There Won't Be A Cadillac CT6-V But It Will Get A Twin-Turbo V8 Anyway
2016 marks the beginning of an onslaught of new cars with new names from Cadillac, starting with the new XT5 crossover and CT6 sedan. I just went to sunny Los Angeles to drive the latter, and naturally my first question was this: When's the V version coming out? Probably never, and here's why.
You'll get a full review of the CT6 early next week, but what I can tell you now is that it's a very compelling vehicle; one that debuts an all-new aluminum architecture, a bevy of neat technology and features exclusive to this segment, a surprisingly low curb weight for its size, and a new 3.0-liter twin turbo V6 engine putting out more than 400 horsepower.
But a CT6-V isn't in the cards, Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen told me at the launch.
"No V version is being contemplated at this point," he said. "It's just not what we want to do with it." Also, that monster supercharged V8 engine from the CTS-V (and Corvette Z06) won't work for packaging reasons, he said.
The CT6 is a talented machine, but its talents definitely lie more on the luxury side of things than brutal outright insane track-day dominance—and De Nysschen said he wants to keep the V brand focused on that kind of thing. V is about being almost "brutal," he said, pushing the boundaries of performance. I'd add that's how BMW's M brand used to be in the '80s and '90s until they started sticking the badge on every fast crossover in the lineup. (It's the same reason there won't be a Cadillac Escalade-V, even though it would probably sell well and make a ton of money.)
But while there won't be a CT6-V, de Nysschen reminded me that a twin-turbo V8 is currently in development for the sedan. And he said the goal is to make it refined, smooth and worthy of a top-tier luxury machine.
So what about those customers who don't really care about track days and just buy the top-tier M and AMG cars because they get bragging rights over the biggest price tags? Which are, I'd wager, the majority of those customers these days?
"Our philosophy is we don't need V to do that," de Nysschen told me. For example, he said, Cadillac could evolve the V-Sport line to fill those needs.
Fair enough. You won't be wanting for speed in the twin-turbo V6 CT6, but I welcome that twin-turbo V8 anyway, regardless of what letters are in its name.
Photo credit Cadillac
Contact the author at patrick@jalopnik.com.