Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Launches In China, Arrives In US And Canada Soon…For Much Less

The Cadillac CT6 Plug-In represents a luxury electric vehicle performance benchmark.

The Cadillac CT6 Plug-In is officially now on sale in China.

The SAIC-GM made in China, plug-in hybrid is offered in two versions for:

• RMB 558,800 ($80,408 USD)
• RMB 658,800 ($94,798 USD)

Interestingly, for the US, the entry level CT6 PHEV is priced significantly cheaper – from $76,090, this despite being made in China and imported to America.

Even more curious, is that for Canada, GM’s plug-in offerings continue to undercut their US cousins by a significant amount.  The Canadian plug-in Caddy retails for $85,995 CAD – which translates to $63,950 in US funds, some $12,000+ cheaper still.

Earlier, the Canadian Chevy Bolt EV was announced as starting from ~31,800 (+DST) USD equivalent with DC fast charging, while the Chevy Volt begins from ~$28,650 (+DST) USD equivalent.

North American release of the Cadillac CT6 PHV is planned for Spring of 2017 (think April).

The CT6 PHEV is equipped with 18.4 kWh battery, and is promoted regionally as have up to 80 km (50 miles) of all-electric range.  For the US, the CT6 PHV is rated at a more “real world” 48 km/30 miles of range on the EPA rating system.

“The CT6 marks Cadillac’s long-awaited return to the global prestige luxury segment, and with the plug-in variant creates a fresh performance standard for premium new energy vehicles through its smooth handling and exceptional fuel efficiency.

Built on GM’s all-new intelligent rear-wheel electric drive platform, the CT6 Plug-In offers steady, robust real-time power through two high-performance electric motors integrated with the car’s electric drive system and a direct-injection 2.0L SIDI turbocharged engine.

The engine generates 250 kW of power and 586 Nm of torque, along with 0-100 km/h acceleration of only 5.4 seconds. Its combined fuel consumption is as low as 1.7 L/100 km, which is the best in its segment.

The Cadillac CT6 Plug-In has adopted industry-leading Power Split technology.

At the heart of the CT6 Plug-In is a lithium-ion battery pack comprising 192 cells. It has a large capacity of 18.4 kWh, which is up to 50 percent more than competitive models. With the support of GM’s world-leading Battery Management System (BMS) and liquid cooling technology, this provides 80 km of all-electric range and 935 km of combined range.

Every cell in the Cadillac CT6 Plug-In’s battery pack has an independent liquid-cooled temperature control system to ensure the 18.4-kWh battery system’s stability and safety.

Every cell in the battery pack has an independent liquid-cooled temperature control system, reducing the impact of varying external and internal temperatures. This not only improves battery efficiency and extends battery life, but also ensures the battery system’s stability and safety.

The CT6 Plug-In can be fully charged in five hours or less using a regular 220V charger. Owners can check the charging status via OnStar or the MyCadillac app.

An exclusive interface displays the vehicle’s battery life, power delivery and energy distribution. An “energy” interface on the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) center console screen helps owners understand energy flow more intuitively and develop good electric driving habits through real-time feedback.

The CT6 Plug-In has adopted industry-leading Power Split technology. Its power sources are linked by three planetary gear sets and five clutches, offering four transmission modes: all-electric drive, engine drive, hybrid drive and Regen on Demand.

The Regen on Demand system innovatively works with an iBooster to recover braking energy right after the driver releases the gas pedal. The system also uses paddle shifters to adjust between four levels of braking intensity, for enjoyable handling while efficiently recovering energy.

An exclusive interface displays the Cadillac CT6 Plug-In’s battery life, power delivery and energy distribution. An “energy” interface on the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) center console screen helps owners understand energy flow more intuitively and develop good electric driving habits through real-time feedback.

The driver can select one of three operating modes: Cruise, Sport and Hold. The Cruise mode is perfect for daily commutes thanks to its balanced comfort and handling as well as maximized energy efficiency. The Sport mode matches more aggressive gas pedal response with agile steering, delivering dynamic performance for overtaking or handling winding roads. The Hold mode is especially useful for long-distance highway driving, storing energy that can be used later under the Cruise mode in heavy urban traffic.

The CT6 Plug-In adopts the CT6 family’s bold, forward-looking styling. Its spacecraft-level lightweight body design is crafted from 11 composite materials, with over 57 percent of body materials made from aluminum.

The comfortable interior is supported by more than 20 standard features. They include the Enhanced Safety Strategy (ESS) package and OnStar 4G LTE with a built-in Wi-Fi (Car-Fi) hotspot.

Cadillac is offering CT6 Plug-In buyers nationwide a 220V charger with free installation, plus an eight-year unlimited-mileage warranty for the vehicle’s battery pack, electric motors and electronic control system.”

The Cadillac CT6 Plug-In is the newest member of the Cadillac CT6 American luxury sedan family.

A Cadillac CT6 PHEV Cutaway Turned Up In Shanghai last year

Cadillac CT6 PHEV – 18.4 kWh Battery Provides 30 Miles Of Range

Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid Good For 335 Horsepower, 37 Mile EV Range

As promised, the Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid has made its world debut at the Shanghai Auto Show. The Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid promises to double the fuel economy of the conventional version, 37 miles of electric driving range, and at least 335 horsepower from a 2.0 liter gas engine and a pair of electric motors at the rear-wheels, but don’t mistake this for the ELR 2.0. Instead, this is a new direction for Cadillac that finally takes plug-in cars seriously.

Despite using a similarly-sized 18.4 kWh battery pack using the same lithium-ion chemistry as the 2015 Chevy Volt, the battery was made specifically for the Cadillac CT6 PHEV, as was its drivetrain. A 2.0 liter gas engine sits under the hood, while two electric motors can drive the rear-wheels for up to 37 miles. In Sport Mode, the gas engine and electric motors can work together, and acceleration should come in under six seconds if GM executive Mark Reuss is to be believed.

But unlike the Chevy Volt and the Cadillac ELR (which GM calls extended-range electric vehicles), once the battery pack is drained, the gas engine takes over driving duties. In Hold mode, drivers can reserve the battery pack for when they need it, while Normal driving mode lets the CT6 prioritize the battery over the gas tank, maximizing MPGs. The CT6 will use the same Regen-on-Demand system as the ELR though, and the electric motors can handle speeds of up to 75 MPH, which should help it approach 70 MPGe. That will match competitors like the Mercedes S500 Plug-In Hybrid, though it should be substantially lighter than the German behemoth thanks to Cadillac’s new lightweight chassis architecture.

With the CT6 and much-improved (and more reasonably-priced) 2016 ELR, Cadillac is doubling the number of plug-in cars it offers, and under the reign of Johan de Nysschen, we will probably see many more. The Cadillac CT6 is the first car Johan can really put his name on, and including a plug-in version will prove an important turning point in Caddy’s fortunes, if you ask me.

Which you sorta are, because you’re still reading this right now, aren’t you?