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GM Alpha Vehicle Platform

The General Motors Alpha platform is a vehicle architecture designed to underpin compact and mid-size vehicles with a longitudinal front-engine, rear-drive configuration. The platform was engineered with a focus for world-class driving dynamics and light weight, and can be adapted to underpin luxury and non-luxury vehicles alike.

Alpha made its debut with the 2013 Cadillac ATS sedan, followed by the 2014 Cadillac CTS sedan. The sixth-generation 2016 Chevrolet Camaro is the third and final vehicle to utilize the Alpha architecture.

GM Alpha Platform Vitals
Production: 2013-Present
Driveline: Longitudinal, Front-Engine, Rear-Wheel Drive
Class: Compact, Midsize
Vehicle Type: Passenger Cars, Sports Cars
Body Styles: 2-Door Coupe, 2-Door Convertible, 4-Door Sedan
Predecessor: None for compact cars, Sigma for midsize cars
Successor: Alpha 2

Alpha 1

Alpha was designed to support compact and mid-size vehicles with a focus on being lightweight and providing exceptional driving dynamics. It debuted with the arrival of the 2013 Cadillac ATS, which is now discontinued, and was also used by the CTS, which has also been discontinued. That said, the architecture underpins the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro as well, which is expected to remain in production through the 2026 model year.

A 50/50 weight distribution enabled vehicles that rode on the Alpha platform to be quite nimble. It was even used to create a purpose-built, track-dedicated product: the Cadillac ATS-V.R.

Notable components of the Alpha platform include:

  • Front-engined, longitudinally-mounted layout
  • A four wheel independent suspension system with a McPherson Strut in the front and a 5-link independent setup in the rear
  • Rear- and all-wheel-drive applications
  • Flexible wheelbase configurations
  • Extensive use of high-strength steels

Various suspension systems have been used in conjunction with the Alpha platform, including conventional shock-over-strut assemblies, Magnetic Ride Control, and DSSV dampers.

Engines

The Alpha platform is capable of supporting a wide range of General Motors engines, including naturally-aspirated and force-inducted (turbocharged and supercharged) variants of four-, six-, and eight-cylinder engines. Vehicles riding on the Alpha architecture currently used the following engines:

GM Alpha 1 Platform Production Vehicle Applications
Year Vehicle Transmission Engine Power (hp / kW @ RPM) Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ RPM)
2013-2016 Cadillac ATS 6-Speed Auto (MYA) until 2015MY, then 8-Speed Auto (M5N) 2.5L LCV Ecotec I4 202 / 151 @ 6300 190 / 258 @ 4400
2013-2014 Cadillac ATS 6-Speed Manual (M3L) or 6-Speed Auto (MYA) 2.0L LTG Ecotec I4 272 / 203 @ 5500 260 / 353 @ 1700 – 5500
2015 Cadillac ATS 6-Speed Manual (M3L) or 6-Speed Auto (MYA) 2.0L LTG Ecotec I4 272 / 203 @ 5500 295 / 400 @ 1700 – 5500
2016-2019 Cadillac ATS 6-Speed Manual (M3L) or 8-Speed Auto (M5N) 2.0L LTG Ecotec I4 272 / 203 @ 5500 295 / 400 @ 1700 – 5500
2013-2015 Cadillac ATS 6-Speed Auto (MYA) 3.6L LFX V6 321 / 239 @ 6800 274 / 371 @ 4800
2016-2019 Cadillac ATS 8-Speed Auto (M5N) 3.6 LGX V6 335 / 250 @ 6800 285 / 386 @ 5300
2016-2019 Cadillac ATS-V 6-Speed Manual (MG9) or 8-Speed Auto (M5U) 3.6 LF4 V6 464 / 346 @ 5850 445 / 603 @ 3500
2014-2019 Cadillac CTS 6-Speed Auto (MYA) 2.0L LTG Ecotec I4 272 / 203 @ 5500 295 / 400 @ 1700 – 5500
2014-2015 Cadillac CTS 6-Speed Auto (MYA) until 2015MY, then 8-Speed Auto (M5N) 3.6L LFX V6 321 / 239 @ 6800 274 / 371 @ 4800
2016-2019 Cadillac CTS 8-Speed Auto (M5N) 3.6 LGX V6 335 / 250 @ 6800 285 / 386 @ 5300
2014-2019 Cadillac CTS 8-Speed Auto (M5N) 3.6L LF3 V6 420 / 313 @ 5750 430 / 583 @ 3500 – 4500
2016-2019 Cadillac CTS-V 8-Speed Auto (M5U) 6.2 LT4 V8 640 / 477.2 @ 6400 630 / 854.2 @ 3600
2016-2024 Chevrolet Camaro 6-Speed Manual (MN6) or 8-Speed Auto (MX0) 2.0L LTG Ecotec I4 275 / 205 @ 5500 295 / 398 @ 3000 – 4500
2016-2024 Chevrolet Camaro 6-Speed Manual (MN6) or 8-Speed Auto (MX0), 10-Speed replaces 8-Speed for 2019MY 3.6L LGX V6 335 / 250 @ 6800 285 / 386 @ 5300
2016-2024 Chevrolet Camaro SS 6-Speed Manual (MN6) or 8-Speed Auto (MX0), 10-Speed replaces 8-Speed for 2019MY 6.2L LT1 V8 455 / 339.3 @ 6000 455 / 614.3 @ 4400
2016-2024 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 6-Speed Manual (MN6) or 8-Speed Auto (MX0), 10-Speed replaces 8-Speed for 2019MY 6.2 LT4 V8 650 / 485 @ 6400 650 / 881 @ 3600

Alpha 2

The Alpha platform is succeeded by Alpha 2, an updated variant of the first iteration of the architecture.

One of the key differences of Alpha 2 compared to the original Alpha / Alpha 1 is the adoption of the all-new GM Global B electronics platform. Alpha 2 underpinned only two vehicles – the Cadillac CT5 and Cadillac CT4. Given that the CT4 was a heavy refresh of the ATS Sedan, the CT5 was the only model that was completely overhauled on Alpha 2. Additionally, both the CT4 and CT5 adopted new engines compared to the ATS and CTS that they indirectly replaced.

GM Alpha 2 Platform Production Vehicle Applications
Coming soon.

GM Alpha Vehicle Platform Pages

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