Design boss hints at other Elmiraj inspired models

General Motors' Vice President of Global Design has revealed some new details about the Cadillac CT6.

Speaking to Automotive News, Ed Welburn said the upcoming model will be "different" but won't represent a change in the brand's styling direction. He also confirmed the car won't be influenced by the critically-acclaimed Elmiraj concept.

However, Welburn said the concept has "more of an influence on some other things we’re working on for Cadillac." The designer declined to elaborate but Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen has confirmed a range-topping model will be launched by 2020 and go head-to-head with long-wheelbase versions of the Audi A8, BMW 7-Series and Mercedes S-Class. It will reportedly be called either the CT8 or CT9.

Goes on sale next year

General Motors has revealed new information about the highly anticipated CT6 flagship.

During a briefing last week, executives confirmed the model will be a technological showcase and feature the Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system which can control the car's steering, braking and acceleration under certain conditions. In order to do this, the system uses radar, ultrasonic sensors, cameras and GPS data to determine the car's position and the location of other vehicles and obstacles.

The CT6 will also be equipped with a digital rearview mirror that provides a live video of what is behind the vehicle.

Executives were coy on powertrain details but confirmed there will be a plug-in hybrid variant. There's no word on specifics but it will reportedly enable the sedan to accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than six seconds and travel up to 75 mph (120 km/h) in pure electric mode.

Cadillac is reportedly going to use aluminum body panels for the construction of its upcoming CT6 flagship. There aren’t many details at the moment, but with the reportedly smaller footprint than rivals like the Mercedes S-Class, the CT6 could be one of the lightest in the luxury segment (unless the new BMW 7-Series' carbon fiber trumps it...).

Automobile Magazine suggests that this would mean the CT6 would not only take on the usual flagship sedans, but four-door coupes as well (think Mercedes CLS or BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe).

This could also translate into excellent handling, if any of Cadillac’s new models are to be used as examples. Both the baby-ATS and the larger CTS have been praised for their surefooted yet fun nature through the bends.

In fact, it’s not the CLS or 6 Gran Coupe that will be the CT6’s main rivals, but probably the very rakish Jaguar XJ, a car that also emphasizes the use of aluminum and takes a slightly sportier approach to the luxury formula compared to its rivals.

Model arrives late next year

Cadillac has announced the 2016 CT6 will become the company's first model to feature a "streaming video mirror."

Designed to improve rearward visibility, the digital rearview mirror features a 1280 by 240 pixel TFT-LCD display with a pixel density of 171 PPI. Images are feed to the mirror by a high-definition video camera which has a water-shedding hydrophobic coating to ensure it provides a clear image regardless of weather conditions.

Cadillac says the mirror improves field of vision by approximately 300 percent. The automaker also says it reduces glare and provides a "crisper image in low-light situations" compared to traditional auto-dimming rearview mirrors.

If that seems like overkill, owners will be able to revert it to a traditional electrochromatic rearview mirror by simply flipping the toggle on the bottom of the mirror.

Cadillac CEO Johan de Nysschen announced today that the new CT6 luxury flagship sedan will be unveiled on March 31 at the New York Auto Show. GM invested $300 million it its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant to build the vehicle, which will be manufactured using a unique combination of joining techniques.

“For the Cadillac CT6 we have developed additional new body construction techniques and technologies allowing various types of advanced and lightweight materials to be combined within the manufacturing environment like never before,” Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen said today at the Washington Auto Show.

Positioned above the CTS and XTS, the CT6 is said to have the agility and efficiency of a smaller vehicle when it goes on sale in the fourth quarter this year. GM has added a new body shop with new tooling and advanced technologies (including 205 robots) to the plant. The fully automated, roughly 138,000-square-foot (12,820-square-meter) shop is dedicated to the manufacturing of the high-end luxury sedan.

“We have invested $300 million in the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant to make this possible. These actions will allow us to advance the art of manufacturing and take craftsmanship and manufacturing technology to a new level,” de Nysschen added.

Material joining techniques prominent in the body construction of the CT6 include Patented Aluminum Spot Welding Technology, Aluminum Laser Welding, Self-Piercing Rivets (which are able to join different types of materials together with a clean appearance), and Flow Drill Screws (which are able to join different types or materials and used in conjunction with adhesive). Aluminum arc welding and structural adhesive are also separately used for CT6 body assembly.

“The result is a top-level large luxury sedan, with class-leading body stiffness that generates excellent driving characteristics and impressive fuel economy without compromises to safety, comfort or quality,” said Travis Hester, CT6 executive chief engineer.

Goes on sale in the fourth quarter

Cadillac has released details about how the CT6 flagship model will be built
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Scheduled to go on sale in the fourth quarter of the year, Cadillac's new range-topping CT6 sedan will be produced at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant in Michigan which has gone through a series of revisions to prepare for the model's arrival. 205 robots have been added along with a new 138,000 square foot shop with new tooling as part of a $300 million investment necessary to create CT6's multi-material structure which combines several types of joining methods.

The model's body construction will include patented aluminum spot welding technology, aluminum laser welding, self-piercing rivets as well as flow drill screws. Moreover, Cadillac mentions aluminum arc welding and structural adhesive are also separately used for the body assembly. CT6 executive chief engineer says "never before has an automaker brought this combination of joining techniques together for a single vehicle." In addition, the body construction "resembles an orchestra as the robotic arms move in and out around the vehicle" to create what they consider to be the stiffest body in its class.

Interestingly, Detroit News' David Shepardson tweeted a short while ago that Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen said the CT6 will be introduced on March 31 so it will be likely seen in the flesh at the New York Auto Show.

The 2016 Cadillac CT6, the brand's new flagship, has just been revealed in a new ad airing during Sunday night's Academy Awards ceremony.

A Cadillac spokesperson confirmed a sneak peak of the CT6 was shown in the 60-second spot that was part of the company's new series of ads, also making their TV debut Sunday. Cadillac will show all of the CT6 on March 31, ahead of its formal launch for this year's New York Auto Show.

In addition to inaugurating the brand's new naming scheme, we know the CT6 will be built at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant and be one of the lightest cars in its class that includes the BMW 7-series and Jaguar XJ, and both a twin-turbocharged V6 and plug-in hybrid versions on tap. It also gets new tech like a mirror with streaming video capability in its bid to position Cadillac firmly with the top-selling luxury brands.

Expect more details to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Will have a new twin-turbo V8

The 2016 Cadillac CT6 has been spied undergoing testing in the United States.
Since the model was teased during yesterday's Oscars presentation, we'll skip over the styling details and delve into the engine lineup which Cadillac CEO Johan de Nysschen just confirmed today.

While de Nysschen was coy on specifics, he revealed the entry-level CT6 will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine during an Ask Me Anything event with Jalopnik this morning. The executive didn't mention performance specifications but the engine produces 272 bhp (202 kW) and 295 lb-ft (399 Nm) of torque in the ATS and CTS.

More interestingly, de Nysschen also confirmed the model will be offered with a twin-turbo V6 and a twin-turbo V8. Little is known about the latter engine but the company's twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 produces between 410 bhp (305 kW) and 455 bhp (339 kW) - depending on application.