Competing with the German manufacturers has been tough for the American premium brands, but Cadillac had some success bringing customers over to the brand with their CTS-V model. Can they achieve the same result with the smaller, nimbler ATS-V?
The new Cadillac ATS-V made its debut today at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. As an all-new vehicle to Cadillac, the ATS has performed quite well. And naturally, there has to be a version to compete with the latest M3/M4.
This newest F80/F82 M3/M4 is not much older than the ATS-V, so Cadillac wouldn’t have had the same amount of time to benchmark it.
With a 3.6 liter, twin-turbo V6 making 450 horsepower, the ATS-V packs a similar punch to the M3’s twin-turbo, 425 horsepower inline-six. The 3.6 liter engine is the same one used in the CTS Vsport, but has been upgraded a bit with titanium connecting rods, new turbo wastegates and higher-flow fuel injectors. Mated to either an 8-speed auto (GM’s own) or a 6-speed manual, the ATS-V should be plenty quick. It will also ride on GM’s latest version of their magnetic shocks, with new bushings and ball joints, and stop itself with Brembo brakes. The brakes will be steel discs, 14.6 up front and 13.3 out back, and the calipers will be six-piston and four-piston, respectively.
“As the smallest and lightest V-Series ever, the ATS-V forges a great connection with the driver, with exceptional nimbleness and responsiveness,” said David Leone, Cadillac Executive Chief Engineer. “It’s adaptable to the driver’s preferences, with every selectable mode developed to deliver the best performance for all types of driving scenarios, including the track.”
We look forward to some comparison reviews on the track.
