Spy Shots: China-made Cadillac CT6 is Almost Ready for the Chinese car market Car News China
By Tycho de Feijter
July 7, 2015
The much hyped Cadillac CT6 will be manufactured in China as well as in America, and that is why we have the very first Spy Shots, in the world, of the final production version. On the right just above the bumper sits the Shanghai-GM badge, the name of the joint venture that will build the big Caddy in China. Above that on the boot lid a ’40T’ badge, the Chinese designation for the ‘3.0TT’ twin-turbo V6.
This engine delivers 405 horsepower, hence the ’40T’. The Cadillac CT6 debuted in March in New York. Mass production in the U.S. will start ‘late’ this year, but the exact date is yet unknown. Mass production in China will start in November or December, with a market launch scheduled for early 2016.
The CT6 will be available with three engines: a 2.0 turbo, a 3.0 V6, and the mentioned twin-turbocharged 3.0 V6. All engines will be mated to an 8-speed automatic, sending power to the rear wheels or to all wheels. The CT6 stands on the new ‘Omega’ platform that will also underpin a future large-sized Buick that will be exclusive for the Chinese market.
Maybe GM doesn't think a full-size Buick would sell in the US, given buyers preferences? (Full-size cars of any make are declining in general, right?) If the prospects for a full-size Buick in the US looked good, shouldn't there be more demand for the LaCrosse? (I know it's due for a redesign.)
LaCrosse sales are down quite a bit. It's probably a tough sell to GM management that a larger Buick is needed... Unfortunately... Because I liked the last Chinese version of the Park Avenue (which is our Caprice police car... kinda). I read in Automobile that the Buick Avenir(Park Avenue?) would probably be built in China and exported to the U.S in limited numbers.
Part of that is surely on account of the Lacrosse's old age. Despite the 2014 update, it has its hands full competing with the Avalon, ES, etc. Buick needs some sort of higher end sedan to cement the upscale position of Buick in the industry. The Avenir Concept in production form could be that car if GM wants it to be. Selling it in China too would is natural if only because that would likely be its single largest market, despite the fact that AFAIK the Zeta Park Avenue did not sell that well in China. But if it retained much of the concept's sizzle, the Avenir would be a considerably more forward thinking vehicle that could attract Chinese buyers in larger numbers. Such a sedan could help elevate the Buick brand because I do think they can support more premium products than only the upscale ones that they have now, and given the importance of the upscale markets going forward it'd be a wise move on GM's part to become as strong as force as possible in upscale and luxury segments as quickly as possible.
The much hyped Cadillac CT6 will be manufactured in China as well as in America, and that is why we have the very first Spy Shots, in the world, of the final production version. On the right just above the bumper sits the Shanghai-GM badge, the name of the joint venture that will build the big Caddy in China. Above that on the boot lid a ’40T’ badge, the Chinese designation for the ‘3.0TT’ twin-turbo V6.
This engine delivers 405 horsepower, hence the ’40T’.
I saw an ATS with '20T' marked on the trunklid and said to someone "Oh, so it's a 2.0L turbo?". No, apparently not. I don't understand their naming conventions here.
Since the rich love imports, why doesn't China IMPORT the CT6? This can't be a high volume market. We'll import 100,000's of Envisions, and probably LaCrosse's but they can't import 10K CT6's?
Trump is right: We're being screwed! A Global economy should work both ways not just in their favor.
It's GM's decision, as a US company, to import models from China - it's US customer's decision to buy models built in China - the issue is with the US customer base and GM management, not directly anything to do with trade barriers.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
GM Inside News Forum
3.5M posts
83.7K members
Since 2003
A forum community dedicated to GM owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about General Motors news, concepts, releases, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!