GM Confirms 420 HP 3.6L LF3 Twin Turbocharged V6 for 2014 CTS

[FenwickHockey65]

I don't have the slightest clue what our Colorado/Canyon will get powertrain wise.

Seems like it'll be Cadillac only for the time being, although I'm sure that will change soon.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by rayhawk

I'm not sure how this would fit into the camaro lineup. It is more expensive than a V8, less powerful, and almost certainly heavier. I doubt it even has better real world fuel economy. It fits well for a Cadillac, as buyers of those cars like the idea of a smaller displacement DOHC turbocharged engine, but I just don't see where it fits in for the Camaro. As for the ATS-V, it would be appropriate, but I still would rather have the LT1.

It does look like a well engineered engine, but I would prefer the LT1.

Exactly. Look at the numbers & compare them to the current Camaro SS. They line up almost exactly. The LT1 is going to be more powerful & more efficient than the LS3 & L99.

So what's the benefit of offering a more expensive, less powerful, less efficient engine? Who does that appeal to?

Originally Posted by el ess X

You can bet it's going to end up in the Camaro some way. It'll make the N/A V8 more affordable more than likely.

Adding complexity makes things more expensive, not less. And if they add it to the Camaro line up, it would be a step down from the 6.2L in just about every way, so therefore they'd need to jack the price of V8s way up in order to give this thing a spot in the lineup.

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

Awesome! Just Awesome!

You guys surprised at the power output shouldn't be. That number is playing it pretty dang safe in all honesty, and is capable of much more!

I didn't think GM would have the guts to go over 400 HP and torque on this thing but they did....props to them.

Now we have a big sedan (and with the 8 speeds) and its basically as quick as the Camaro SS.

Can you guys imagine what a powerful engine like this (including V8) and 8 speeds in the next gen...much lighter Camaro will do? Its going to be freaking amazing.

Maybe I missed it, but does anyone have any idea how much this larger CTS on the longer Alpha chasis weighs???

They haven't said yet, its official unveil isn't for a little while yet. But I bet it weighs about the same, if not a touch less, than the current CTS. Which would put it very close to the Camaro's current weight. And that makes sense too. If it has the same power & torque as an SS, and hits 60 in the same time (4.6 is the 'official' estimate from GM on the Camaro SS), chances are the two cars will weigh about the same -especially when they're from the same company.

[FenwickHockey65]

Displacement taxes could be a factor.

[Apex Motorsports]

This is good news for performance enthusiasts. Very good news. I have a feeling something is up......

[Angrybird 12]

I think there is a certain negative view towards V8 engines, even those that get nearly the same fuel economy and power that a twin turbo V6 does. Just look at the Ecoboost V6 in the ford trucks. Even though the power and economy of it is close to the base V8 available but costing more money they can't seem to make enough of the Ecoboost engined trucks. The Ecoboost v6 has 5 more HP and 40 ftlbs of torque more than the 5.0 V8. But it only gets 1 mpg more than the V8.
Then it costs about $1K more than the V8.

Is it really worth it? I still think its mostly public perception that V8's are bad and V6's are good.

[Silverlsinva]

I love this new But damn this means its prolly gonna go in a Buck GN rebirth and it will be another car on my list of what I might buy when my truck is paid off GM your making my life a lil harder to decide what car to buy from you lol But I see it as a good thing. I guess ill have to do a lot of test driving.=0)

[Kyle2k]

Originally Posted by Angrybird 12

I think there is a certain negative view towards V8 engines, even those that get nearly the same fuel economy and power that a twin turbo V6 does. Just look at the Ecoboost V6 in the ford trucks. Even though the power and economy of it is close to the base V8 available but costing more money they can't seem to make enough of the Ecoboost engined trucks. The Ecoboost v6 has 5 more HP and 40 ftlbs of torque more than the 5.0 V8. But it only gets 1 mpg more than the V8.
Then it costs about $1K more than the V8.

Is it really worth it? I still think its mostly public perception that V8's are bad and V6's are good.

Lol, you base it on raw numbers and not where the power/torque are located in the power band. People that use their truck to tow things might beg to differ.

