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2020 Cadillac XT6 revealed as Caddy's first big crossover

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 rounds out Cadillac's crossover lineup with a range-topper. It also presents an option for people who wanted a three-row Cadillac but didn't want something as large and truck-like as an Escalade. This is partly achieved through using a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 powering either the front or all four wheels. A nine-speed automatic transmission sends the V6's 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque to the ground. The XT6 is split between two trim levels that appear to be marketed as different rather than one being better. The first is redundantly called Premium Luxury. A chrome grille and trim, red taillights and unique 20-inch wheels distinguish it as such from the outside, while wood trim covers the inside. The second is Sport, and black trim replaces the chrome, red taillights are swapped for clear, and carbon fiber supplants the wood inside. It has different 20-inch wheels as well as optional 21-inch pieces. The Sport gets mechanical tweaks, too, including continuously adjustable shocks and a standard all-wheel-drive system with yaw control. No matter the trim, all XT6's get an interior that builds upon the XT4 with more physical buttons and a control knob for the infotainment for scrolling through menus and lists. Safety and convenience features abound, including standard automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning and lane-keep assist. Optional features include night vision, parking assist with braking support, a heads-up display and a camera screen mirror. Adaptive cruise control is also available, but it's not Super Cruise, our Tech of the Year award winner. Cadillac will start taking orders for the Tennessee-built crossover this spring. The final release date hasn't been announced yet, though. That information, along with pricing, should come closer to when the crossover begins production. Related Video:

Cadillac XT6 SUV will be revealed in Detroit in January

Cadillac will hold an event on Jan. 13 on the eve of the Detroit Auto Show to reveal its long-awaited new XT6 three-row crossover, Automotive News reports. The XT6 is seen as a critical product for Cadillac, which has been caught flatfooted with a lineup heavy on sedans amid the boom in crossovers and SUVs. It'll slot between the midsize XT5 crossover, and the full-size Escalade luxury SUV. Cadillac recently started selling the smaller XT4 crossover as well. The XT6 is expected to arrive in showrooms around mid-2019. We've seen several spy shots of the XT6 cloaked in heavy camouflage, including some views of the uncovered dashboard and console layout earlier this week that showed a wide, sweeping dash and elements seemingly borrowed from the CT6 sedan. Cadillac is also reportedly working on a "master brand" campaign strategy expected to be unveiled early next year, with plans to make Cadillac GM's technology leader for self-driving and electric-vehicle systems, with plans to bring Super Cruise to its entire lineup. The GM luxury brand plans to launch a new or redesigned vehicle every six months for the next three years. Related Video:

How GM's grueling 24-hour test gets the kinks out of its performance cars

One of the biggest challenges automakers face when designing a high-performance car is making sure that it is both fast and reliable. For General Motors, any car that might be taken to the track by its owner - like the Corvette, Camaro Z/28 (shown above) and the Cadillac CTS-V, for example - undergoes a rigorous and strenuous 24-hour test by engineers at the Milford Proving Grounds, as pointed out by Car and Driver.
We've posted on this topic in the past - on a video showing the Camaro ZL1 being brutalized, for instance - but this article gives a more in-depth look at what actually happens behind the scenes... including what that poor ZL1 went through. Though the test isn't for 24 hours straight, the cars are pushed as hard as possible by some of GM's best drivers with only the brakes and tires replaced frequently.
We don't want to ruin the fun for you, but it is an interesting article that tells just some of what GM does to develop its sports cars. Check out the full article over at Car and Driver for the rest of the story.