When it comes to building a vehicle, from passenger cars, to trucks, to airplanes, to spaceships, using the right materials is critical, especially with regard to two specific characteristics: strength and weight. In the automotive sphere, strength is needed for high crash safety as well as high torsional rigidity and stiffness, the latter of which affects handling and ride quality. However, the stronger a material, the heavier it tends to be, which can negatively affect performance and efficiency. It’s all a game of balance, and a precisely-calculated one, at that. And now, as most automakers incorporate aluminum into their vehicles at an increasing rate, the 2020 Cadillac XT6 gets specialized high-strength steel.
Speaking at the debut of the 2020 Cadillac XT6 at the 2019 North American International Auto Show, engineering manager Joel Hoffman addressed Cadillac’s approach to keeping the three-row luxury SUV riding smoothly without loading up on the heft.
“No aluminum,” Hoffman said, “It’s all steel.”
Thanks to the inclusion of materials like high-strength and press-hardened steel, as well as construction techniques like tailor-rolled and tailor-welded blanks, the 2020 Cadillac XT6 offers significantly greater torsional rigidity than the rest of Caddy’s crossover lineup. Although Hoffman admitted “it’s a little bit tricky” to calculate exact figures, the XT6 uses significantly more high-strength steel than stablemates like the XT4 and XT5.
In fact, this fact alone flies in the face to those who believe the XT6 is simply a longer version of the XT5, despite both models sharing the same basic GM C1 platform.
The increased structural stiffness allows the suspension of the 2020 Cadillac XT6 to be more effective, thereby improving the crossover’s ride characteristics. Cabin noise is also reduced as a result. “It’s not vibrating, it’s not wiggling,” Hoffman added.
This is especially difficult for a structure as square as that of the XT6. “That was the trick,” Hoffman said. “[…] The team did a great job.”
What’s more, the steel-centric construction has the added benefit of easier repairs, as aluminum is notoriously difficult to work with, by comparison.
For reference, the XT6 rides on a variant of the GM C1 platform. The basic architecture is also used to underpin the Cadillac XT5, GMC Acadia, the Chevrolet Blazer. The second-generation Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse use the long-wheelbase variant of the same platform. Meanwhile, the up-and-coming three-row Chevrolet Blazer and Chinese-spec Buick Enclave will also be built on exactly the same platform as the Cadillac XT6.
The Cadillac XT6 is the brand’s first three-row crossover since the first-generation SRX. The new model is larger than the midsize XT5 but smaller than a full-size crossover, placing it into the “midsize-plus” category.
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Comments
Good cause the xt5 premium and then I upgraded to platinum both rattled a lot after a year ownership
Either early 2017 build… or really crappy interior clips haha
Steel plate under the driver like the Cadillac on the move Casino??.
The XT6 seems like a hit for Cadillac. I know it’s not the preferred crossover for enthusiasts, but it’s compares well with the XC90 and Q7. It flat out embarrasses the RX-L, Q70, and MDX.
Flat out embarasses? You are smoking crack. Not even close.
Member is right, the RX-L is an embarrassment. the third row is a joke. The Q70 has ancient tech inside and the MDX is only ok. Take a look at all three in person then check out an XT6.
Only the Bentayga and the Cayenne are arguably nicer. The XT6 is going to sell like crazy. It has much more presence than competitors in the class.
Forget crack, put down the Fentanyl.
Since it is a larger vehicle it should have more steel, be it high-strength or low-strength!
That multi-material building technique that was used n the CT6, what happened to using that? That seemed like a good way to get lightness and stiffness at the same time. Also, why isn’t the panaray system being used? I am only seeing the Bose Performance series now.
This is still the multi materials as the vehicle still used a mix of materials.
Might note GM has spent a ton of time developing multiple high strength steel of various levels for different applications and thickness.
These metals take different methods s of stamping and are used in specific places.
Give it Panaray, Super Cruise, and a 3.6TT and the XT6 would bring some prestige to it. I suspect GM will add some features down the road.
After seeing the C8 it’s not hard to tell it ate up a lot budget from GM. Hopefully this means the same is being done for the Escalade. If it’s better than the Navigator, Caddy will be bringing in so much more $$ coupled with the SUVs (than when it was just the SRX/XT5, Escalade, and ATS, CTS). Put that money into continuous improvement and design and we might see them pull ahead in status vs other brands
I recently seen the aviator at a car show the XT6 exterior and interior design looks outdated.
The Aviator already looks like a ten year old Volvo on the inside and a melted 90s car on the outside.
I ordered a XT6 on May 2 On July 7 it arrived at Twin Oaks ad has been sitting their still on July22. What can I do to get it delivered to R & R where I ordered it. They have called and still no progress. 16 days sitting their seems a long wait. This is my 5th Cadillac is this how you treat a loyal person. I will be thinking hard in the future