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In this study, with the purpose of applying to the metal catalyst substrates, we have examined the feasibility of improving the light-off performance of a catalytic converter by enhancing heat transfer in the cells with heat-transfer promoters. Experimental and CFD analyses have been conducted to estimate heat transfer rates and pressure losses of the model cells with hemispherical protrusions. The analyses show that, by enhancing heat transfer of the cells, the cell density can be reduced keeping the catalytic performance in the steady state at the same level as that of conventional ones. As a result, the thermal mass of the substrate can be also reduced effectively without an increase of the pressure loss, and consequently the light-off performance of the catalytic converter can be improved noticeably.