Cadillac CT6 Will Be A Techie Plug-In Hybrid

Cadillac has a new president, a new naming scheme, and a new headquarters in New York. The first vehicle to usher Cadillac into a new direction is the just announced Cadillac CT6, which Jalopnik reports with be a plug-in hybrid capable of 0 to 60 MPH in under 6 seconds. Is this the Tesla fighter GM has been waiting for?

The new large Caddy will somehow be smaller and lighter than the German luxury sedans it is targeting, but still roomy enough to cradle the egos of luxury car buyers. At the heart of the CT6 will be a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, possibly a new generation of the Voltec system found in the Chevy Volt and Cadillac ELR (which is also due for a content update). Or it could be a drivetrain derived specifically for the new Cadillac, as the company wants to get back into the business of making its own line of engines, which ended with the retirement of the Northstar motors.

GM CEO Mark Reuss was quoted saying the new Cadillac flagship will come with a 0 to 60 MPH time of under 6 seconds. While it won’t quite be Tesla Model S fast (which even in base form sprints to 60 MPH in 5.2 seconds), it’ll be quick enough to deliver a more engaging and dynamic driving experience thank the lackadaisical ELR. A pair of electric motors will allow for an electric cruising speed of up to 75 MPH, though for just how far GM isn’t saying.

There will be other tech features at work too, including a supposed virtual rear view mirror that delivers an unobstructed rear view via video camera, instead of the traditional mirror setup. Current federal regulations don’t allow such a setup, but GM isn’t the only automaker working to update these archaic laws. This is undoubtedly just a taste of the high-tech sedan that Cadillac has planned, and the upcoming semi-autonomous Super Cruise feature will probably be worked in as well.

If these rumors are true, then there’s good reason to look forward to Cadillac’s next few years. A fast, light, and tech-heavy luxury sedan is exactly what GM needs to get back into the luxury game.