The New Cadillac Twin Turbo V-8 is Pretty Sweet

The new Cadillac twin-turbo V-8 engine is a shining reminder of the automaker's prestige in the industry.

Cadillac has been keeping things pretty low-key for a while, making small steps in rolling out new features and updating its models. But with the new Cadillac twin-turbo V-8 engine, the automaker is looking to remind everyone just how much swagger and sway it holds over the American driving experience.

Big Thing, Small Package

The slim updated engine is a quietly dropped-in addition to the new CT6 V-Sport sedan. Altogether, the engine design harkens back to the sports car remnants of Cadillac's past. The newly-imagined Cadillac twin-turbo V-8 was developed as a small-displacement V-8, sporting more power in less space.

The new engine boasts 131 hp per liter at an estimated 550 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque, making it a streamlined and economical engine.

New Blueprints

The new 4.2L twin-turbo engine has a "hot V" configuration mounts the turbochargers at the top of the engine, butting the conventional layout of the cylinder heads' intake and exhaust systems. This essentially does away with turbo lag and cuts down on overall packaging size. More bang for the buck.

The design for the new Cadillac twin-turbo V-8 engine causes the intake-charged air to enter through the lower outside of the heads and exit through the top, resulting in more immediate power. Other features for the new engine include twin water-to-air charge coolers, direct injection, electronic wastegate control, and twin-scroll turbochargers.

Updating the Standard

The new engine is the first of its kind. A detuned version of the Cadillac twin-turbo V-8 will also be offered in non-V-Sport models with 500 hp and 553 lb-ft. Both come with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a start-stop feature that will help enhance some fuel efficiency.

As mentioned, the new engine is tacked on to the new CT6 V-Sport, which is already making some noise—literally—with its louder-than-usual exhaust. In fact, the entire CT6 lineup is getting a bit of a makeover with updated infotainment controls, subtly aggressive bodywork, and Brembo brakes.

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