The result of direct injection is a 3.0-litre V6 that improves on the outgoing SRX V6 by about 5-horsepower while delivering 10- to 15-percent better fuel economy, the latter partly due to the engine's 600 cc reduction in displacement over the outgoing model's 3.6-litre mill. The new 3.0-litre also gets variable valve timing to further maximize output and efficiency, although torque is down by about 33 lb-ft according to Cadillac's estimates.The next part of the fuel efficiency equation includes two six-speed automatic transmissions, GM's own Hydra-Matic 6T70 for the 3.0-litre and an AF40 Aisin Warner unit for the 2.8 turbo. Taller overdrive gears save on fuel while shorter intervals optimize each engine's sweet spot to maximize performance. Each transmission gets a manual-mode for better driver interaction when feeling frisky, and when trying to get the most out of a tank of gas they come with a driver-selectable “eco mode” that causes the transmission to shift earlier and therefore keep revs to a minimum. Unfortunately GM doesn't have any estimated fuel economy numbers to tease us with, but we can surmise that a 10- to 15-percent reduction from the current 3.6-litre equipped all-wheel drive SRX' 14.8 L/100 km city and 9.2 highway rating would equal something in the neighbourhood of 12.6 to 13.3 L/100 km in the city and 7.8 to 8.3 L/100 km on the highway, which would be brilliant numbers to pull from a midsize luxury SUV to say the least. And that's with all-wheel drive! Front-wheel drive models (yes the current rear-wheel drive configuration is gone) will fare even better. As for the 2.8-litre turbo's fuel economy, it's got to be better than the current V8's 16.0 L/100 km city and 10.0 L/100 km highway rating. Add into the mix that the new SRX is significantly shorter by 117 mm (4.6 inches) at 4,833 mm (190.2 inches) with a 150-mm (5.9-inch) reduction in wheelbase length, plus lower overall by 54 mm (2.1 inches), and although Cadillac neglected to include its curb weight it'll no doubt be lower than the current model's, and therefore need less torque to get off the line and less power to keep it accelerating. Interestingly, the new CUV is wider by 66 mm (2.6 inches) and features a 1,626-mm (64.0-inch) front and 1,620-mm (63.7-inch) track that should translate into superb cornering.
