
Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11292458) -
2018 - crc - 2/14/17
DRIVING AND OPERATING 205
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Braking (Gasoline Only) . . . . . . . . . . 207
Braking (PLUG-IN Only) . . . . . . . . . 208
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 211
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In (GasolineEngine Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Starting the Engine (PLUG-IN Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Starting the Engine (Gasoline Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Electric Vehicle Operating
Modes
Driver Selected Operating Modes (PLUG-IN Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Out of Fuel/Engine Unavailable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Maintenance Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 231
Manual Mode (Gasoline Only) . . . 233
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 234
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236 Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Automatic Vehicle
Hold (AVH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Regenerative Braking (PLUG-IN Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Driver Mode Control (Gasoline Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . 245
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 253
Assistance Systems for Parkingor Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Night Vision System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . 268
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . 269

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11292458) -
2018 - crc - 2/14/17
DRIVING AND OPERATING 213
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you or
others could be injured. The vehicle
can overheat, causing an engine
compartment fire or other damage.
Spin the wheels as little as possible
and avoid going above 56 km/h
(35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right
to clear the area around the front
wheels. Turn off any traction system.
Shift back and forth between
R (Reverse) and a low forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as
possible. To prevent transmission
wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears. Release
the accelerator pedal while shifting,
and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in
gear. Slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, itmight need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out, see
Towing the Vehicle
0376.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can carry.
This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the
weight of all occupants, cargo, and
all nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle may
show how much weight it may
properly carry: the Tire and
Loading Information label and the
Certification label.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR),
or either the maximum front or
rear Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). This can cause
systems to break and change
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
the way the vehicle handles.
This could cause loss of control
and a crash. Overloading can
also reduce stopping distance,
damage the tires, and shorten
the life of the vehicle.
Tire and Loading Information
Label
Label Example
A vehicle-specific Tire and
Loading Information label is
attached to the vehicle's center

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11292458) -
2018 - crc - 2/14/17
DRIVING AND OPERATING 235
a sudden obstacle, a computer senses
the wheels are slowing down. If one of
the wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the
brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure to
each wheel, as required, faster than
any driver could. This can help you
steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change the
time needed to get a foot up to the
brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close
to the vehicle in front of you, there
will not be enough time to apply the
brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows
or stops. Always leave enough room
up ahead to stop, even with ABS.Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down firmly and let ABS
work. You may hear the ABS pump or
motor operating and feel the brake
pedal pulsate. This is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows you to steer and brake at
the same time. In many emergencies,
steering can help more than even the
very best braking.
Electric Parking Brake
The vehicle has an Electric Parking
Brake (EPB). The EPB can always be
activated, even if the ignition is off. To
prevent draining the battery, avoid
repeated cycles of the EPB system
when the engine is not running.
The system has a
Yor PARK
Electric Parking Brake light, and a
8
Service Parking Brake light.
See Electric Parking Brake Light 0145
and Service Electric Parking Brake Light
0 146.
Before leaving the vehicle, check for
the
Yor PARK light to ensure that
the parking brake is applied.
EPB Apply
To apply the EPB:
1. Be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop.
2. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The
Yor PARK light will flash and
then stay on once the EPB is fully
applied. If the
Yor PARK light
flashes continuously, then the EPB is
only partially applied or there is a

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11292458) -
2018 - crc - 2/14/17
242 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Sport Mode
Use where road conditions or personal
preference demand a more controlled
response.
When selected, the Sport Mode
indicator light will display in the
instrument cluster.
When in Sport Mode, the vehicle will
shift automatically but may hold a
lower gear longer than it would in the
normal driving mode based on
braking, throttle input, and vehicle
lateral acceleration. SeeAutomatic
Transmission 0231. The steering,
including Active Rear Steer (if
equipped), will change to provide
more precise control.
If the vehicle is equipped with AWD,
Sport Mode sends more torque to the
rear wheels.
Snow/Ice Mode
Use when more traction is needed
during slippery conditions. Snow/Ice
Mode will use a different accelerator
pedal map in order to optimize
traction on slippery surfaces.
When selected, the Snow/Ice Mode
indicator light will display in the
instrument cluster.
This feature is not intended for use
when the vehicle is stuck in sand,
mud, ice, snow, or gravel. If the
vehicle becomes stuck, see If the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0212.
If the vehicle is equipped with AWD,
Snow/Ice Mode will provide more
torque to the front wheels.
Cruise Control
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at a
steady speed. Do not use cruise
control on winding roads or in
heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast
changes in tire traction can cause
excessive wheel slip, and you could
lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
With cruise control, a speed of about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more can be
maintained without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. Cruise control does
not work at speeds below about
40 km/h (25 mph).
If the Traction Control/electronic
stability control system begins to limit
wheel spin while using cruise control,
the cruise control automatically
disengages. See Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0239. If a