[Bhobbs]

Originally Posted by The_Blur

I'd like to see this thrown into a Camaro. Here's what I want to see:

• 6.2L SC Camaro ZL1
• 7.0L Camaro Z28
• 6.2L Camaro SS—call it SS376
• 3.6L TT Camaro SS—call it SS220TT or SS220FI or SS220
• 3.6L Camaro LT
• 2.0L T Camaro LS

I can dream.

That's one hell of a dream. We will probably see a TTV6 Z/28 if there is a Z/28 at all. I hope it doesn't turn out that way but unless the SS gets the LF3 to compete with the GT, then I don't see what will power the Z/28.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by Kyle2k

Lol, you base it on raw numbers and not where the power/torque are located in the power band. People that use their truck to tow things might beg to differ.

That is true, I wonder though what are the maintenance and repair costs going to be compared to the V8? In other words overall cost of operating.

[Rapid Runner]

yet.. BMW still gets better milage

And I think I might be interested in a SRX now

[POS Dakota]

I'll believe the "no waiting" on the trasmission shifts when I see it.
So far every auto I've ever tried with paddles has been complete crap.

The engine sounds extremely interesting though.

[GretchenGotGrowl]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Exactly. Look at the numbers & compare them to the current Camaro SS. They line up almost exactly. The LT1 is going to be more powerful & more efficient than the LS3 & L99.


So what's the benefit of offering a more expensive, less powerful, less efficient engine? Who does that appeal to?

We don't have the SAE certified numbers for the LT1 yet, so we can't really compare. I can tell you from experience, having TQ that comes on instantly like a TT engine and maintains most of that TQ all the way put to 5500 RPM is completely different that an engine that peaks early and drops off quickly. It remains to be seen what the power curves look like for both engines, but it appeals to people like me.

Adding complexity makes things more expensive, not less. And if they add it to the Camaro line up, it would be a step down from the 6.2L in just about every way, so therefore they'd need to jack the price of V8s way up in order to give this thing a spot in the lineup.
They haven't said yet, its official unveil isn't for a little while yet. But I bet it weighs about the same, if not a touch less, than the current CTS. Which would put it very close to the Camaro's current weight. And that makes sense too. If it has the same power & torque as an SS, and hits 60 in the same time (4.6 is the 'official' estimate from GM on the Camaro SS), chances are the two cars will weigh about the same -especially when they're from the same company.

Consider it as an optional engine like the Ecoboost for the F-150. You can choose the LT1 or the LF3. In that case you might charge extra for the LF3, not the LT1. You used to do that with Camaros all the time (SS350, SS396, etc...). I don't see how it has to make the V8 more expensive.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Cadillac Twin-Turbo Debuts in All-New 2014 CTS Sedan
General Motors

March 18, 2013

HOLY CRAP!!!

Originally Posted by GretchenGotGrowl

We don't have the SAE certified numbers for the LT1 yet, so we can't really compare. I can tell you from experience, having TQ that comes on instantly like a TT engine and maintains most of that TQ all the way put to 5500 RPM is completely different that an engine that peaks early and drops off quickly. It remains to be seen what the power curves look like for both engines, but it appeals to people like me.


Consider it as an optional engine like the Ecoboost for the F-150. You can choose the LT1 or the LF3. In that case you might charge extra for the LF3, not the LT1. You used to do that with Camaros all the time (SS350, SS396, etc...). I don't see how it has to make the V8 more expensive.

Because of the cam phasing in the LT1, the torque curves are likely to be similar in shape...obviously more powerful in the LT1, and flatter in the TTV6.

I'm excited for this engine - can't wait to see it go to work in the ATS-V!!

[GretchenGotGrowl]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wyndham

HOLY CRAP!!!



Because of the cam phasing in the LT1, the torque curves are likely to be similar in shape...obviously more powerful in the LT1, and flatter in the TTV6.

I'm excited for this engine - can't wait to see it go to work in the ATS-V!!

Yeah, the LT1 is likely to be flatter than the LS3/L99, but I guess we have to wait to see what both will look like.

I'm pretty excited about this, too, even if it doesn't make it in the Camaro. We we started hearing HP ranges of ~350 for the LF3 I assumed it was being tuned for a truck and wouldn't make it in a car.

I also am excited because I want to see if we can adapt some of this to the LFX engine. Nice to see we ended up at about the same CR on my build as they used for the LF3.