Cadillac Twin-Turbo V6

Now that Cadillac has shown the twin-turbo V6 in the Cadillac Ciel Concept, what do we know about this engine?

GM used a twin-turbo V6 in a SEMA concept in 2010.  It had the same 425 hp that the Ciel claims.  That engine was a direct injected 3.6L V6 with twin turbos.  Now, the Ciel Concept is also a hybrid, but let’s focus on the gas side for now.

Turbonetics T-3

The turbochargers used for the SEMA Camaro were Turbonetics T-3 units.  A custom air-to-air intercooler was used to reduce the temperature of the air on the way to the engine.  The boost was set at 7 PSI.

The T-3 is actually one of the smallest turbo units that Turbonetics offers.  A single T-3 is designed for engines under 2 liters, so a pair seem good for a 3.6L engine.  I know there is always the urge to ‘go big or go home’, but for a turbo unit for street use the smaller the turbo the more responsive the boost.

The T-3 turbo is efficient for boost up to 22 PSI, so lots of runway there.

It would be a hard call for me to put a TT3.6L V6 into an upcoming Cadillac instead of an LS3 V8 or new 5th gen V8 once they arrive.  The V8 would have more HP/torque and probably cost a lot less, take less labor to install, etc.  It would also likely have similar MPG.

However, if the TT-V6 gets a few more MPG, and perhaps as importantly gives the impression to Buyers of being more efficient, it may be a better sale.    People want performance and efficiency, and they believe that smaller engines are always more efficient.  I think it depends on a lot of factors, including engine loading and overall packaging, but I recognize the advantage of selling the sizzle, not the steak.  A smaller, more efficient engine with twin turbos brings a lot of sizzle.

Would you rather have a twin-turbo DI V6 in your next Cadillac or an LSx V8, everything else equal?

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