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11292458) -
2018 - crc - 2/14/17
246 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Warning (Continued)
.Visibility is low, such as in
fog, rain, or snow conditions.
ACC performance is limited
under these conditions.
. On slippery roads where fast
changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip.
J:Press to turn the system on or
off. The indicator turns white on the
instrument cluster when ACC is
turned on. RES+ :
Press briefly to resume the
previous set speed or to increase
vehicle speed if ACC is already
engaged. To increase speed by 1 km/h
(1 mph), press RES+ to the first detent.
To increase speed to the next 5 km/h
(5 mph) mark on the speedometer,
press RES+ to the second detent.
SET– :Press briefly to set the speed
and activate ACC or to decrease
vehicle speed if ACC is already
engaged. To decrease speed by 1 km/h
(1 mph), press SET− to the first detent.
To decrease speed to the next 5 km/h
(5 mph) mark on the speedometer,
press SET− to the second detent.
*:Press to disengage ACC without
erasing the selected set speed.
[: Press to select a following gap
time (or distance) setting for ACC of
Far, Medium, or Near.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units.
See Instrument Cluster (Base Level)
0 127 orInstrument Cluster (Uplevel)
0 130. The increment value used
depends on the units displayed. Switching Between ACC and
Regular Cruise Control
To switch between ACC and regular
cruise control, press and hold
*.
A Driver Information Display (DIC)
message displays. See Vehicle Messages
0 169.
ACC IndicatorRegular Cruise
Control Indicator
When ACC is engaged, a green
\
indicator will be lit on the instrument
cluster. When the regular cruise
control is engaged, a green
J
indicator will be lit on the instrument
cluster.
When the vehicle is turned on, the
cruise control mode will be set to the
last mode used before the vehicle was
turned off.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11292458) -
2018 - crc - 2/14/17
DRIVING AND OPERATING 259
selection in the infotainment display.
To switch the parking mode between
parallel and perpendicular, touch and
hold
Oduring the search process or,
if available, change the parking mode
in the infotainment display.
After completely passing a large
enough space, an audible beep occurs.
A red stop symbol and a shift to
reverse message are displayed.
If the vehicle is in R (Reverse), but
does not steer into the expected
space, this may be because the system
is maneuvering the vehicle into a
previously detected space. The APA
system does not need service.
APA will instruct the vehicle to stop
once a large enough space is found.
Follow the displayed instructions.
Shift to R (Reverse) to engage
automatic steering. The steering wheel
will vibrate briefly as a reminder to
remove hands from the steering
wheel. APA uses idle speed and
braking to park. If idle speed is not
sufficient, gently press the accelerator.
Check surroundings and be prepared
to stop to avoid vehicles, pedestrians,
or objects not detected by the system.
In case the driver brakes, APA will not
disengage. Manual steering by the
driver automatically disengages APA.
Vehicle speed is limited to a
maximum of 5 km/h (3 mph) during
the parking maneuver. A progress arrow displays the status
of the parking maneuver. Depending
on the space size, additional
maneuvers may be required, and there
will be additional instructions. When
changing gears, allow the automatic
steering to complete before continuing
the parking maneuver. APA will beep
and display a PARKING COMPLETE
message. Apply the brakes and place
the vehicle in P (Park).
APA may automatically disengage if:
.
The steering wheel is used by the
driver.
. The maximum allowed speed is
exceeded.
. There is a failure with the APA
system.
. Electronic stability control or
antilock brakes are activated.
. A high priority vehicle message is
displayed in the DIC.
. The driver opens the door with an
unbuckled seat belt.
To cancel APA, touch
Oagain.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11292458) -
2018 - crc - 2/14/17
260 DRIVING AND OPERATING
When the System Does Not Seem to
Work Properly
The APA system may require a short
period of driving along curves to
calibrate.
Assistance Systems for
Driving
If equipped, when driving the vehicle
in a forward gear, Forward Collision
Alert (FCA), Lane Departure Warning
(LDW), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Side
Blind Zone Alert (SBZA), Lane Change
Alert (LCA), the Forward Automatic
Braking (FAB) system, the Front
Pedestrian Braking (FPB) system and/
or the Night Vision system can help to
avoid a crash or reduce crash damage.
Forward Collision Alert
(FCA) System
If equipped, the FCA system may help
to avoid or reduce the harm caused by
front-end crashes. When approaching
a vehicle ahead too quickly, FCA
provides a red flashing alert on the
windshield and rapidly beeps or pulsesthe driver seat. FCA also lights an
amber visual alert if following another
vehicle much too closely.
FCA detects vehicles within a distance
of approximately 60 m (197 ft) and
operates at speeds above 8 km/h
(5 mph). If the vehicle has Adaptive
Cruise Control (ACC), it can detect
vehicles to distances of approximately
110 m (360 ft) and operates at all
speeds. See
Adaptive Cruise Control
0 245.
{Warning
FCA is a warning system and does
not apply the brakes. When
approaching a slower-moving or
stopped vehicle ahead too rapidly,
or when following a vehicle too
closely, FCA may not provide a
warning with enough time to help
avoid a crash. It also may not
provide any warning at all. FCA
does not warn of pedestrians,
animals, signs, guardrails, bridges,
construction barrels, or other
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
objects. Be ready to take action and
apply the brakes. SeeDefensive
Driving 0207.
FCA can be disabled with either the
FCA steering wheel control or,
if equipped, through vehicle
personalization. See “Collision/
Detection Systems” underVehicle
Personalization 0170.
Detecting the Vehicle Ahead

