As 2016 model year production begins, Cadillac has added fuel-saving technologies to its vehicles, such as an automatic start/stop technology and an eight-speed transmission.
“While these new systems increase efficiency, a main focus in engineering at Cadillac is to integrate these systems smoothly with no compromise to the driving experience,” says David Leone, executive chief engineer for Cadillac.
Leone says the automaker’s all-new six-cylinder engine has cylinder deactivation, enabling the vehicle to switch from six-cylinder to four-cylinder operation under certain light-load conditions. The new 3.6-liter engine is part of the 2016 ATS, CTS, and Escalade product lines. The luxury SUV’s V8 engine will shift to four-cylinder operation in many daily driving conditions.
The Cadillac ATS and CTS have automatic start/stop technology, automatically turning off the engine when the car is stationary, such as at a red light. The engine automatically resumes as soon as the driver releases the brake. Cadillac uses a voltage stabilization system, instead of the vehicle’s battery, to re-start the engine. Leone says this alternative power source inside the car enables smoother and quicker re-starts compared to previous systems.
The 2016 ATS and CTS vehicles have an eight-speed transmission, developed internally to offer smooth shifting with cylinder deactivation and start/stop technology.
Leone says CO2 output has been reduced by up to 6 percent on the 2016 ATS and CTS models.
