GM Announces Cadillac CT6 PHEV

[FenwickHockey65]

Cadillac CT6 to Offer Plug-In Hybrid Electric Technology
General Motors

April 19, 2015

• PHEV system expected to achieve fuel economy more than double that of conventional engine
• Total system power estimated 335 hp and 432 lb-ft of torque
• Includes Regen-on-Demand system

SHANGHAI - Cadillac announced today at the Shanghai Auto Show that it will add an available Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) propulsion system to its upcoming range-topping CT6 sedan. The new PHEV system is expected to more than double the fuel economy of the conventional powertrain offerings.

The CT6 PHEV takes advantage of the car’s advanced lightweight structure to create a unique formula for the prestige sedan.

“The first-ever CT6 is a technological showcase throughout, making it an ideal platform for Cadillac to offer its first plug-in hybrid,” said Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen. “In the CT6, Cadillac presents a new formula for prestige luxury. The advanced Plug-In Hybrid system is a key addition, providing a combination of exceptional fuel economy, crisp acceleration and strong electric-driving range.”

The CT6 Plug-In Hybrid system is designed to provide all-electric driving for most daily commutes, while maximizing fuel efficiency by providing blended power from the engine and battery at higher speeds and higher loads, even when energy is stored in the battery.

Battery Technology

The CT6 PHEV leverages General Motors’ proven battery technology. An 18.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack is located between the rear seat and the trunk. The battery system is comprised of 192 prismatic pouch cells, which use the latest generation cell chemistry found in other GM plug-in vehicles.

With industry-leading quality levels of fewer than two problems per million battery cells produced, more than 20 million battery cells have been made for more than 73,000 GM plug-ins on the road today. The CT6 PHEV battery system will use the company’s proven active thermal control system that maintains electric range over the battery system’s life.

The battery system can be charged using a 120V or 240V charger. Range estimates will be provided closer to U.S. launch of the PHEV option.

Electric Variable Transmission Delivers Exceptional Performance

All-electric launch performance is one of the key purchase considerations for PHEV and EV owners. The Cadillac CT6 PHEV combines an all-new rear wheel electric variable transmission (EVT) with exclusively designed motors to provide smooth, spirited acceleration.

The two-motor EVT also uses three planetary gears and is mated to a 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder engine with spark-ignited direct injection and variable valve technology. The use of a two-motor system provides smooth and seamless power through the entire driving range.

The combined system is capable of producing total system power of 335 hp (250 kW) and 432 lb-ft (586 Nm) of torque.

“The CT6 PHEV will deliver exceptional smooth, responsive acceleration that Cadillac and luxury sedan owners demand,” said Travis Hester, Cadillac CT6 executive chief engineer. “We have managed to achieve superior drive quality when compared to our PHEV competitors due to our exclusively designed EVT.”

Cadillac expects the fuel economy of the CT6 PHEV to be more than double that of the car’s conventional engine offerings, as measured by miles per gallon equivalent. Standards for measuring vehicle fuel economy differ between China and other global regions. Full details on the CT6 PHEV efficiency in the U.S. and other markets outside China will be released closer to the car’s introduction in those markets.

Regenerative Braking

The CT6 PHEV will feature iBooster and Electronic Stability Program tailored for hybrid electric vehicle regenerative blended braking to provide maximum energy recovery combined with reduced stopping distance and improved fuel economy over traditional regenerative braking systems.

The iBooster and ESP-hev technology balance the use of the CT6 electric motors to act as generators to slow the vehicle and capture as much kinetic energy as possible during low-demand scenarios, while blending the traditional hydraulic brakes with the motors in high-demand scenarios.

As expected from a driver’s car like the CT6, the system provides improved brake pedal feel and enables increased opportunity for engine stop-start operation.

Operating Modes and Regen on Demand

CT6 PHEV drivers will be able to select among three distinct operating modes: Normal, Sport and Hold.

• Normal: Designed for everyday commuting. Provides ideal balance of comfort, performance and maximized EV range and fuel economy.
• Sport: Provides more aggressive pedal mapping for improved off-the-line feel and a stiffer steering response.
• Hold: Allows owners to select when the CT6 PHEV uses its engine, reserving the remaining battery charge for later use. This feature helps enhance efficiency because owners who mix city and highway driving can save the battery charge for city travel, where the CT6 EV mode operates most efficiently.

The CT6 PHEV will also feature Regen on Demand, which allows the driver to temporarily regenerate energy from vehicle momentum into electricity and store in the battery pack for later use.

Regen on Demand supports a more-engaging driving experience by slowing the vehicle when entering a turn to better position it on the exit, much like downshifting with a manual transmission. Regen on Demand is engaged via steering-wheel paddles adapted from traditional performance cars.

[TheCaptain]

Cool.

[DGthe3]

Sounds like going to use the battery from the new Volt. If that is good for 50 miles in the Volt, that should give the CT6 something like 35 to 40?

[Bizaro]

what is this car supposed to compete with?

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Bizaro

what is this car supposed to compete with?

BMW 7 Series Hybrid, Porsche Panamera Hyrbid, Lexus LS 600h, possibly even the Tesla Model S

[King T]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Sounds like going to use the battery from the new Volt. If that is good for 50 miles in the Volt, that should give the CT6 something like 35 to 40?

Right in between those numbers

Naturally, one wonders how much all-electric range the plug-in Caddy will get. Unfortunately, the media department at Cadillac USA is not saying yet.

“Range estimates will be provided closer to U.S. launch of the PHEV option.”

However, apparently no one told product reps, or Mr. De Nysschen in China this weekend to not throw around some numbers:

“The CT6 PHEV leverages GM’s proven battery technology to provide greater than 60 km (37 miles) of all-electric range depending on speed and driver behavior.”

[King T]

[IBM]

Originally Posted by Bizaro

what is this car supposed to compete with?

Originally Posted by DGthe3

BMW 7 Series Hybrid, Porsche Panamera Hyrbid, Lexus LS 600h, possibly even the Tesla Model S

Isn't Mercedes coming out with an S-Class plug in?

[FenwickHockey65]

CT6 doesn't compete with S-class.

Something that does is on the way.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

CT6 doesn't compete with S-class.

Something that does is on the way.

If its not competing with the S class, 7 series, and A8 then what is the CT6 going up against?

[King T]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

If its not competing with the S class, 7 series, and A8 then what is the CT6 going up against?

I'm sure Fen can answer this better than me, but the CT6 competes but doesn't directly compete with the S-Class/A8/7-series/XJ. As we all know, the CT6 was signed off as the flagship for Cadillac before Johan de Nysschen came over (it is said to have been in development for 5 years). I think that is why the CT6 ended up with those other flagship dimensions. Nysschen told them "it's good, but not good enough" when you got competition like this


and


He knew it had to be better, and knew they could do better.

From Motor Trend:

Let’s make one thing clear: The 2016 Cadillac CT6 is not meant to directly compete with the Audi A8, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and the BMW 7 Series. Sure, the CT6 is properly sized to compete with big, heavyweight sedans, but that’s not what it’s meant to do. Cadillac has insisted the CT6 is more of a middleweight, but that doesn’t mean we can’t visually compare it to other similarly-sized sedans.

[King T]