Advanced technology creates a new formula for the prestige sedan
NEW YORK – Cadillac tonight held the world premiere of the 2016 CT6, elevating it to the top of its range and creating a new formula for the prestige sedan through the integration of new technologies developed to achieve dynamic performance, efficiency and agility previously unseen in large luxury cars.
CT6 marks Cadillac’s long-awaited return to the global prestige luxury segment, and is one of eight all-new vehicles the brand will launch by the end of the decade as part of its $12-billion product investment to expand and elevate.
“The CT6 is nothing less than an entirely new approach to premium luxury – and an approach only Cadillac can offer,” said Johan de Nysschen, president of Cadillac. “It is a bold endeavor with unmatched dynamism that reignites a passion for driving in large luxury vehicles. In short, it is prestige luxury reimagined.”
Cadillac CT6 takes drivers to a higher threshold of involvement, with technologies that make them more aware of their surroundings, chassis systems – including active technologies – that make the most of control in all conditions, and powertrains led by an all-new Cadillac Twin Turbo engine that rewards with stirring power on demand. Passengers are ensconced in the brand’s ultimate expression of comfort, luxury and connectivity.
The CT6 features one of the industry’s most advanced automotive body structures, an aluminum-intensive architecture that incorporates 11 different materials to achieve strength, performance and efficiency thresholds practically unmatched among the world’s elite luxury performance sedans.
It is one of the world’s lightest and most agile full-size luxury performance sedans, with dimensions and spaciousness on par with BMW’s short-wheelbase 7-Series, but the approximate weight, agility and efficiency of the smaller Cadillac CTS – which is lighter than a BMW 5-Series. The CT6 is lighter than the BMW 5-Series, 6-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
“We reinvented the approach to structural underpinnings in the quest to develop a unique formula for the prestige luxury performance sedan,” said de Nysschen. “Melding that new approach with the dynamics conveyed in our other award-winning rear-driven sedans – including V-Series – results in something that has been lost in the segment: the exhilaration of a true driver’s car.”
Cadillac focused on three pillars that would coalesce to deliver the CT6’s dynamic experience – and do so with higher levels of presence, elegance and technological innovation to help elevate Cadillac around the world.
“Luxury brands are built from the top down,” said Cadillac Chief Marketing Officer Uwe Ellinghaus. “Adding a dynamic, top-of-the-range car is central to Cadillac’s elevation and global growth.”
Agility
- All-new Omega architecture features 13 high-pressure aluminum castings in the body structure, creating a lighter, stiffer structure that also enables “bank vault” levels of quietness
- All-new Cadillac 3.0L Twin Turbo engine offer an estimated 400 horsepower (298 kW) and 400 lb-ft of torque (543 Nm), making it among the most power-dense V-6 engines in the segment, at 133 horsepower (99 kW) per liter
- Efficiency is enhanced with the industry’s first application of cylinder deactivation technology on a turbocharged V-6 engine, as well as an eight-speed automatic transmission
- 2.0L I-4 turbocharged and new 3.6L V-6 naturally aspirated engines, each with a new eight-speed automatic transmission
- Active-on-demand all-wheel drive featuring a continuously variable clutch that infinitely varies power delivery to the front wheels – up to 959 lb-ft (1,300 Nm) – to make the most of handling and stability in all conditions
- Advanced performance chassis system designed to deliver an engaging driving experience – with segment-best ride, handling and isolation qualities – through the use of Active Rear Steer, Magnetic Ride Control and selectable drive modes
- Auto Vehicle Hold – a driver-selectable feature that prevents forward/rearward vehicle creep when the driver’s foot is off the brake. It reduces fatigue during heavy stop-and-go traffic and improves vehicle control on steep grades.
