Cadillac CEO Johan de Nysschen is feverishly working on re-imaging his brand. As the flagship of the soon-to-be CT (cars) line, the Cadillac CT6, like de Nysschen, has big ambitions. Lighter, stronger and faster than the current-generation Cadillac CTS, the new CT6 will showcase the latest in engine and materials technology when it makes its worldwide debut on March 31.
Check out this video of robots in GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant using advanced materials joining technologies to assemble a Cadillac CT6:
Cadillac says they will use the industry’s most comprehensive and advanced mixed-material manufacturing to build the CT6, allowing creation of a top-of-range large luxury sedan with the agaility and efficiency of a smaller vehicle.
A new body shop with new tooling and advanced technologies – including 205 robots – has been added to Hamtramck. The fully automated, roughly 138,000-square-foot shop is dedicated to the manufacturing of the newest Cadillac’s manufacturing.
“For the Cadillac CT6 we have developed additional new body construction techniques and technologies allowing various types of advanced and lightweight materials to be combined within the manufacturing environment like never before,” Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen said at the Washington Auto Show.
Material joining techniques prominent in the CT6’s body construction include aluminum spot welding, aluminum laser welding, self-piercing rivets, and flow drill screws. Aluminum arc welding and structural adhesive are also used for overall vehicle assembly.
Although official powertrain details have not yet been released, there has been much speculation of a twin-turbocharged V-6 engine mated to a plug-in hybrid setup and rear-wheel drive.
The Cadillac CT6 is expected to arrive in dealer showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2015.
For more information on Cadillac’s current projects, check out our “Almost Everything You Ever Wanted to Know” video on the 200-MPH 2016 Cadillac CTS-V below:
