Beside the plethora of German models like the Audi RS4, Audi RS5, or the likes of Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and the Volkswagen Golf GTI, if we are starting to look past the traditional performance cars we’re starting to see lots of newcomers.
And some aspects of the high-performance car game have changed deeply, thanks to cars like the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V.
Competing with the German manufacturers has been tough for the American premium brands, but Cadillac has had some drawing new owners to their performance models. They have succeed in doing this, thanks to cars like the Cadillac CTS-V and ATS. Now, with the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V, their aim is to shake things up for the BMW M3 and BMW M4 as well.
Will they succeed?
Revealed to the public at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show, the Cadillac ATS-V is a force to be taken seriously. Coming to the market with a twin-turbocharged version of the V6 that comes in the current ATS, the same 3.6L puts out 455 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque – that is 30 horsepower and 39 pound-feet of torque more than the BMW M3 and M4’s turbocharged in-line six-cylinder engine produces.
It is backed by a six-speed manual – with Active Rev Match, no-lift shifting and launch control – or a paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission featuring launch control and Performance Algorithm Shift.
“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.”
The sprint from 0-60mph (0-100km/h) should take less than four seconds. The top speed is said to be around 185mph. Both these figures put it right in the center of what both the M3 and M4 are capable of, putting the Cadillac ATS-V into contention with both when acceleration and top speed come to play.
Cadillac claims that the standard ATS-V is the lightest car in its class. But at the same time, Cadillac is said to be behind in terms of brand awareness when it comes to high-performance automobiles.
“In terms of genuine performance, the Cadillac upstarts at least equal and often out-do the cars from Munich,” says Jack Nerad, executive editorial director at Kelley Blue Book. “That being said, the public has not warmed to the new Cadillacs as much as General Motors execs had expected. One possible reason: American consumers, even fairly young (mid-40s) consumers, do not consider Cadillac a go-to brand for sporting vehicles.”
Based on the current pricing of the ATS model, the new high-performance Caddy should be cheaper than both the BMW M3 and BMW M4 – in the range of $52,000 – 58,000 depending on trim levels.
But is pricing and the extra power enough to compete successfully with the M3 and M4? We’ll find out more next Spring.
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