Connectivity
- True 360-degree camera view around the vehicle, displayed on the Cadillac CUE screen, helps reduce blind spots around the vehicle
- Industry-first surround-view video recording system that can record front and rear views while driving, and 360 degrees of recording if the vehicle’s security system is activated
- Enhanced Night Vision helps identify people, large animals and more via heat signatures on a display in the driver information center
- Rear Camera Mirror is the industry’s first application of full-display technology, combining camera technology with the conventional inside mirror to project an unobstructed view in the mirror
- New Advanced Park Assist integrates automatic braking into automatic parking
- New Pedestrian Collision Mitigation technology provides pedestrian detection indications, alerts and automatic braking to avoid collisions
- Large, 10.2-inch-diagonal CUE interface screen with 1280 x 720 HD resolution and console mounted touchpad. The capacitive-touch screen reacts faster when scrolling and recognizes handwriting for address/points of interest search. The touchpad allows control of CUE features while resting an arm on the center console rather than touching the screen
- Wireless phone charging and OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot.
Indulgence
- Bold American luxury design, distinctly Cadillac – a true rear-wheel drive car, with a dramatic dash-to-axle ratio offering classic long, low proportion and luxury presence that commands attention
- Lightweight and a design that conveys it. Dynamic use of line work and sophistication and precision in surfacing – CT6 looks as light and agile as it actually is
- Elevates modern craftsmanship with curated environments that are rich, expressive and spacious, combining luxurious leathers, exotic woods, and carbon fiber in unprecedented ways
- Standard Indirect Fire light-emitting diode front lighting system offers state-of-the-art, more efficient illumination for a distinctive appearance that is both technical and expressive in its character and personality
- Extended comfort seats offer a refined, luxurious appearance. Features include premium Opus leather, five massage programs, reclining rear seats and Cadillac’s first application of woven-in-seat heating elements
- All-new Articulating Rear Seat package offers new thresholds for comfort and luxury, with approximately 3.3 inches (83 mm) of adjustable seat travel, lumbar adjustment, tilting cushions, massage feature, heating/cooling features and armrest with media controls, including HDMI and USB ports
- Comprehensive rear seat infotainment system with articulating 10-inch-diagonal screens that retract into the front seatbacks, along with connectivity for brought-in devices
- Quadzone climate system, which employs a secondary full-HVAC system that allows passengers to personalize temperature and airflow for each seating position, along with ionizing air purification
- Cadillac-first Bose® Panaray® audio system features 34 strategically placed speakers for exceptional dynamic range and clarity, including the first automotive application of design and technology elements from Bose home entertainment and professional audio products
- Concierge welcome lighting that illuminates the outside of the car as the owner approaches, based on the signal from the passive entry fob
- Hands-free power deck lid operation
- Generous rear-seat legroom – 40.4 inches (1027 mm) – and segment-best interior storage, including 2.2L center console storage volume.
NEW RANGE INCLUDES CT6 STARTING AT $53,495; CT6 PLATINUM PRICED FROM $83,465
Cadillac extends the top of its range with the 2016 Cadillac Touring 6 sedan, which begins production in Detroit in January, with initial shipments to dealers in March. Through the integration of new technologies, the first-ever Cadillac CT6 creates a new formula for the range-topping sedan and substantially expands the Cadillac portfolio.
Thanks to pioneering new vehicle manufacturing and design methods, the CT6 achieves dynamic performance, efficiency and agility previously unseen in large luxury cars. The CT6 product line similarly aims to refresh and broaden the range of consumers in the prestige class of luxury sedans. In the US market, the 2016 Cadillac CT6 sedan is priced from $53,495, with the highest level CT6 Platinum model starting at $83,465.
“The CT6 is an entirely new approach to prestige luxury, adding driving dynamics and technology while reducing the bulk of traditional large sedans,” said Johan de Nysschen, president of Cadillac. “With the CT6, Cadillac has a competitive edge: our use of advanced lightweight construction and innovative technology, it is prestige luxury reimagined.”
Offering three engine choices, and a broad range of high-technology systems and luxury amenities, the first-ever CT6 presents a wide range of options and price points to draw new buyers.
