Cadillac CT6 Will Get a 400-horse V-6

Cadillac CT6 (Credit: © Cadillac)

Small-displacement engines are the future of performance cars, and the sooner we can come to grips with that, the better. Advanced electronics and continuously enhancing turbocharging technology trump the “no replacement for displacement” claims of yesteryear. This is no more evident than in Cadillac’s new line of V-6 engines. Now, ahead of the CT6’s reveal, Caddy has announced a new turbo V-6 for its upcoming flagship sedan.

This new engine will debut in the upcoming range-topping model, and it will put out insane amounts of power for its size. The initial estimates put this 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 at 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. This output makes this new engine one of the most power-dense engines in the world, and puts it well above the 3.0-liter six-cylinder in the BMW 740Li (105 horsepower per liter) and the supercharged 3.0-liter in the Audi 7 (103 horsepower per liter).

Backing up this powerhouse of a six-cylinder is GM’s eight-speed automatic transmission. This will provide the quick shifts that this engine needs to ensure optimal performance.

This new engine isn’t all about power either, as Cadillac worked hard to tweak its fuel economy with a pair of fuel-saving technologies: cylinder deactivation and stop/start. Cylinder deactivation will shut down two of the six cylinders when cruising, but once the driver’s right foot calls for extra power, the cylinders seamlessly activate and deliver full power. Stop/start technology will shut the engine down when idling for extended periods, and automatically fires it back up when the driver pulls his foot off the brake.

This engine is the second in what looks to be a growing lineup of powerful, turbocharged V-6 engine. The first engine in new lineup was the 3.6-liter twin-turbo V-6 in the ATS-V, which produces a mighty 455 horsepower. Unfortunately, there is no mention of what the future holds for this line of engines, but I cannot help thinking about a larger-displacement turbo V-6 for the CT6-V.

Joining the 3.0-liter V-6 in the CT6 lineup will be the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder and the naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V-6. We’ll learn more about the CT6 when it debuts on March 31st, a day before the 2015 New York Auto Show festivities kick off.