For some time, it was unclear whether Cadillac would continue making V-8 engines. Gas prices were high, and GM executives felt that the trend toward downsizing could force even luxury automakers to abandon the traditional V-8. Thankfully, and after painstaking deliberation, Cadillac made the right decision: It will make another V-8. Having spoken with CEO Johan de Nysschen this week, we can give you a few more details than what we knew when news of the new Cadillac V-8 first broke early last year.
Cadillac’s new V-8 is not based on GM’s small-block architecture, and it doesn’t have any commonality with the supercharged 6.2-liter engine in the current CTS-V. Instead, the new V-8 will be twin-turbocharged, and it will feature a displacement of 4.2 liters. That’s an unusual number?most competitors, such as Mercedes-Benz and Audi, have elected to go with a displacement of just under 4.0 liters, in order to avoid an important financial barrier in the Chinese market. But Cadillac has concluded that the demand for V-8 engines in China is so low that this wouldn’t be a consideration.
The launch of the new engine will happen in the CT6, with the V-8 tuned to produce power “in the upper 400s,” says de Nysschen. Sportiness is not the main focus here, and therefore the eight-cylinder model won’t be a V-series car. We expect the engine to be offered in the CT6 Platinum instead, wearing a 4.2 TT badge on the trunk. It will be mated to GM&...