Cadillac Confirms the CT6 Plug-In Hybrid

Cadillac CT6 (Credit: © Cadillac)

There have been rumors and reports of a potential plug-in hybrid version of Cadillac’s upcoming range-topping CT6 sedan. Until now, these were all just hearsay, but Cadillac has finally revealed that it will offer this technology with the new sedan. The announcement came during the 2015 Shanghai Auto Show.

Known as the CT6 PHEV, this model will roll into showrooms with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motors. This unique hybrid setup positions the two electric motors within a rear-mounted electric variable transmission. Altogether, this system puts out a rather impressive 335 horsepower and 432 pound-feet of torque.

The electric motor makes use of an 18.4 kWh 192-cell battery that recharges on 120- or 240-volt power. Cadillac did not announce the overall fuel economy, the electric range, or the charging time of the CT6, but expect somewhere around 90 mpg-e, 30 to 40 miles of EV range, and a charging time of about four hours.

Helping drivers better hone the CT6 PHEV to their driving styles (or needs at the time), the new sedan includes three operating modes: Normal, Sport, and Hold. Normal mode is best for day-to-day driving and delivers the best overall efficiency. Sport remaps the accelerator and stiffens up the suspension for a sports-sedan-like feel. Hold allows the driver to reserve battery life for in-city driving by forcing the gasoline engine to do all of the work.

Also a part of the package is on-demand regenerative braking. In its normal mode, this system uses the kinetic energy from braking and converts it to electricity for storage in the battery pack. The driver can also enter regenerative braking by pulling on a paddle behind the steering wheel. This not only charges the battery, but also acts as almost a downshift when entering corners.

Cadillac didn’t make mention of when the CT6 PHEV will hit showrooms, nor did it talk about pricing, so stay tuned for these details at a later date.