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I just saw a report on the latest thing Cadillac is working on. It looks pretty cool but I don’t see a time when I would possibly drive a car and take my hands of the wheel. The story starts at the 3:00 minute mark if you want to jump right to it.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment.
Here are some photos of the new Cadillac CT6 that are supplied by Cadillac. I really like the extra room in the back seat. It is also the first Cadillac to offer the new 8 speed transmission. The details on that are below the pictures. I can see this becoming the daily driver for many of the people in our Cadillac club as it is what we have been asking for a long time.
Patented design offers seamless performance, supports stop/start tech
DETROIT – Cadillac advances its legacy of technologically driven performance and luxury with the Hydra-Matic 8L45 paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission, which debuts with the all-new 2016 Cadillac CT6.
Matched with the next-generation 3.6L V-6, the 8L45 transmission is based on the same acclaimed General Motors-designed eight-speed automatic family introduced on the Corvette Stingray – with the higher-capacity 8L90 version paired with the CT6’s available 3.0L twin-turbo V-6 engine.
“The shift performance of the new 8L45 paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission complements the CT6’s new threshold for efficient luxury to help take it to an even higher level,” said Bill Goodrich, assistant chief engineer for eight-speed automatic transmissions. “The shifts are quick and nearly imperceptible, establishing a benchmark for Cadillac.”
The 8L45 eight-speed shares the architecture and design features of the Hydra-Matic 8L90 transmission, but it is scaled and calibrated for the performance envelope of the new 3.6L V-6. It also incorporates components to support the engine’s stop/start technology.
Stop/start shuts down the engine to reduce fuel consumption when vehicle comes to a complete stop, and it automatically restarts the engine when the driver takes his or her foot off the brake pedal.
In addition to stop/start efficiency, the 8L45 eight-speed’s wide 7.0 overall ratio and numerically lower top gear offer an up to a GM estimated 5 percent fuel economy benefit over a comparable six-speed automatic transmission.
A numerically higher 4.62 first gear ratio also helps drivers start off more confidently, with a greater feeling of immediate performance.
“The 8L45 was designed to enhance the CT6’s driving experience, offering a strong balance between performance and efficiency,” said Goodrich. “Perhaps its best attribute will be that customers really won’t notice it – they’ll simply enjoy the CT6’s seamless, smooth driving experience and on-demand performance.”
Compact, mass-efficient design
With four simple gearsets for optimal efficiency and five clutches (two brake clutches and three rotating clutches), creative packaging enables GM’s eight-speed automatic to fit the same space as the previous six-speed automatic, with a lower weight.
The new 8L45’s smaller package size enables approximately 33 pounds (15 kg) mass saving compared to the 8L90 eight-speed – a transmission that was already lighter than GM’s 6L80 six-speed automatic.
Smaller steps between gears, compared to a six-speed transmission, keep the engine within its optimal rpm range, making the most of its horsepower and torque to optimize performance and efficiency.
Ratios compared: Hydra-Matic 8L45 vs. 8L90
Additionally, friction-reducing design features – including synthetic fluid – and lower spin losses via a powerflow that uses only two open clutches per gear and an off-axis binary vane pump contribute further to efficiency.
The torque converter design with turbine damper enhances refinement, particularly during low-speed gear changes, for smoother performance.
Architectural features
More than 1,100 computer-aided engineering analyses were made during the development of the Hydra-Matic eight-speed transmission family – resulting in more than two dozen patents – to ensure strength, durability, performance and refinement.
Architectural highlights include:
A one-piece case with an integral bell housing for enhanced powertrain stiffness
The grounding clutches are located rearward of the middle of the structure, outside the gearsets, and are splined to the case, eliminating the need for a the center support, which reduces weight
The rotating clutches are located near the front of the transmission, with short oil feed channels, to support very fast shifts
A unique oil-storage accumulator is incorporated to support stop/start technology. It ensures the clutches have oil for immediate take-off when the engine is re-started
World-class shift time quickness and responsiveness are accomplished with a Gen II controls system, which works with variable force solenoid technology and three internal Hall Effect speed sensors
The transmission controller is mounted externally and its processor executes hundreds of calculations and commands every 6.25 milliseconds.
