The next SRX will get a 3.6-liter, direct-injected V-6, which will provide 300 hp and 260 pounds-feet of torque, the luxury brand said today. The crossover’s current 3.0-liter engine makes 265 hp and 223 pounds-feet of torque.

SRX models with the new engine should arrive at dealerships in late summer, Cadillac said. Pricing wasn’t disclosed.

The SRX has surged to near the top of the premium crossover segment since a redesigned version was introduced for the 2010 model year. Sales rose 153 percent in 2010, to 51,094, which was third among premium crossovers behind the No. 1 Lexus RX 350 and the No. 2 Buick Enclave, according to the Automotive News data center. SRX sales rose another 29 percent in the first quarter of this year to 13,959 units.

Cadillac noted that the more powerful engine will top that of the RX 350, which provides 275 hp and 257 pounds-feet of torque.

“We’re raising the standards even higher by providing the SRX with enhanced performance,” Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac marketing, said in a statement. “The new engine will make the SRX more responsive for passing on the highway, entering freeways from on-ramps and climbing hills.”

Other enhancements for the 2012 SRX include Bluetooth phone connectivity on all models, door-lock switches on the driver and passenger door panels and a heated steering wheel on higher trim levels.