Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.
General Motors unveils ahead of tomorrow’s Los Angeles auto show the ’16 Cadillac ATS V-Series, the latest addition to the luxury brand’s high-performance line of sedans and coupes.
The ATS-V, which arrives at U.S. dealers in the spring, brandishes a 455-hp twin-turbo 3.6L V-6 spinning out 445 lb.-ft. (603 Nm) of torque. The engine, which first appeared in the ’15 CTS V-Sport but made 35 fewer hp, mates to either a 6-speed manual transmission or an 8-speed automatic.
The car also is flush with chassis, suspension and driveline tweaks to make it what GM calls a dual-purpose luxury performer – a track-capable vehicle straight from the dealership that also boasts sophisticated luxury on the road. A unique exterior design is meant to match the performance of the ATS-V.
Pricing will be released closer to the on-sale date.
“Cadillac’s V-Series is the best example of Cadillac’s emerging product substance and the purest expression of the passion at the core of the brand,” Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen says in a statement ahead of the car’s unveiling at a Los Angeles studio.
Few cars from Cadillac have been as hotly anticipated as the ATS-V, because the standard sedan and coupe versions of the car already were impressive for a blend of luxury and fun-to-drive attributes.
GM hopes the V-Series variant can add some punch to ATS sales, which so far this year are down 18.9% to 25,143 from 30,989 in like-2013, according to WardsAuto data.
The twin-turbo V-6 is the first forced-induction 6-cyl. for the V-Series line, which first bowed in 2004. The boosted engine will be the highest-output V-6 on the market next year, GM says, capable of sending the ATS-V from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.9 seconds.
The 6-speed manual receives technologies such as Active Rev Match, no-lift shifting and launch control for its off-the-line quickness. The 8-speed automatic is no less sophisticated with its own launch control and Performance Algorithm Shift technologies.
Curb weight for the ATS-V has not been released.
Other key features of the ATS-V include Brembo high-performance brakes; GM’s high-speed Magnetic Ride Control suspension-damping technology; specially integrated chassis controls to balance everyday drivability and track demands; a 25% increase in the car’s structural stiffness to handle higher cornering loads; and driver-selectable driving modes for touring, sport and track.
The car also receives tri-compound tire technology for improved grip and tread life; an optional, track-oriented aerodynamics package; exterior design modifications to enhance powertrain and drivetrain cooling, as well as aerodynamics; and an interior fitted with high-performance seats and other driver-focused ergonomics targeting sporty driving.
“As the smallest and lightest V-Series ever, the ATS-V forges a great connection with the driver, with exceptional nimbleness and responsiveness,” says David Leone, executive chief engineer-Cadillac. “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.”
The ATS-V makes Cadillac’s first use of an onboard Performance Data Recorder, which bowed on the latest-generation Chevy Corvette and allows owners to record high-definition video, with data overlays, of their driving experiences. They can share the files on social media.
GM says nearly every exterior panel on the ATS-V is unique and each one was designed to support the car’s capability.
“All of the design elements have a purpose,” says Andrew Smith, executive director-Global Design at Cadillac. “They contribute to lift reduction, enhanced cooling, reduced mass or all of the above.”
Smith says the V-Series line is the “emotive core” of the Cadillac brand, and the ATS-V marks the height of its Art & Science design philosophy, “offering a bold sense of arrival, serious performance, seamless integration of technology and precision craftsmanship.”
