DETROIT -- As part of Cadillac's drive to regain its position as a technology leader, the division is reconnecting with a piece of its history with a modern take on the V-16 engine. The pushrod aluminum V-16, encased in a Cadillac concept car that was scheduled to be unveiled Sunday, Jan. 5, at the North American International Auto Show, wrings 1,000 hp from its 13.6-liter displacement yet could get nearly 20 mpg on the highway.
"We're trying to move Cadillac up to a pre-eminent position," said Thomas Stephens, vice president of GM Powertrain. "You don't do it by taking small steps."
It is Cadillac's first V-16 in 63 years and comes three months after the division announced plans to build a 500-hp V-12 in limited volume.
Stephens said there are no plans now to put the V-16 into production. But the engine was designed so production is possible if Cadillac decides it wants "image" engines to appeal to buyers who want high performance regardless of price.
Cadillac believes about 1 percent of its buyers would be interested in paying a steep premium for a V-12 or V-16 engine.

The Feature

The V-16 features:
-Cylinder deactivation, which shuts down unneeded cylinders to conserve fuel when the engine is in cruise mode.
-Variable valve timing to improve performance and reduce emissions.
-Valves and valve springs made from a titanium alloy to save weight.
-Engine block and cylinder heads made from aluminum alloy to save weight; the fully dressed engine weighs 685 pounds, 84 pounds less than GM's 8.1-liter V-8 engine.
-Oil stored in an auxiliary tank, known as a dry sump design, which replaces the oil pan and lowers the height of the engine.
-Oil-cooled pistons.
-Two-valve cylinder heads that allow the same amount of air flow as four-valve heads.
GM Powertrain engineers say the V-16 is a showcase for the company's pushrod technology and is indicative of technology that will be found in the next-generation small-block V-8 engine design, likely to be introduced in about two years.
In October, Cadillac confirmed it would offer a V-12 with overhead camshafts, in limited volume, in an unnamed model. No time frame for the V-12's launch has been given, but Stephens said it takes between two years and three years for an engine to go from approval to market.

New designs needed

The V-12, which is being tested in a Cadillac Escalade, fits in the same space as GM's 8.1-liter V-8. But the V-16 is suitable only in new designs that take into account the engine's size. Stephens said the engine was designed to deliver turbine-like levels of smoothness.
The V-16 has been road tested in a Chevrolet Tahoe, modified by adding 12 inches to the front of the sport-utility.
GM is ready for criticism from those who will question the wisdom of such a huge engine at a time when concerns about fuel economy and emissions are growing.
On a computer-simulated trip from Detroit to Los Angeles, the engine would run on all 16 cylinders only about 5 percent of the time, Stephens said. It would use only 8 cylinders 65 percent of the time and only four cylinders during 30 percent of the trip.
In the Cadillac concept, Stephens said, the V-16 running on four cylinders would get close to 20 mpg. He also said the engine easily would meet current emissions standards.
Said Stephens: "One of the criticisms I've heard is that we don't take chances like we did in the 1930s and '40s. We're a new car company. This engine will help change people's thinking about Cadillac."


Cadillac XV16
Displacement: 13.6 liters (828 cubic ins.)
Horsepower: 1,000
Torque: 1,000 lbs.-ft.
Valves: Pushrod, 2 valves per cylinder

that has displacement like woah (yianni )

 

You mean displacment like whoa?

i say go for it.

 

ummm wasn't the car that engine goes into supposed to cost $300K?

 

GM is completely lost with no idea of how to get back.

If the motor only needs all 16 cylinders and 13.5 freakin liters only 5% of the time then what is the point?

The car it is in would never ever ever ever make it to production the way it sits. GM doesn't have the balls (even though it says it does) to make something that radical.

 

named Cadillac's Sixteen

equivalent cars listed in the article about that car had price tags from 150k to 320k...

 

ya you guys are right theyll never make it. but i say its cool just the same. and seriously, when are they gonna give up on pushrods?

 

whats so bad about pushrods? If done right there is nothingn wrong with them. Take the GEN III V8 from GM.

I say that Lutz should get his way and have this thing released. If GM did everything Lutz wanted theyd be so much better. Wheres the Solstice Lutz wanted us to get?

 

i thought it is in a sedan they have thats coming out???

 

Yes, called the Cadillac Sixteen. Where does it say otherwise?

 

i guess he thought the lil pic was a coupe.