- CT6 2.0L Turbo – Starting at $53,495
- CT6 3.6L V6 with AWD – Starting at $55,495
- CT6 3.0L Twin Turbo V6 with AWD – Starting at $64,395
Customers can place orders now with dealers and view additional product information at cadillac.com.
The Cadillac CT6 sedan takes drivers to a higher threshold of involvement, with technologies to enhance situational awareness, chassis systems – including active technologies – that make the most of control in all conditions, and powertrains led by an all-new Cadillac Twin Turbo engine. The Cadillac 3.0L Twin Turbo V-6 engine is rated at 400 horsepower (298 kW) and 400 lb-ft of torque (543 Nm); an all-new, 335-horsepower 3.6L V-6 and Cadillac’s award-winning 2.0T four-cylinder engine are also available. All engines are paired with eight-speed automatic transmissions.
The rigid, lightweight architecture provides a crucial foundation for the sedan’s segment-challenging agility, enhanced by active-on-demand all-wheel drive, active rear steering and Magnetic Ride Control on the available Active Chassis System.
Cadillac has made technological strides with in-cabin advances, as well, including the Rear Camera Mirror, Enhanced Night Vision technology and the pioneering 34-speaker Bose® Panaray® audio system.
Cadillac this spring announced that the CT6 will be available with plug-in hybrid electric technology, as the company continues its development of highly capable alternative powertrain vehicles. Further details for the CT6 Plug-In Hybrid model will be announced closer to that vehicle’s launch.
The 2016 Cadillac CT6 will be built at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant on the east side of Detroit. Cadillac in April auctioned the first retail production CT6 to benefit the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.
note: Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price excludes destination ($995), tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment.
About the architecture
The body-in-white of the 2016 Cadillac CT6 is structurally lighter and stiffer than any other dynamically similar vehicle such as the BMW 5-Series or Audi A6. That state-of-the-art architecture is the foundation for its benchmark-establishing agility and vault-like solidity and quietness.
The new architecture has a mixed-material structure with all-aluminum exterior body panels. Engineers conducted 50 million hours of computational analysis – including 200,000 structural simulations – in its development, generating 21 patents.
“Every panel of the body-in-white is optimized with innovative joining techniques,” said Travis Hester, executive chief engineer, Cadillac CT6. “It’s an uncompromising approach that provides the best balance of strength, lightness and refinement.”
Thirteen high-pressure aluminum die castings in the lower body construction reduce complexity and are significant contributors to the architecture’s low mass. The CT6 is approximately 218 pounds (99 kg) lighter than a comparable vehicle using predominantly high-strength steel.
GM’s most advanced body manufacturing methods are used to fabricate the structure, including proprietary aluminum spot welding technology that is more efficient and helps reduce weight. Laser welding, flow drill fasteners and self-piercing rivets are also employed, along with roughly 591 feet (180 meters) of advanced structural adhesives.
Chassis and suspension highlights
The CT6’s rigid, lightweight architecture is the foundation for its segment-challenging agility, enhanced by active-on-demand all-wheel drive, active rear steering and Magnetic Ride Control on the available Active Chassis System.
“To put it succinctly, every wheel drives and every wheel steers,” said Hester. “And with Magnetic Ride Control, every wheel’s dampening is adjusted by the millisecond, for responsiveness and driver control unparalleled in the segment.”
The chassis system also balances responsiveness with segment-best isolation for exceptional refinement. In the front, the CT6 features a lightweight, aluminum-intensive high-arm multilink short-long arm front suspension. At the rear is a five-link independent suspension that uses multiple outer ball joints and cross braces for optimal handling and steering precision.
Active rear steering with the Active Chassis System contributes to greater low-speed agility and high-speed stability. In parking lots, the turning circle is only 37 feet (11.4 m), comparable with the CTS, which has a 114.6-inch wheelbase vs. the CT6’s 122.4-inch wheelbase.
