Cadillac Previews LMDh Car Design; Confirms V8 Engine

Cadillac has previewed the design of its forthcoming LMDh car and confirmed that it will be powered by a 5.5-liter DOHC V8 engine linked to the spec hybrid system.

The General Motors brand on Thursday provided more information about its next-generation prototype, which succeeds the Cadillac DPi-V.R. but will race in the FIA World Endurance Championship as well as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Clues to the final design of the vehicle titled ‘Project GTP Hypercar’ were presented in render images two days before the 90th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, an event that Cadillac is due to compete in next year in the Hypercar class.

The word ‘Hypercar’ has been added to the name of the program, which in previous official communications had been described as the LMDh-V.R and the Project GTP.

Cadillac Design, Cadillac Racing and its selected chassis partner Dallara have co-developed the shape of the vehicle to incorporate identifiable brand characteristics such as vertical lighting and ‘floating blades’.

“Cadillac will be competing again on the world racing stage, and we are all thrilled to return to Le Mans after 20 years,” said Rory Harvey, Vice President of Global Cadillac.

“By competing in both the 2023 IMSA and WEC championships, Cadillac Racing has the opportunity to demonstrate its capability, craftsmanship and technology.”

Chris Mikalauskas, Cadillac’s lead exterior creative designer, added: “The Project GTP Hypercar is a unique convergence of form and function and showcases Cadillac’s future performance aesthetic.

“We have plenty more to come, from the upcoming race car to amazing production vehicles.”

Cadillac announced its LMDh program in August 2021 when it named Action Express Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing as its partner teams for the project.

It issued a teaser image of the car’s design in February, with that depiction of the front end bearing resemblance to part of the full-car render issued on Wednesday.

The 5.5-liter dual overhead camshaft V8 engine will be “all-new” according to Cadillac and follows on from same displacement V8 found in the company’s DPi prototype for the WeatherTech Championship.

Cadillac is currently targeting a “summer” rollout, after previously hoping to conduct the car’s first shakedown in the spring.

The next two months are set to be a hive of activity in terms of prototype testing with Ferrari planning to roll out its hybrid LMH car in July and BMW also getting closer to the initial shakedown of its LMDh machine, which like the Cadillac is based on a Dallara.

“Competing for the overall win at Le Mans with an iconic American brand like Cadillac is an honor,” said GM sports car racing program manager Laura Wontrop Klauser.

“The entire team is excited to continue building Cadillac’s racing legacy by competing against the very best internationally and in the world’s toughest race.”