While Ford’s EcoBoost technology is nothing really revolutionary--direct injection and turbocharging has been available on European diesels for years--the Blue Oval has been making strides over the competition when it comes to the performance and efficiency of its new engines. EcoBoost essentially offers customers the performance of a big engine from relatively small displacement--and now, General Motors is hoping to get in on the act.

According to engineering sources, GM is developing a new 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 with direct injection. The new plant, which has been codenamed LF3, is an extensive of the naturally aspirated LF1 3.0-liter V-6 found in models like the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain.

Performance is said to be similar to Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, which develops a peak output of 355 horsepower and 350 foot-pound of torque.

The first application of the new LF3 engine is rumored to be the upcoming Cadillac XTS flagship sedan, due to arrive in showrooms in late 2011 or early 2012. The engine, in varying guises, will eventually make its way across the rest of the Cadillac fleet as well as several other GM brands.

Late last year GM showed off the potential of a direct injected twin-turbo V-6 powerplant in a Chevrolet Camaro Concept that was developed together with comedian Jay Leno. Using the Camaro’s regular 3.6-liter V-6, engineers bolted on a pair of Turbonetics T-3 turbochargers pushing a mild seven psi of boost and managed to churn out 425 horsepower--matching the output of the 6.2-liter V-8 model.

[GM Inside News via TheCarConnection]