Active-on-demand all-wheel drive is also part of the Active Chassis System, making the most of handling and stability in all weather conditions. Its lightweight, compact design and two-gear transfer case enable greater fuel economy than conventional fixed-torque all-wheel drive systems. All-wheel drive is standard on all CT6 six-cylinder models.
Selectable Tour, Snow/Ice and Sport modes allow the driver to tailor the CT6’s advanced chassis system for practically any weather or road condition.
Bold proportions, exquisite attention to detail
A bold proportion dominated by a long hood and sleek upper body distinguishes the CT6, evolves the brand portfolio and reinforces the agility enabled by the lightweight architecture.
“This is a car designed for passionate drivers,” said Andrew Smith, executive director, Cadillac Global Design. “CT6 is low, wide and sleek, which is just what you’d expect in a lightweight performance sedan. There is a great dash-to-axle proportion that reinforces the dynamics of the rear-wheel-drive architecture.”
The “face” of Cadillac evolves with the CT6 through new executions of the grille and signature lighting elements. The vertical light signature, for example, features new LED light blades that frame the front of the vehicle, with forward illumination from technologically advanced Indirect Fire LED headlamps.
Proportion, craftsmanship and technology also define the CT6’s cabin. Cadillac designers aimed to deliver a bold, elegant and spacious interior. That elegance is expressed in curated environments and in surface sculpture featuring authentic materials, exquisite details and elevated executions of the brand’s signature cut-and-sew interiors. The CT6 uses state-of-the-art technology to reward its occupants with high levels of comfort, connectivity and safety.
“Never before has such craftsmanship and technology been so seamlessly interwoven,” said Smith. “The CT6 represents our next step in the continuing evolution of the Cadillac brand portfolio.”
Production and manufacturing
Production of the 2016 Cadillac CT6 begins at the end of 2015 for the North American market at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant, which underwent a $384-million investment in tooling and other upgrades to support the manufacture of the CT6 and two other products. Chinese-market models will be assembled at an all-new facility in China starting in early 2016.
The CT6 also will be offered in Europe, Korea, Japan, Israel and the Middle East. Production for those markets begins at Detroit-Hamtramck in early 2016.
2016 CADILLAC CT6 PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS (NORTH AMERICA)
Model: | 2016 Cadillac CT6 |
Body style / driveline: | RWD or AWD, 5-passenger large luxury performance sedan |
Manufacturing location: | Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly, Hamtramck, Mich. |
Engines: | 2.0L I-4 turbo DOHC DI – 265 hp / 198 kW (est.) 3.6L V-6 DOHC DI – 335 hp / 250 kW (est.) 3.0L V-6 twin-turbo DOHC DI – 400 hp / 298 kW (est.) |
Transmissions: | Hydra-Matic 8L45 eight-speed automatic (2.0L turbo and 3.6L) Hydra-Matic 8L90 eight-speed automatic (3.0L twin-turbo) |
Brakes: | four-wheel disc with FNC rotors; four-channel ABS |
Wheels: | 18-inch, 19-inch and 20-inch |
Wheelbase (in / mm): | 122.4 / 3106 |
Length (in / mm): | 204 / 5184 |
Width (in / mm): | 74 / 1879 |
Height (in / mm): | 57.9 / 1472 |
Est. curb weight (lb / kg): | less than 3700 / 170 |
CADILLAC CT6 ELEVATES THE SCIENCE OF MASS EFFICIENCY
Cadillac will use an advanced mixed-material approach for the lightweight body structure of the upcoming CT6 range-topping sedan. The structure is aluminum intensive, but the new Cadillac also includes 13 different materials customized for each area of the car to simultaneously advance driving dynamics, fuel economy and cabin quietness.
The CT6 will debut March 31 at the New York International Auto Show and go into production late this year at General Motors’ Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant.
