While most mainstream manufacturers are moving toward downsizing and electrification, Cadillac->ke18 will introduce a new V-8 powerplant, despite the new luxury->ke505 CT6->ke4935 having been launched with four-cylinder and V-6 engines. That's the word from Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen, who described the upcoming mill as "mega powerful" and "highly efficient."

De Nysschen revealed the big news on Facebook, in a response to a well-researched article that argues that the era of the Cadillac V-8 is over now that the flagship CT6 arrived with only four- and six-cylinder engines. In his reply to the author, de Nysschen said "there absolutely will be another state-of-the-art mega powerful highly efficient new 8-cylinder from Cadillac, besides the CTS-V engine."

He then went on to add that the new powerplant will be specifically developed for Cadillac, thus not borrowed from other GM vehicles. "The V-8 Cadillac is alive and well today, and will be in even better shape tomorrow," he stressed, without providing additional details.

Cadillac currently sells just two vehicles with V-8 engines, the 2016 CTS-V and the Escalade.->ke245 The high-performance sedan->ke142 uses a supercharged, 6.2-liter rated at 640 horsepower and pound-feet of twist, while the full-size SUV->ke145 employs a 6.2-liter EcoTec3 with 420 horses and 455 pound-feet on tap.

Continue reading to learn more about Cadillac's future V-8 engine.

Why it matters

While there's no word as to how powerful the new V-8 will be, it's safe to assume it will slot below the CTS-V's supercharged engine. With nearly 500 horsepower at its disposal, the new unit should be fuel efficient enough, given it will mostly likely be a twin-turbo. De Nysschen also failed to mention which model the new powerplant will make it's debut in, but you I wouldn't get my hopes up on a CT6 launch. Cadillac will probably use it for the flagship car that's scheduled to slot above the CT6. What matters here is that Cadillac, which introduced the first mass-produced V-8 engine 101 years ago, isn't willing to give up on V-8 engines just yet.

Cadillac CT6

Find out more about the Cadillac CT6 in our full review here.