The Hydra-Matic 8L45 and 8L90 transmissions are built at GM’s Toledo, Ohio, and Silao, Mexico, transmission facilities. They will also be offered in the 2016 Cadillac CTS and ATS, including CTS-V and ATS-V.
FAST FACT: In 1941, Cadillac was one of the first major automakers to offer a fully automatic transmission. That early Hydra-Matic transmission was also paired with Cadillac V-8 engines to drive M24 Chaffee tanks during World War II.
Well I am sad I couldn’t make it back to NYC for the reveal but I have all the info and I have buddies taking photos for us that I will be sharing as if I was there. This first video if from the reveal that happened just hours ago. I would love to hear your thoughts. I think it is a huge step up from the XTS myself. Not sure about the base engine but at this light weight it should be ok.
Here are the specs. This car is very light compared to other cars in it’s class.
Advanced technology creates a new formula for the prestige sedan
NEW YORK – Cadillac tonight held the world premiere of the 2016 CT6, elevating it to the top of its range and creating a new formula for the prestige sedan through the integration of new technologies developed to achieve dynamic performance, efficiency and agility previously unseen in large luxury cars.
CT6 marks Cadillac’s long-awaited return to the global prestige luxury segment, and is one of eight all-new vehicles the brand will launch by the end of the decade as part of its $12-billion product investment to expand and elevate.
“The CT6 is nothing less than an entirely new approach to premium luxury – and an approach only Cadillac can offer,” said Johan de Nysschen, president of Cadillac. “It is a bold endeavor with unmatched dynamism that reignites a passion for driving in large luxury vehicles. In short, it is prestige luxury reimagined.”
Cadillac CT6 takes drivers to a higher threshold of involvement, with technologies that make them more aware of their surroundings, chassis systems – including active technologies – that make the most of control in all conditions, and powertrains led by an all-new Cadillac Twin Turbo engine that rewards with stirring power on demand. Passengers are ensconced in the brand’s ultimate expression of comfort, luxury and connectivity.
The CT6 features one of the industry’s most advanced automotive body structures, an aluminum-intensive architecture that incorporates 11 different materials to achieve strength, performance and efficiency thresholds practically unmatched among the world’s elite luxury performance sedans.
It is one of the world’s lightest and most agile full-size luxury performance sedans, with dimensions and spaciousness on par with BMW’s short-wheelbase 7-Series, but the approximate weight, agility and efficiency of the smaller Cadillac CTS – which is lighter than a BMW 5-Series. The CT6 is lighter than the BMW 5-Series, 6-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
“We reinvented the approach to structural underpinnings in the quest to develop a unique formula for the prestige luxury performance sedan,” said de Nysschen. “Melding that new approach with the dynamics conveyed in our other award-winning rear-driven sedans – including V-Series – results in something that has been lost in the segment: the exhilaration of a true driver’s car.”
Cadillac focused on three pillars that would coalesce to deliver the CT6’s dynamic experience – and do so with higher levels of presence, elegance and technological innovation to help elevate Cadillac around the world.
“Luxury brands are built from the top down,” said Cadillac Chief Marketing Officer Uwe Ellinghaus. “Adding a dynamic, top-of-the-range car is central to Cadillac’s elevation and global growth.”
Agility
All-new Omega architecture features 13 high-pressure aluminum castings in the body structure, creating a lighter, stiffer structure that also enables “bank vault” levels of quietness
All-new Cadillac 3.0L Twin Turbo engine offer an estimated 400 horsepower (298 kW) and 400 lb-ft of torque (543 Nm), making it among the most power-dense V-6 engines in the segment, at 133 horsepower (99 kW) per liter
Efficiency is enhanced with the industry’s first application of cylinder deactivation technology on a turbocharged V-6 engine, as well as an eight-speed automatic transmission
2.0L I-4 turbocharged and new 3.6L V-6 naturally aspirated engines, each with a new eight-speed automatic transmission
Active-on-demand all-wheel drive featuring a continuously variable clutch that infinitely varies power delivery to the front wheels – up to 959 lb-ft (1,300 Nm) – to make the most of handling and stability in all conditions
Advanced performance chassis system designed to deliver an engaging driving experience – with segment-best ride, handling and isolation qualities – through the use of Active Rear Steer, Magnetic Ride Control and selectable drive modes
Auto Vehicle Hold – a driver-selectable feature that prevents forward/rearward vehicle creep when the driver’s foot is off the brake. It reduces fatigue during heavy stop-and-go traffic and improves vehicle control on steep grades.
