
28t refers to the 2.0T engine used by Cadillac. Below is the relevant introduction: Cadillac: Cadillac, a world-renowned luxury automobile brand under General Motors of the United States, was born in 1902 (the Year of the Tiger) in Detroit, known as the Motor City of America. For over a century, Cadillac has created numerous firsts in the automotive industry, setting many luxury car industry standards. It can be said that the history of Cadillac represents the history of American luxury cars. Brand Introduction: The famous wreath and shield emblem chosen by Cadillac symbolizes its leadership position in the automotive industry. This profound and exquisite emblem also represents the Cadillac family's heritage as royal nobility, showcasing the courage and honor of the ancestors of Detroit's founders. The wreath emblem is derived from the emblem used by Mr. Cadillac. Although the Cadillac emblem was not registered as a trademark until 1906, it has been in use since September 1902. The early emblem design featured merlettes tilting to the left, with a wreath composed of tulip buds extending upwards from both sides, converging at the crown at the top.

I've driven the previous-generation ATS 28t, where '28' specifically refers to the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, and 'T' stands for turbocharging. This powertrain delivers impressive explosive power – it's rare to find an old American car that combines handling and power so tightly. Compared to my friend's 25T, the 28t's throttle response is noticeably more immediate, and the engine sound at high RPMs isn't as harsh. That said, Cadillac's newer models now use designations like CT5 and XT6, making the 28t more of a nostalgic badge that only veteran owners would recognize. Back when I bought this car, it was all about the power – the kick-in-the-back acceleration when overtaking on the highway was far more aggressive than naturally aspirated cars in the same class.

In the lineup, the 28t designation is equivalent to today's luxury sport badge. It was first used in the 2013 ATS to differentiate between high and low power versions—the low-power 2.0T was called 25t, while the high-power version was named 28t. The driving difference was quite noticeable—the 28t's 276 horsepower made the rear wheels particularly lively, causing the tail to slide out with just a slightly aggressive throttle input in the rain. Later models like the XTS and CT6 also followed this naming convention. Interestingly, the current CT4/CT5 have switched to numerical naming, but veteran car enthusiasts still smile knowingly when the 28t is mentioned. Back in the day, driving this car to work meant always being half a car length ahead at traffic light starts, with the engine's intake sound from under the hood being particularly exhilarating.

The 28T designation hides the romantic logic of American cars: a 2.0T engine deliberately labeled as 28, implying performance comparable to a 2.8L naturally aspirated engine. When repairing cars, I've disassembled this LTG engine—the direct fuel injection and twin-scroll turbo are no gimmicks. Comparing the data, the 28T delivers a maximum torque of 400 Nm, outperforming some 3.0T engines. However, longtime owners should watch out for valve cover oil leaks—last month, I helped a client replace it with an improved aluminum alloy cover. In the market, the 28T holds its value better than the 25T, thanks to its superior power reserve.

Simply put, 28t is Cadillac's high-power code. In the early days, it referred to different displacements across various models—on the ATS, it meant a high-output 2.0T, but the 2016 CT6 28t actually used a 3.0T engine. This confusion wasn’t resolved until 2019 when the naming was unified to purely numerical. My garage houses both an ATS and a CT6, both 28t models—though their engines differ, their acceleration feels similar: gentle at first, then a sudden kick in the mid-to-late range. Personally, I prefer the ATS's handling; the CT6's long body makes lane changes feel like steering a boat. Nowadays, if you want a 28t, you’ll have to hunt for used ones—new models have all been renamed CT4/5.

When I first got my used ATS 28t, I researched the meaning of its code: '28' upgrades the 2.0T engine to a virtual 2.8L, and 't' indicates its turbo identity. The throttle has a bit of slack in the first 1/3 of its travel, and the car truly wakes up after 3,000 rpm. For commuting, the comfort mode is sufficient, while switching to sport mode on weekend mountain runs makes the shift logic much smarter. However, new owners should be aware that the older transmission models respond a bit sluggishly, but flashing the ECU can improve this significantly. It's recommended to switch to Michelin PS4S tires, as the stock ones' grip doesn't match the 400 Nm torque.