“This is the rocket science of automobile construction and manufacturing today,” said Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen. “With the CT6, we used high-strength aluminum and high-strength steels; lightweight chassis components; we integrate aluminum and steel where it makes sense; we eliminate every gram of mass possible, while achieving world-class performance.”
Weight reduction helps improve fuel efficiency, contributes to desirable vehicle dynamics and aids in creating a more resilient passenger cell. Sixty-four percent of the CT6 body structure is aluminum, including all exterior body panels – and the mixed material approach saved 90 kg (198 pounds) compared to a predominately steel construction.
Thirteen complex high-pressure die cast components make up the lower structure of the CT6 body, along with aluminum sheets and extrusions. The vehicle underbody uses steel close-out panels on the lower structure to create a bank vault-quiet cabin without the added weight of extensive sound-deadening material, often used to compensate for aluminum panels in the occupant compartment.
“The structure of the CT6 is one of the most-advanced body systems we’ve ever produced,” said Travis Hester, Cadillac CT6 executive chief engineer. “The innovation surrounding our joining techniques have enabled us to create a vehicle structure with the highest torsional rigidity of any Cadillac while achieving one of the most mass-efficient vehicles in the segment.”
Cadillac in January revealed a series of high-technology material joining techniques that create a new methodology for assembling the CT6. These enabled engineers to design a completely new structure for which 21 patents are pending.
“This new construction approach has enabled us to produce a world-class vehicle that is larger in size and includes more standard equipment while achieving lower overall mass,” Hester said.
- High-strength steel is used strategically to reinforce the body structure, and is also used in conjunction with high-strength aluminum to create a safety cage surrounding the occupants.
- The structural portion of the B-pillar is constructed completely of high-strength steel, which was chosen to aid vehicle ingress, egress and visibility, in addition to mass savings and added cabin quietness.
- A high-strength aluminum impact bar was added to the rear of the vehicle, and a combination of high-strength aluminum and steel was used for front and side impact zones to further increase passenger safety in the event of collisions.
A combination of aluminum spot welds, steel spot welds, flow drill screws, self-piercing rivets, laser welding, aluminum arc welding and hundreds of feet of structural adhesive are all used in assembling the body of the CT6.
![](https://myautoworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Cadillac-CT6-Structure.jpg)
All-New, Advanced 3.6L V-6 to Drive Cadillac CT6
Next-gen engine sets efficiency, refinement and durability benchmarks
DETROIT – An all-new 3.6L V-6 engine debuts in the 2016 Cadillac CT6, setting benchmarks for efficiency, refinement and durability in the brand’s range-topping large luxury performance sedan.
The clean-sheet engine design is the fourth generation of GM’s acclaimed DOHC V-6 engine family and incorporates new features, including Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and stop/start technology to enhance fuel economy up to a General Motors’-estimated 9 percent when compared to the previous engine.
Noise-reducing features, including an all-new cam drive system, contribute to the new 3.6L being up to 4 dB quieter at idle and under low load driving conditions than the benchmark Infiniti 3.7L V-6.
It also advances performance and fuel economy-optimizing technologies introduced on previous generations, including direct injection and continuously variable valve timing. Output is SAE certified at 335 horsepower (250 kW) and 284 lb-ft of torque (385 Nm).
“This new 3.6L V-6 raises the bar for all naturally aspirated V-6 engines in the industry and perfectly augments the CT6’s new standard for sophistication,” said Ameer Haider, assistant chief engineer for V-6 engines. “It builds on the established strengths of previous Cadillac engines, pushing the technologies to new heights and introducing new ones that take performance, refinement and efficiency to benchmark levels.”
GM’s Active Fuel Management system temporarily deactivates two of the 3.6L’s cylinders in light-load driving conditions to enhance fuel efficiency and seamlessly reactivates them when the driver demands full power.
With an efficiency-enhancing stop/start system, the engine is shut down in certain driving conditions such as stop-and-go city driving to reduce fuel consumption, automatically restarting when the driver takes his or her foot off the brake pedal.