Connectivity
True 360-degree camera view around the vehicle, displayed on the Cadillac CUE screen, helps reduce blind spots around the vehicle
Industry-first surround-view video recording system that can record front and rear views while driving, and 360 degrees of recording if the vehicle’s security system is activated
Enhanced Night Vision helps identify people, large animals and more via heat signatures on a display in the driver information center
Rear Camera Mirror is the industry’s first application of full-display technology, combining camera technology with the conventional inside mirror to project an unobstructed view in the mirror
New Advanced Park Assist integrates automatic braking into automatic parking
New Pedestrian Collision Mitigation technology provides pedestrian detection indications, alerts and automatic braking to avoid collisions
Large, 10.2-inch-diagonal CUE interface screen with 1280 x 720 HD resolution and console mounted touchpad. The capacitive-touch screen reacts faster when scrolling and recognizes handwriting for address/points of interest search. The touchpad allows control of CUE features while resting an arm on the center console rather than touching the screen
Wireless phone charging and OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot.
Indulgence
Bold American luxury design, distinctly Cadillac – a true rear-wheel drive car, with a dramatic dash-to-axle ratio offering classic long, low proportion and luxury presence that commands attention
Lightweight and a design that conveys it. Dynamic use of line work and sophistication and precision in surfacing – CT6 looks as light and agile as it actually is
Elevates modern craftsmanship with curated environments that are rich, expressive and spacious, combining luxurious leathers, exotic woods, and carbon fiber in unprecedented ways
Standard Indirect Fire light-emitting diode front lighting system offers state-of-the-art, more efficient illumination for a distinctive appearance that is both technical and expressive in its character and personality
Extended comfort seats offer a refined, luxurious appearance. Features include premium Opus leather, five massage programs, reclining rear seats and Cadillac’s first application of woven-in-seat heating elements
All-new Articulating Rear Seat package offers new thresholds for comfort and luxury, with approximately 3.3 inches (83 mm) of adjustable seat travel, lumbar adjustment, tilting cushions, massage feature, heating/cooling features and armrest with media controls, including HDMI and USB ports
Comprehensive rear seat infotainment system with articulating 10-inch-diagonal screens that retract into the front seatbacks, along with connectivity for brought-in devices
Quadzone climate system, which employs a secondary full-HVAC system that allows passengers to personalize temperature and airflow for each seating position, along with ionizing air purification
Cadillac-first Bose® Panaray® audio system features 34 strategically placed speakers for exceptional dynamic range and clarity, including the first automotive application of design and technology elements from Bose home entertainment and professional audio products
Concierge welcome lighting that illuminates the outside of the car as the owner approaches, based on the signal from the passive entry fob
Hands-free power deck lid operation
Generous rear-seat legroom – 40.4 inches (1027 mm) – and segment-best interior storage, including 2.2L center console storage volume.
About the architecture
The body-in-white of the 2016 Cadillac CT6 is structurally lighter and stiffer than any other dynamically similar vehicle such as the BMW 5-Series or Audi A6. That state-of-the-art architecture is the foundation for its benchmark-establishing agility and vault-like solidity and quietness.
The new architecture has a mixed-material structure with all-aluminum exterior body panels. Engineers conducted 50 million hours of computational analysis – including 200,000 structural simulations – in its development, generating 21 patents.
“Every panel of the body-in-white is optimized with innovative joining techniques,” said Travis Hester, executive chief engineer, Cadillac CT6. “It’s an uncompromising approach that provides the best balance of strength, lightness and refinement.”
Thirteen high-pressure aluminum die castings in the lower body construction reduce complexity and are significant contributors to the architecture’s low mass. The CT6 is approximately 218 pounds (99 kg) lighter than a comparable vehicle using predominantly high-strength steel.
GM’s most advanced body manufacturing methods are used to fabricate the structure, including proprietary aluminum spot welding technology that is more efficient and helps reduce weight. Laser welding, flow drill fasteners and self-piercing rivets are also employed, along with roughly 591 feet (180 meters) of advanced structural adhesives.
