Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedans/Saloons, I.C.E., Cadillac
Duh: Cadillac shelves that whole V12 thing
750-hp 7.5-liter V12 from the Cadillac Cien concept
Here's a shocker: Cadillac has reportedly canceled plans for a range-topping V12 engine. Really, you don't say? Last we checked, General Motors didn't seem to have any problems extracting plenty of performance from its 6.2-liter supercharged and 7.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 engines, and the majority of the development work has already been done for a Caddy installation. Additionally, we've heard some rumors of a possible twin-turbo version of GM's excellent 3.6-liter direct injection six, which could find a cozy spot under the hood of the next Cadillac sedan.
Cadillac is also said to be reconsidering its premium large sedan, where the V12 was originally intended to reside. In its stead, GM's classiest division will focus in on the replacement for the STS and DTS sedans. Also rumored is a new naming convention, as if the waters weren't already murky enough. Will the next Caddy sedan be known as the DT7? We sure hope not. Will it be based on the new Zeta platform? Well now... that decision would get our seal of approval.
[Source: Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
BLS 3:35PM (8/21/2008)
What they really need is a new V16 the size of an Aveo5 and put that in their large luxury offering.
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Benfolio 3:57PM (8/21/2008)
That's what I was thinking. Well, about producing the entire Sixteen show car anyways.
Geeky1 3:37PM (8/21/2008)
It was inevitable, I suppose, but disappointing nevertheless. I wish they'd put the Sixteen concept into production.
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Yar 3:59PM (8/21/2008)
They really should have built the thing. One of the things I want to hear before I die is the roar of a 1000hp 13L V16 at full power.
Tourian 3:43PM (8/21/2008)
I like the idea of a twin turbo DI V6, but I'm not sure if the world is ready for no V8's being available at all in any of Cadillac's sedans (other then the pushrod V engine). Seems like it would be a marketing disadvantage no matter how good an FI 6 is. I'd rather see a 4.0L/4.6L V8 with DOHC and DI. I know the northstar replacement has been shelved/cancelled/put off, but I thought they were also working on a way to put a DOHC head on the regular smallblocks just for Caddy.
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ford fan boy 3:58PM (8/21/2008)
all of asudden it looks like ford is bringing a first to the north american market.
But a V12 would be really badass no matter who has it thier line up
alex 4:57PM (8/21/2008)
a first what, ford fan boy?
Za 12:59AM (8/24/2008)
DOHC isn't any better than OHV, and the Northstar certainly wasn't better than the LS#. Why do you think DOHC is inherently better? Because it really isn't, and it would be stupid for GM to develop a V8 using different technologies when what it already has the best large-scale mass-produced V8s in the world.
henrykrinkle 3:49PM (8/21/2008)
Yeah but a V8 won't get any better mileage than a V12 because it has to work harder!
Or was that V6 vs. V8 or maybe V6 vs. I4? I've read that B.S. argument so many times I forget.
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Serge 4:14PM (8/21/2008)
that argument is actually valid. let me explain... in the same exact car (let's take Pontiac G8 for example) the V6 only has 1mpg over the V8 when driven "normally". this is possible because the V6 has to spin up more to push the car to highway speeds and has to work harder at keeping it there. now this only works if the cars have the same drivtrain loss, aerodynamics and most importantly weight. because the G8 doesn't weigh much less when equiped with a V6 it get's simmilar mpg to the V8.
now all of that changes when you use the V8 as it was intended or if the V6 model sheds some structural steel in favor of lighter material or noe whatsoever... V6 models also have less luxury ammenities which add substantial weight to the car. things like heated/cooled seats, power everything, more sound insulation could add up to 500+lbs to a car.
but as the argument goes, a 4000lbs car will not have a dramatic mpg difference between a 260hp turbo I4, 300hp V6, or a 360hp V8 when driven smoothly at the speed limit.
henrykrinkle 4:58PM (8/21/2008)
@Serge:
Nope, still invalid. Let ME explain: In your example of a Pontiac G8 you neglect to mention that the V8 uses cylinder deactivation so that, in theory, it should only be running on 4 cylinders on the highway but due to frictional losses it still gets 4% worse mileage. You also forgot to mention that the V6 gets 14% better mileage in the city or that according to the EPA, the V6 gets 20mpg combined comared to the V8's 18.
No one has ever claimed that by dropping two cylinders you're going to double your mileage but the fact remains that smaller engines do get better mileage. Just accept it. The automotive industry has.
Serge 6:06PM (8/21/2008)
It's really hard to find a car that has simillar weight when equipped with a V6 and a V8. But the G8 is 100lbs lighter when equipped with a V6... but the mpg gain in a car with similar weight should not be more than 2mpg.
I would gladly sacrifice 2mpg for V8 perfomance. I'm sure any human being that produces adrenaline would do the same.
MikeW 7:42PM (8/21/2008)
Remember GM is trying to sell the higher profit margin vehicles.
Pontiac G8 V6 has a 5 speed auto
G8 V8 has 6 speed auto. Fix that and the performance of the V6 could be within spitting distance of the V8 (add 300+hp direct injected 3.6, summer tires, torque sensitive differential and the 1/4 mile would only be about 1 second/5mph slower)
http://www.tc.gc.ca/programs/environment/climatechange/subgroups1/vehicle_technology/study2/Final_report/image/Final_28.gif
The EPA city/highway tests are so easy, that there should be minimal difference in mileage between engines.
SPG 4:00PM (8/21/2008)
I'm looking forward to see what the STS and DTS replacements will be.
I feel the current DTS seems plain and outdated.
And I never felt the current STS had enough personality.
As a result I was never a fan of either car.
As far as the V12, not sad to see it go.
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Brent Worrell 4:04PM (8/21/2008)
this engine seemed pretty smooth in gran turismo 4 (as far as a game goes) but with times as they are, Caddy would need a hybrid system to go with this thing along with D-On-D (displacement on demand).
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Farris 4:09PM (8/21/2008)
Am I crazy or do I only see 5 exhausts coming from the side of that motor? Wouldn't that make it a V10?
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Mike 4:12PM (8/21/2008)
I thought that too but there's one tucked under the throttle body that goes into the second collector on the inside, it's very hard to see.
Farris 4:40PM (8/21/2008)
I see it now, thanks. That's kinda tricky how they routed it... bizarre.
skine 5:05PM (8/21/2008)
you beat me to it. I was just about to say that...looks like a v-10 to me
dausman 4:34PM (8/21/2008)
Shelved...perhaps for use when times are better.
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