Does The Cadillac ATS-V’s Twin-Turbocharged 3.6L V6 Have A Future?
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GM’s 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 LF4 engine and its tuned-down cousin, the LF3, might have an expiration date in place. Currently, the LF3 is used in the Cadillac CTS V-Sport and Cadillac XTS V-Sport, while the pluckier LF4 is reserved for the more track-oriented Cadillac ATS-V, but all three of those models are set to go out of production over the next 12 to 16 months – possibly sooner.
What, then, of the engines? The GM 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 LF3 is a peach in its own right, cranking out 410 or 420 peak horsepower, depending on the car, which in the Cadillac CTS V-Sport allows for a 0-to-60-mph sprint in under five seconds. The LF4 is even more impressive, sending up to 464 horses’ worth of thrust to the rear wheels and permitting a 0-to-60 sprint in less than four seconds.
GM-Cadillac 3.0L twin-turbo V6 LGW.
Unfortunately, we don’t expect the LF3 and LF4 to survive the Cadillac car cull; as great as the two twin-turbo V6s are, they’re based on an outmoded engine architecture – one that’s been supplanted by GM’s newer LG family of high-feature V6 engines. Two members of that family – the naturally-aspirated GM 3.6-liter V6 LGX, and the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 LGW – have made their way into Cadillac vehicles, and it’s reasonable to suspect that an up-tuned version of the smaller LGW could effectively replace the LF3/LF4 in some Cadillac performance cars.
Despite its smaller displacement, the 3.0L LGW nearly matches the 2018 Cadillac XTS V-Sport‘s LF3 for output, gracing the CT6 with 404 peak horsepower. We suspect it could be tuned to match the Cadillac ATS-V’s 464 horsepower, should GM’s luxury brand seek to replace that model with a CT3-V and/or CT4-V.
In fact, we see little reason for GM to continue producing its twin-turbo LF-family V6 engines after the sun sets on the Cadillac CTS V-Sport, XTS V-Sport, and ATS-V. As for whether there will ever be a twin-turbocharged version of the larger 3.6L LGX, that remains to be seen.
Check back with GM Authority for all the latest GM powertrain news.
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No! Bring the CT5-V with a V8TT.
Put it in the Blazer and call it Blazer SS. I will be the first in the line.
Implementing the twin-turbo arrangement atop the LGX is rather trivial, that’s not a barrier that I see.
Personally, I think GM had better do this, for one reason – if gas prices keep going, it won’t be love for the V8 that kills Camaro SS sales. This is a good engine for an Impala SS and a Camaro SS during a prolonged gas crisis. And GM would be loathed to forget it.
As to the 3.0TT, yes it’s close in horsepower, but the ceiling is limited. The 3.6TT can go to 500 horses if GM wants it to. This could come in handy if FCA does similar with its venerable Pentastar on a refreshed Charger and Challenger – alongside plans to share it with performance SUVs.
They’d better have a future for these engines! If not in V/V-Sport Cadillac cars/corssovers, at least in a future Buick!! These are great engines! Why are they NOT being utilized more?! Why develop them for one measly generation of cars?!
Perfect. Now just get rid of the 3.6 in the Cadillac altogether and bring on the 3.0TT
It would be a pity to throw it away so soon.
GM doesn’t have to throw it away, they can use it on the Camaro, Colorado, Malibu, Impala, Traverse, Blazer for Chevrolet brand.
They can use it on the Lacrosse, Enclave for Buick
They can use it on the Acadia for GMC.
Idk….All that R and D that went into those engines.GM could make use of them in other applications other than Cadillac…Or update them with newer technology…
Gift the LF4 twin-turbo 3.6L V6 to Buick then ask Chevrolet for access to athe LT4 650 hp supercharged 6.2L V8.
Gift is a noun, not a verb.
Both, actually.
Nope, it’s only ever been a noun. People who say ‘gift’ as a verb have never heard of the word ‘give’.
[You should give blood.]
[You should gift blood.]
Rework/re-tune the LF3 to run on regular, then start dropping it into Chevy performance fwd/awd models.
Makes sense to drop the 3.6L TT. The 3.0L TT has been shown to easily be tuned up to 460HP/480 ft-lb of torque by aftermarket. Why wouldn’t Caddy be able to the same and still pass emissions, if necessary for NORMAL Cadillacs in need of more power? Say a CT5 VSport or XT6 VSport?
Furthermore.. at that point.. the next connection would be the 4.2L TT V8 which, correct me if I’m wrong.. has been said to be lighter than the TT3.6L. That would come in at 500 hp and 553 lb-ft, and in CT6 V, 550 hp and 627 lb-ft.
Even more importantly is that it stands to reason that the next CT3/4 will have at least 500HP considering the prediction on the upcoming BMW M3/4. That would be easily derived from the TTV8.
All that being said.. the engine that need sto go completely is the LGX (NA3.6) in any Cadillac. It simply is not necessary
I hope not. At least not under the hood of a Cadillac.
While they’re at it, they need to ditch the regular 3.6 as well & spin the Cadillac-Exclusive 3.0 into a “family” of engines to cover Cadillac’s V6 needs. For example:
– A regular CT5 V6 could have the 3.0TT rated at 350ish hp.
– A CT5 Vsport could have the 3.0TT rated at 404 hp.
– a CT5 V could have a “Hot V” version rated at 500ish hp.
That is exactly what I have been calling for with Cadillac for years.
But there is no way that U will see the CT5-V, the 640HP CTS-V replacement, drop down a 100+ HP.. outside of a new Gov’t intervention. Especially considering the M5 and E63AMG are in the 600HP level. If anything the CT5-V will be going up in ponies, coupled with AWD. My bet is also that the VSport will not downgrade HP either.. from 420HP to 404 would be completely nontraditional
Or put them in the Chi crossovers?
Fret not, I come from the future. The LF4 has survived and made it into the CT4-V Blackwing 🙂