General Motors is expanding its Cadillac lineup with a new plug-in hybrid CT6 sedan set to be released by 2017.
Cadillac unveiled its 2016 CT6 plug-in hybrid on the eve of the big Shanghai Auto Show this weekend. The GM brand believes the new PHEV drivetrain system should "more than double" the vehicle's fuel economy, though the company couldn't provide EPA estimates yet.
"The first-ever CT6 is a technological showcase throughout, making it an ideal platform for Cadillac to offer its first plug-in hybrid," said Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen, in a press release. "In the CT6, Cadillac presents a new formula for prestige luxury. The advanced Plug-In Hybrid system is a key addition, providing a combination of exceptional fuel economy, crisp acceleration and strong electric-driving range."
The new CT6 hybrid is equipped with an 18.4-kWh lithium ion battery pack at the rear, and the system can be recharged by a 120-volt of 240-volt charger. The automaker isn't ready to say exactly how long it will take to recharge the car.
Two electric motors are mated to a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine—the smallest of the CT6 lineup at launch—to produce an estimated 335 horses and 432 lb.-ft. of torque.
"The CT6 PHEV will deliver exceptional smooth, responsive acceleration that Cadillac and luxury sedan owners demand," said Travis Hester, Cadillac CT6 executive chief engineer, in a press statement. "We have managed to achieve superior drive quality when compared to our PHEV competitors due to our exclusively designed EVT."
The car features regenerative braking in order to "provide maximum energy recovery combined with reduced stopping distance and improved fuel economy," according to Cadillac. The more aggressive "Regen On Demand" feature is also available to let drivers control how much regenerative braking should be applied.
No official timetable has been set by GM for the CT6's release, but it will be sold in key markets like China and the U.S. Production will begin for the gasoline-only option in December in the U.S. with an early 2016 release target, according to The Detroit News. Production for the PHEV model will begin shortly after that.
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