Ever wondered if your luxurious Cadillac shares anything in common with a Chevrolet? The answer might surprise you. Because both brands are owned by General Motors (GM), they sometimes use the same engines. This practice, called engine sharing, is a common way for car companies to save money and make production more efficient.
One example is the 2.7-liter turbocharged engine found in both the Cadillac CT4 and the Chevy Silverado. This doesn't mean all Cadillacs and Chevys have the same engines. Cadillac still offers unique, high-performance engines, like the powerful 6.2-liter supercharged V8 in the CT5-V Blackwing. This engine is also found in the Chevy Camaro ZL1, showcasing how GM uses shared technology across its brands.
This practice isn't new. GM has been sharing engines between Cadillac and other brands like Oldsmobile since the 1970s. The Cadillac Seville, a luxury car from the '70s, actually used an Oldsmobile engine! Over time, Cadillac started using more engines from other GM divisions, including Chevrolet.
One special Cadillac engine was the Northstar V8. It was designed just for Cadillac, but later on, other GM brands like Oldsmobile and Buick used it too. However, Cadillac's last truly unique engine was the 4.2-liter Twin-Turbo Blackwing, used briefly in the 2019 CT6-V.
You might be thinking, "Does this mean a Cadillac isn't as special?" Not necessarily. While some engines are shared, Cadillac often tunes them differently to give them a more luxurious feel. They also offer unique features and styling that set them apart from Chevrolets. Plus, both brands are moving towards electric vehicles, and they'll likely share electric technology too. The Cadillac Lyriq and Chevy Blazer EV, for example, both use GM's Ultium platform.
Looking ahead, engine sharing is likely to continue. It's a key part of GM's strategy to stay competitive and adapt to the changing car market. As electric vehicles become more popular, we'll probably see more shared technology between Cadillac and Chevrolet, allowing both brands to offer innovative and efficient vehicles.