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11292458) -
2018 - crc - 2/14/17
262 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Selecting the Alert Timing
The Collision Alert control is on the
steering wheel. Press
[to set the
FCA timing to Far, Medium, or Near,
or on some vehicles, Off. The first
button press shows the current setting
on the DIC. Additional button presses
will change this setting. The chosen
setting will remain until it is changed
and will affect the timing of both the
Collision Alert and the Tailgating
Alert features. The timing of both
alerts will vary based on vehicle speed.
The faster the vehicle speed, the
farther away the alert will occur.
Consider traffic and weather
conditions when selecting the alert timing. The range of selectable alert
timings may not be appropriate for all
drivers and driving conditions.
If your vehicle is equipped with
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC),
changing the FCA timing setting
automatically changes the following
gap setting (Far, Medium, or Near).
Following Distance Indicator
The following distance to a moving
vehicle ahead in your path is indicated
in following time in seconds on the
Driver Information Center (DIC). See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
0162.
The minimum following time is
0.5 seconds away. If there is no vehicle
detected ahead, or the vehicle ahead is
out of sensor range, dashes will be
displayed.
Unnecessary Alerts
FCA may provide unnecessary alerts
for turning vehicles, vehicles in other
lanes, objects that are not vehicles,
or shadows. These alerts are normal
operation and the vehicle does not
need service.
Cleaning the System
If the FCA system does not seem to
operate properly, cleaning the outside
of the windshield in front of the
rearview mirror, and cleaning the
front of the vehicle where radar
sensors are located, may correct the
issue.
Forward Automatic
Braking (FAB)
If the vehicle has Forward Collision
Alert (FCA), it also has FAB, which
includes Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA).
When the system detects a vehicle
ahead in your path that is traveling in
the same direction that you may be
about to crash into, it can provide a
boost to braking or automatically
brake the vehicle. This can help avoid
or lessen the severity of crashes when
driving in a forward gear. Depending
on the situation, the vehicle may
automatically brake moderately or
hard. This forward automatic braking
can only occur if a vehicle is detected.
This is shown by the FCA vehicle
ahead indicator being lit. See Forward
Collision Alert (FCA) System 0260.