Additional engine highlights include:
- Stronger, stiffer aluminum block with increased structure in the bulkheads for superior rigidity
- Tough, refined rotating assembly with a stiff forged-steel crankshaft, friction-reducing polymer-coated pistons and strong high-copper-content, sinter-forged connecting rods
- New four-cam phasing system with intermediate park technology that enhances efficiency by enabling late inlet valve closing in certain conditions
- All-new, patented “targeted” cooling system that provides strategic cooling of the engine’s hottest areas while simultaneously fostering faster warm-up to enhance efficiency
- New, higher-flow cylinder heads that enhance direct injection performance and feature integrated exhaust manifolds
- Revised, simplified timing drive system with cushioned chain sprockets contributing to quieter engine operation
- All-new lubrication system with a variable-displacement, two-stage oil pump that enhances efficiency. It is located inside the oil pan, which contributes to greater noise abatement
“The new 3.6L is designed to deliver peak performance, efficiency and refinement with maximum durability – and minimal maintenance,” said Haider. “Those attributes put it at the forefront of naturally aspirated V-6 engine offered in any luxury car around the world.”
An all-new Hydra-Matic 8L45 paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission is paired with the new 3.6L V-6 in the CT6, elevating the CT6’s driving experience with one of the luxury market’s smoothest, quietest and most efficient powertrain combinations.
In addition to the CT6, the 2016 Cadillac ATS and CTS will offer the all-new 3.6L, where they are expected to lead their respective segments in fuel economy and non-boosted V-6 power. Also, a new 3.0L twin-turbocharged engine based on the same architecture will be offered on the CT6.
Stronger, quieter foundation
Structurally, the all-new 3.6L V-6 is similar to the proven, award-winning design of the previous V-6 engines, including an aluminum, deep-skirt cylinder block.
The optimal 60-degree cylinder angle is retained, with the bore size enlarged from 94mm to 95mm and the bore centers stretched from 103mm to 106mm. The cylinder block features six-bolt main bearing caps and inter-bay breather vents that enhance power and oil flow management.
A larger crankshaft bore diameter and wider bearing cap bulkheads in the block provide higher main bearing load-carrying capability. The block also accommodates larger, 12mm cylinder head bolts to provide greater clamping strength for the engine’s higher output.
The crankshaft is forged from 1538MV steel and inherently stiffer than a conventional cast-iron crankshaft, contributing significantly to the engine’s smoothness, quietness and durability.
Attached to the crankshaft are high-strength connecting rods and pistons. The rods are sinter-forged and composed of a high-copper alloy that stands up to high heat and resists bending, while the polymer-coated hypereutectic pistons are designed to minimize friction, allowing for a tighter piston-to-bore clearance that results in quieter operation.
The new 3.6L V-6 also incorporates oil-spray piston cooling, which helps reduce noise, lower combustion temperatures and enhance durability by drenching the underside of each piston and the surrounding cylinder wall in an extra layer of cooling, friction-reducing engine oil.
Continuously variable valve timing with intermediate park feature
Camshaft phasing allows the greatest variances in valve timing to make the most of power and efficiency. The new 3.6L V-6 engine takes that technology to the next level with intermediate park technology for the intake camshaft phasers.
Because optimal part-load efficiency requires retarding the intake cams to reduce pumping losses, the effect also reduces the effective compression ratio, which affects the engine’s cold-start performance. Conventional cam phasing system authority is limited by how far the intake cams can be retarded in the parked position without affecting cold starting.
Intermediate park technology, which incorporates an intermediate-lock intake variable valve timing cam phaser, allows the cams to be parked at the most favorable position for cold starting, while expanding the amount of intake cam retard for other conditions by adding another 20 degrees of intake phaser authority. This enhances fuel efficiency and reduces emissions.
