News: 2017 Cadillac CT6 Plug-in Hybrid Due in Spring

To Offer 30-Mile Electric Range

Cadillac announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show that its 2017 CT6 Plug-in Hybrid will arrive next spring with an estimated 30 miles of electric-only driving range and a total range of more than 400 miles. The automaker said it is also expecting the luxury plug-in to have fuel economy estimated at 65 MPGe—miles per gallon equivalence.

“The CT6 is a technological showcase throughout, and by far the lightest car in its class, making it an ideal platform for electrification,” 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 hybrid, with a starting price of $76,090 before incentives, will only be built in China, unlike the flagship gasoline powered CT6, which is produced at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant.

Technical Details

The Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid includes a new rear-wheel drive electric variable transmission (EVT), allowing the car to provide smooth, powerful acceleration,

Cadillac said. The new car borrows parts from the Chevrolet Volt and adapts them to the CT6’s rear-wheel drive chassis.

Like the Volt, the CT6 features two electric motors, each producing 100 horsepower.

The two-motor EVT combines with a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine to produce an estimated combined 335 horsepower and 432 pounds-feet of torque. The output is good for an estimated 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, or the same time as V-6 competitors, the company said.

Electric top speed is 78 mph; with the additional engine power, it has a top speed of 150 mph.

Lifted from the Volt

The lithium-ion battery pack will have 18.4 kilowatt-hours, just like that of the Chevy Volt, but won’t use the same T-shaped layout as the Volt. Instead, the battery will be integrated into the floor, which according to Cadillac, helps increase vehicle stiffness.

Cadillac says the CT6 Plug-In will be available as a package within the CT6 product line, with pricing and equipment similar to its premium luxury model. Many optional features come standard on the plug-in model, such as rear seat infotainment, enhanced night vision technology and a rear camera mirror.

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