Twin-turbo V6 Holden Commodore ‘feasible'

General Motors has announced a new twin-turbocharged version of its 3.6-litre V6 that will be unveiled at the New York motor show next week and could easily slot into the new VF Commodore.

The beefy new petrol V6 will make its global debut in Cadillac’s mid-size CTS sedan, in which it will be matched to a new eight-speed automatic transmission, facilitating a top speed of no less than 274km/h.

Cadillac also quotes a 0-97km/h (0-60mph) acceleration time of just 4.6 seconds, making the force-fed CTS V6 quicker than BMW’s current M3 (0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds).

Power output for the bi-turbo 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine is an impressive 313kW/583Nm -- significantly more than Holden's current horsepower hero, the 6.0-litre V8-powered Commodore SS, which pumps out 270kW/530Nm.

If Holden did decide to use the new engine in its upcoming VF Commodore range (due on sale in June), it could garner the same cult status as Ford’s Falcon XR6 Turbo, for which it would be a direct competitor.

Holden is yet to reveal powertrain details for the VF Commodore, which is expected to continue with 3.0 and 3.6-litre V6 and 6.0-litre V8 engines, but says it has no short-term strategy to transplant the giant-slaying bi-turbo V6 into its VF line-up, at least from launch.

However, GM Holden’s External Communications Director, Craig Cheetham, told motoring.com.au that it would easily slot into the engine bay of a Commodore.

“It would be 100 per cent feasible to put it in that car ... because it's effectively the same engine block,” he said.

But Cheetham added there are no plans to offer the engine in Australia “at this stage”.

Another scenario could see the engine introduced as part of the all-new Commodore line-up that will replace the VF beyond 2016, although the next-generation Commodore is expected to be based on a global front/all-wheel drive platform and powered largely by four-cylinder engines.

GM’s new high-output V6 could also technically be built in Australia for local and export markets, but with the future of the Port Melbourne engine plant in doubt the chances of that happening appear slim.

The Cadillac engine features a number of internal upgrades to cope with the 12psi of boost pressure the twin turbochargers generate, including new cylinder head and block castings, stronger con-rods and new aluminium pistons.

Cadillac's powertrain engineers used a top-mounted intercooler to improve packaging -- not unlike the set-up seen on the 6.2-litre supercharged LSA engine that is seen in the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and could power HSV models in the near future.

“The LSA engine showed us the efficiencies of mounting the intercooler on top of the engine, especially when it came to packaging and maintaining a short, unobstructed path for the air charge," said Richard Bartlett, Assistant Chief Engineer for the engine.

Holden has dabbled with twin-turbo V6 power previously, with the VE Commodore-previewing 2006 Torana TT36 concept car producing a relatively modest 280kW/480Nm.