Targeted cooling system
Unlike conventional systems, which force coolant flow from the front of the block to the back, the new 3.6L’s patented targeted cooling system sends coolant simultaneously to each water jacket in the heads and block.
This new, parallel-flow design maximizes heat extraction in the area of the upper deck, intake and exhaust valve bridges in the heads and integrated exhaust manifold with a minimal amount of coolant. The result is more even and consistent cooling, which enhances performance, and faster engine warmup, which improves cold-start efficiency and reduces emissions.
Additionally, the strategic sizing of the coolant jackets in the head and the block reduces the cooling system thermal inertia, allowing the use of a smaller water pump, which requires about 50 percent less power to drive, enhancing fuel efficiency and even allowing a lower overall height of the cylinder block.
New cylinder head design
An all-new cylinder head design builds on the airflow attributes of the current V-6, supporting a broader power band that ensures excellent low-rpm torque, for strong power at take-off, and excellent airflow at high-rpm, for greater horsepower.
Engineers achieved that through increased in-cylinder mixture motion, a faster burn rate of the air-fuel mixture and attributes that took full advantage of the new intermediate park cam phasing system.
Highlights include:
- The intake valves are 6 percent larger, resulting in a 5-percent increase in flow capacity and a significant 25 percent increase in in-cylinder mixture motion
- The exhaust valves are also 6 percent larger, for a 10-percent increase in flow capacity
- The injector angle was increased from 22 degrees to 24 degrees, which helps reduce emissions and oil dilution
- The adoption of a smaller, 12mm spark plug (vs. the previous 14mm plug) allows it to be more centrally located in the cylinder for improved flame propagation and greater light-load efficiency
- A combustion chamber design to promote in-cylinder mixture motion, achieve a faster burn rate and increase dilution tolerance to take full advantage of the intermediate park cam phasing system
The new head design also has improved combustion chamber cooling enabled by the patented targeted cooling system, which reduces the chance for knock and enhance high-load efficiency.
An integrated exhaust manifold rounds out the head’s features, saving weight over a conventional, separate head/manifold assembly.
Direct injection and Active Fuel Management
The all-new 3.6L V-6 continues to employ direct fuel injection to make the most of efficiency and performance. Along with the placement of the fuel injector in the combustion chamber, the piston top is carefully shaped to promote a through mix of the air and fuel, and direct the fuel spray to ensure a more complete combustion.
A higher-capacity engine-driven fuel pump supports the higher output of the new engine and contributes better fuel atomization, which enhances performance, and reduced emissions.
Active Fuel Management, also known as cylinder deactivation, imperceptibly shuts down the No. 2 and No. 5 cylinders in certain light-load driving conditions to save fuel.
Refinement and durability
A number of new and enhanced features are designed to make the all-new 3.6L V-6 one of the industry’s quietest, smoothest and most durable engines:
- Oiling system – It’s all-new and features a dual-pressure-control and variable-displacement vane pump that enhances efficiency by optimizing oil pressure as a function of engine speed. The oil pump is relocated beneath the cylinder block, inside the oil pan, contributing to the engine’s smoother, quieter operation
- Two-piece structural oil pan – For stiffness and strength, the oil pan features an aluminum structural upper section. A stamped steel lower section provides optimal noise-absorption characteristics, for quieter performance.
- Two-stage PCV system – This revolutionary system maintains low oil consumption. If features a pre-separator between the block and the engine’s rear cover and a high-efficiency separator in the center of the block’s “V.”
- Camshaft drive – It is all-new, with a simpler design – two chains and six sprockets vs. the previous three chains and nine sprockets – with lower chain loads, which enhances durability. The lower tension of the chain drive, along with cushioned ring sprockets, also reduces noise and vibration.
- High-flow intake manifold and acoustic cover – The lightweight composite intake manifold offers greater airflow capability than the current 3.6L engine, which matches with the higher-flow heads to support the new engine’s greater output. A one piece engine cover mounts atop the manifold for exceptional noise isolation.