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Cadillac CTS

Cadillac CTS

Fuel-saving feature: Direct-injection gasoline engine
Savings: 41 extra hp, no mileage penalty

Direct-injection gasoline engines work like modern, common-rail diesel engines. Both spray fuel at extremely high pressure directly into the engine's combustion chamber. A direct-injection gasoline system might inject fuel at 2,000 psi, instead of 100 psi for older-generation fuel injection. The result is higher efficiency for the same amount of fuel. For the Cadillac CTS on sale now, that means 304 hp from its 3.6-liter, direct-injection V-6, at an EPA-estimated 17 mpg city/26 mpg highway, vs. 263 hp from the same-size engine without direct injection, at 18 city/26 highway. Several GM crossovers get direct injection for 2009.