No car has had us waiting, guessing and counting down the days to see it quite like Cadillac’s ATS-V. Sure, we’re excited for the next-generation CTS-V and all, but we already know GM is more than capable of building a high performance midsize vehicle like the CTS. But the brand has never built a go-fast compact car like the ATS-V before, which is why we’ve been anxiously anticipating its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Luckily, we don’t have to wait until the LA show to see the ATS-V.
Thanks to the internet, the American BMW M3/M4 fighter has been spotted completely uncovered ahead of its unveil. We have the photos, which show a white ATS-V looking about as production ready as they come.
The 2016 Cadillac ATS-V Coupe is similar to the last-gen CTS-V in many ways. For starters, it has a V-shaped grille that’s very CTS-V-esque, though it looks thinner than that of the CTS-V, with a much larger lower air dam. There also appears to be a small second vent in the chrome strip above the grille opening, as well as a large extractor vent on the hood.
The side of the car reveals flared fenders, side skirts and black 18- or 19-inch wheels that sit tightly in the wheel wells. Out back, we see a small rear diffuser section with a center-mounted reverse light, quad exhaust pipes, and an aggressive, functional, rear decklid spoiler — all things we noticed when we saw the car testing at the Nurburgring.
While we now know what the 2016 ATS-V Coupe looks like, we’re still left guessing as to what, specifically, is hiding under that hood. We’re anticipating that a tuned variant of GM’s 3.6-liter LF3 twin-turbocharged V6 seen in the CTS Vsport will be employed in the lighter ATS-V family. To note, the boosted six-banger makes 420 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque in the CTS Vsport, but output will be bumped to around 450 in the ATS-V.
Cadillac also recently acknowledged the existence of a new 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 slated for use in the upcoming CT6 full-size flagship sedan, an engine that will be “the most powerful six-cylinder gas engine in the segment.” It seems that the engine could also potentially be used in the ATS-V. To note, the new BMW M3/M4 makes use of a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6.
We’ll have all the details on the all-new ATS-V when it makes its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show next mont, so stay tuned.
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Comments
Absolutely beautiful….
wow just beautiful, the new mesh used on the grille looks amazing. I just hope the power output is closer to 500 rather then 425.
The looks alone have me mind blown!!! I hope the powerplant does the same!!
Good luck M3/M4. This thing looks like a beast. I’m not crazy about the rear spoiler, it kinda looks out of place, but this could just be an up level aero package like the Z06 offers. Cadillac should look into power retractable spoilers like Porsche and Jaguar. Overall though, wow, can’t wait to see the specs.
I absolutely love it. I can tell they took much of the design from the 2013 CTS-V, which is great because that design worked well.
Beautiful indeed.
I expect this car to surprise many as Cadillac has been over delivering on the last few models to where they media has been shocked. I expect the trend to continue here.
I expect this car will out handle and out run the M series car. But like always they pick at the shifter for too much movement or some other nonsense or the Cue.
In the end in the comparison test this car will end up number one. Remember this is the same engineers that did the Z/28. Imagine what they will do with less mass and more technology.
I’m not so sure about that Scott, I say let’s wait and see. The current ATS clearly out handle the 3 series, but it certainly doesn’t out run it. The present M3/M4 is a different animal. I haven’t driven it yet, but aside from the much criticized exhaust note, every reviewer seems to be impressed by its speed and handling,. Don’t be fooled by BMW’s underrated 425hp, 0 to 60 in 3.9 sec is nothing to sneeze at. I’m sure the ATS-V will be very competitive, and may even be better the the BMW, but I say, let’s wait and see, this M3 seems to be very good, and it’s foolish and way too early, to just assume it will be “destroyed” as some people may think. I wouldn’t be surprised thou, if the monster in this segment turns out to be the new C63 AMG
Let’s just put it this way with the Alpha you have yet to any of the real performance model only the Vsport.
But with the ZO6 and the z28 should we expect anything less?
This is not the same GM we had five years ago. I think you will be surprised very surprised.