Cadillac Getting New “Mega-Powerful” V8

 

The V8 engine seems to be a dying breed in today’s world. Though endeared by many, the eight cylinder is getting eclipsed by the latest generation of forced induction six-cylinders. That’s why Sam Abuelsamid wrote an article for Naviagant Research Blog, entitled, After a Century, the Era of the Cadillac V8 Is Over, contending that the Cadillac V8 was largely a thing of the past. However, in a strange occurrence, Cadillac CEO Johan De Nysschen showed up to challenge this notion, commenting directly on the article,

In retrospect, the conclusion that Cadillac was finished with purpose-built V8s was too premature in the first place. Cadillac executives confirmed in February of this year that the company would be bringing a twin-turbo V8 to their CT6 model. It could have been pretty well surmised that this was not the same V8 mounted in the CTS-V and would have had to have been a new design.

It’s been a subject of conversation for quite some time now that the company was in the process of working through the design of a brand new V8 engine. Unfortunately, however, we don’t know anything about the new engine, except that it will be , in the words of De Nysschen,

“another state-of-the-art mega powerful highly efficient new 8-cylinder from Cadillac, besides the CTS-V engine”

The Cadillac CTS-V engine referred to above is an iteration of the 6.2 liter V8 that is derived from the Corvette Z06. Producing 640 horsepower from a direct injected supercharged setup, the engine propels the CTS-V to 60 miles an hour in a mere 3.7 seconds.

As far as where the new engine will land, it’s likely that it will be offered in the new flagship model to be slotted above the CT6. Whether or not the development costs of an all-new engine are warranted with the Corvette 6.2 available and already tweaked to Cadillac standards for the CTS-V, is another issue entirely though.

However, it is probably correct to assume that, while the V8 will soldier on for quite some time in the Cadillac line and elsewhere, its time in the mainstream has largely come and gone. The industry has largely gone the direction of the six cylinders, with four cylinders as base model variants; the V8 is only a flagship option now, if offered at all.

Cadillac is now relying on GM’s 2.0 liter turbocharged in-line four cylinder as a bread and butter engine. The four produces a whopping 272 horsepower, and 3.0 and 3.6 liter V6s are availed in both naturally aspirated and twin-turbocharged forms as well.

What do you think is the future of Cadillac power-trains? Drop us a comment below.