Cadillac Touts New CT6 as Driver’s Car

General Motors Co.'s Cadillac brand says its new CT6 rear-wheel-drive sedan combines the size of a large German luxury car with a lighter construction and superior handling.

Cadillac considers the range-topping CT6 its first re-entry vehicle into the global prestige luxury segment. The brand plans seven other all-new models by the end of the decade under a $12 billion product overhaul.

Cadillac is pitching the CT6 as built with a more sophisticated body structure than the competition, which results in a stronger, quieter, more efficient and better-performing vehicle. The architecture blends 13 materials, several innovative assembly techniques and 13 high-pressure aluminum die castings to cut weight nearly 200 lbs compared to a conventional structure.

With a curb weight less than 3,700 lbs (170 kg), the CT6 is lighter than a smaller BMW 5 Series sedan but provides the roominess of the larger and even heavier 7 Series sedan, according to Cadillac.

The car will offer a choice of three engines, topped by 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 that makes 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. A new 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V-6 is rated at 335 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque. A turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine produces 265 hp.

All three powerplants deliver output to the rear wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. Active all-wheel drive and rear-wheel steering are optional. The latter system tightens the car's low-speed turning circle to 37 ft and enhances high-speed stability.

Inside, the CT6 offers reclining seats front and rear, all of them heated, ventilated and equipped with one or more massage programs. Rear-seat infotainment includes a pair of 10-inch screens that retract into the front seatbacks. A 34-speaker Bose Panaray audio system is optional. Dual HVAC systems enable separate climate controls for all four seat positions.