Chassis and suspension highlights
The CT6’s rigid, lightweight architecture is the foundation for its segment-challenging agility, enhanced by active-on-demand all-wheel drive, active rear steering and Magnetic Ride Control on the available Active Chassis System.
“To put it succinctly, every wheel drives and every wheel steers,” said Hester. “And with Magnetic Ride Control, every wheel’s dampening is adjusted by the millisecond, for responsiveness and driver control unparalleled in the segment.”
The chassis system also balances responsiveness with segment-best isolation for exceptional refinement. In the front, the CT6 features a lightweight, aluminum-intensive high-arm multilink short-long arm front suspension. At the rear is a five-link independent suspension that uses multiple outer ball joints and cross braces for optimal handling and steering precision.
Active rear steering with the Active Chassis System contributes to greater low-speed agility and high-speed stability. In parking lots, the turning circle is only 37 feet (11.4 m), comparable with the CTS, which has a 114.6-inch wheelbase vs. the CT6’s 122.4-inch wheelbase.
Active-on-demand all-wheel drive is also part of the Active Chassis System, making the most of handling and stability in all weather conditions. Its lightweight, compact design and two-gear transfer case enable greater fuel economy than conventional fixed-torque all-wheel drive systems. All-wheel drive is standard on all CT6 six-cylinder models.
Selectable Tour, Snow/Ice and Sport modes allow the driver to tailor the CT6’s advanced chassis system for practically any weather or road condition.
Bold proportions, exquisite attention to detail
A bold proportion dominated by a long hood and sleek upper body distinguishes the CT6, evolves the brand portfolio and reinforces the agility enabled by the lightweight architecture.
“This is a car designed for passionate drivers,” said Andrew Smith, executive director, Cadillac Global Design. “CT6 is low, wide and sleek, which is just what you’d expect in a lightweight performance sedan. There is a great dash-to-axle proportion that reinforces the dynamics of the rear-wheel-drive architecture.”
The “face” of Cadillac evolves with the CT6 through new executions of the grille and signature lighting elements. The vertical light signature, for example, features new LED light blades that frame the front of the vehicle, with forward illumination from technologically advanced Indirect Fire LED headlamps.
Proportion, craftsmanship and technology also define the CT6’s cabin. Cadillac designers aimed to deliver a bold, elegant and spacious interior. That elegance is expressed in curated environments and in surface sculpture featuring authentic materials, exquisite details and elevated executions of the brand’s signature cut-and-sew interiors. The CT6 uses state-of-the-art technology to reward its occupants with high levels of comfort, connectivity and safety.
“Never before has such craftsmanship and technology been so seamlessly interwoven,” said Smith. “The CT6 represents our next step in the continuing evolution of the Cadillac brand portfolio.”
Production and manufacturing
Production of the 2016 Cadillac CT6 begins at the end of 2015 for the North American market at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant, which underwent a $384-million investment in tooling and other upgrades to support the manufacture of the CT6 and two other products. Chinese-market models will be assembled at an all-new facility in China starting in early 2016.
The CT6 also will be offered in Europe, Korea, Japan, Israel and the Middle East. Production for those markets begins at Detroit-Hamtramck in early 2016.
Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. Today Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio featuring dramatic design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com. Cadillac’s media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com
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2016 CADILLAC CT6 PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS (NORTH AMERICA)
Model:
2016 Cadillac CT6
Body style / driveline:
RWD or AWD, 5-passenger large luxury performance sedan
Manufacturing location:
Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly, Hamtramck, Mich.
Engines:
2.0L I-4 turbo DOHC DI – 265 hp / 198 kW (est.)
3.6L V-6 DOHC DI – 335 hp / 250 kW (est.)
3.0L V-6 twin-turbo DOHC DI – 400 hp / 298 kW (est.)
Transmissions:
Hydra-Matic 8L45 eight-speed automatic (2.0L turbo and 3.6L)
Hydra-Matic 8L90 eight-speed automatic (3.6L twin-turbo)
Brakes:
four-wheel disc with FNC rotors; four-channel ABS
Wheels:
18-inch, 19-inch and 20-inch
Wheelbase (in / mm):
122.4 / 3106
Length (in / mm):
204 / 5182
Width (in / mm):
74 / 1879
Height (in / mm):
57.9 / 1472
Est. curb weight (lb / kg):
less than 3700 / 1700