upwards of 50,000 on a car the last thing I would want is a 4 cylinder engine, turbo or not. There is nothing luxurious about them, it doesn’t matter the manufacturer.
Here is my take on this.
Cutting off cylinders from a V8 is a cost savings move that often results in a poor V6 in need of aids to make it work. Look at all that has had to be done to the 90 degree engines like the 4.3 and 3800 too smooth them out and yet they are still not smooth enough. Balance shafts etc all add to cost and weight.
On the other hand I see Cadillac doing a new 60 degree V6 that will be much more able to tame the harshness and improve upon what they have now. No balance shafts needed and much better firing for smoothness.
The I6 would be cool but there would be a massive limit to what it could be used in. It could not be used in the FWD based platforms. The RWD you may use it in the CT5 and maybe the CT6. The Halo would be a TT v8. The Escalade will use the TT V8 or an I diesel.
The CT3 and other FWD AWD based CUV models all would need a V6 to fit.
Benz has the advantage as only one vehicle is FWD based and a number of vehicles that could use an I6.
Maybe at some point Cadillac will have more platforms that could support that.
Good point on the limited use of an I6.
Small correction: the CT3 will be an Alpha-based RWD/AWD vehicle with a longitudinal engine.
GM really need a corporate V6 TT instead of these one-off engines by Cadillac. Nothing extreme, just something to bring the torque to competitive levels for a modern V6.
I’m glad it won’t and here’s why.
The LFX TT 3.6l puts out 464hp in the ATS-V. That comes to 73.33hp per cylinder of .6l. Multiply that by 8 and you get the same displacepment of 4.2l of the LT5. Here’s the problem. Multiply 73.33hp X 8 cylinders and that equates to 618.66hp which is much better than the 550hp of the LTA.
I’ve read where people say the 3.6l LGX is unrefined, so, refine it and give it the LFX’s forged internals with perhaps updated heads, turbo’s. Furthermore, the LT5 V8 should be putting out 600hp and not the 550hp it does which should be that of an even smaller displacement V8. Perhaps more boost PSI? After all, turbo’s are not parasitic by design and fuel economy isn’t hurt until you put your foot in it.
.6 x 8 is 4.8 not 4.2 so nothing else said here adds up either
My mistake and I’ll recalculate.
Smaller displacement=less power they’re not .6 liter cylinders they are smaller….
point taken..
“Anything can be engineered… if we wanted to re-engineer (the LTA) as naturally aspirated, we could. If we wanted to re-engineer it as a V6, we can do that, too,” he said.
There’s the answer right there. He just disguised it through double speak. I think we will see the derivatives in the next few years. This to me goes along with GM’s philosophy about not discussing future products, but leaving blatant clues all over the place. If Cadillac really wants the “Standard of the World” reputation back, they can’t afford to keep using what everyone thinks are Chevy motors. They also need to hurry up and get off of what everyone knows are platforms that underpin Malibu’s and Equinox’s and move the SUV’s to Omega or Alpha type platforms.
If Chevy is going to start building a DOHC V8 for their own purposes, wouldn’t it be reasonable to think building a line of V6 and V8 blocks off the architecture would spread costs out making it worth the investment for GM’s bargain brand. I would think that would translate to the premium brand.
I just don’t see GM creating drivetrain one offs anymore, even if for their flagship brand. An exclusive motor for only certain Chevy’s or Cadillacs would be short sighted and very much in line with “Old” GM’s way of thinking.
I got a 2.0 in a small SUV but has a turbo This car is like driving a race car.
I love the TURBO. I wish all models had an option of a turbo available.