Majestic, dominant, and fast. Those are the three words that came to mind as we watched this beautiful 2016 Cadillac ATS-V glide through the curves of a backroad and race through the Circuit of the Americas F1 track in Austin, Texas. The carbon-fiber front splitter and rear diffuser compliments the Crystal White Tricoat quite nicely, if we do say.
“Nicely balanced,” is how Carlos Lago of Motor Trend describes the ATS-V as he cruises along the public roads. On the track, he says “it’s doing what I want it to be doing.” It seems that a sense of control is a sure thing when it comes to driving the ATS-V, but we can’t say we’re surprised.
This excellent portrayal of powerful acceleration along with the ability to be nimble in the video below has left some of us here at GM Authority wishing we had an 2016 Cadillac ATS-V of our own.
Comments
Very good car in a group of very good cars.
First step was to make the group of best in class and the second step to dominate the others and they soon shall.
Sound like blind loyalty to me. This car is very good, but I don’t know about it dominating the competition anytime soon. It’s not as if AMG and BMW is standing still, the 2016 M3 LCI will see a range of updates. Cadillac’s engineers are not shy in saying the M3 is their benchmark, and nothing is wrong with that, the problem is, the M3, and the entire segment, is a moving target
The problem is that GM made the M3 the benchmark target and pretty much hit it with some hints of the Benz dialed in. GM should have done what they are about to do and benchmark beyond the M3 and future models.
GM is not some cottage industrial company, They have the ability to do anything that the Germans are doing and to do it better. What has held them back? Old GM culture is what held them back as they debated the cost of items in the car and not giving them the development money to do all they can do.
Of late we are now seeing the GM engineers being empowered to do what they can do and not have to wait to be told to do it. Cadillac has won their independents and has been given money unlike GM has given any division to do what they can do with out interfering.
I have seen storied on Benz where they have spoken to their leaders and engineers to see what they think. They are watching Cadillac as they know what GM can do if it can get it’s collective butt together.
They pretty much know it is not a matter of if but when Cadillac gets it all together.
Not brand loyalty here just watching the market and seeing what is going on and what others at the competition are thinking.
The only thing that can stop them is someone getting in charge at GM that pulls the plug before they get there. I really don’t expect that as that kind of thinking is now not the norm. Lutz started the culture change but Mary has carried it on and is only expanding it.
Here is a case point.
GM could not get body gaps even close to Hyundai. Why Lutz asked the engineer in charge why they were not doing it. We can but no one told us to do that. He asked you were not told? He said yes that they were only to do what they were told to do and not ask any questions.
Well 6 months and an investment of around $200K they fitted body panels that were industry leading on the 08 Malibu.
Many of these issues can be resolved easily but changing the system has taken time and many changes. Cadillac fast stepped it last summer with the move to NYC to get their staff away from GM and those who are the problem from the old culture that could interfere.
Nobody who follows the industry would deny that GM have the money, the desire and engineering talents to make outstanding cars. They do, without question, but so too the Germans. And the Germans have been doing it for a long time. Mercedes and BMW continue to raise the bar each year. I would never, ever say that GM can’t compete, but I also cannot say that GM will dominate the Germans, at least, not any time soon, and that is my point. To just simply say GM will dominate is nothing more than blind loyalty, or wishful thinking.
Yet the Germans have only refined the same design over the years and now find themselves being challenged for once with someone with the abilities they have had.
Also they have lost their way to a point with quality that is not what it used to be cars that have grown heavier and heavier and styling that appears to seldom change much.
I think you miss the point there that GM to win for themselves does not have to dominate but just have a good slice of the pie. With the volumes they will sell and the prices they will be charging they can make over 50% of the auto profits with only 10-12% of the auto sales.
This is not about volumes and selling in ever niche of the world but making money, That is all this segment is all about. Truck sales may not be able to support them in the future so they need to focus on cars cheap and expensive.
Now in the Chevy camp it is all about volume but at Cadillac it is all about profit per unit and GM can clearly make money here.
GM is not going to do with Cadillac as Benz and BMW does overseas and sell fleet sales to police and taxis. They will not offer the bare bone models the Germans offer.
The fact is GM can and will build a better car and make a healthy product with it even at a lower volume. There are many makes in this segment even at higher prices that do very well.
Cadillac is not mass volume luxury anymore, if you want any of that this is what Buick is for.
The key here is make money and improve image and both are very do able. GM will never be the one to try to win the Fleet sales for police cars in Warsaw.
Gm would benefit from a Lutz return. Cadillac would benefit from refining Cadillac Art and Science as the language has become stale to the point boring. Mercedes demonstrates that luxury styling can take risks. Mark Adams belonged at Cadillac because he understands beauty.
Cadillac must hurry it’s move upmarket so that Buick can more effectively compete with Lexus, the new Lincoln, and other soft luxury brands.
This, in turn, allows Chevrolet to move further up market as it competes with other mass market value brands that are slowly drifting upmarket–as demonstrated by Ford’s ability to compete not with Chevy but Opel in Europe. I make this point because no one can deny the superiority of Insignia and Astra when compared against Chevrolet platform mates and how this demonstrates GM s inability to properly position brands.
Well all in due time as you just can not move a brand upscale in all models just in a couple years. It takes longer moving two brands while repairing the highest volume one.
As for Lutz he has been retained as a consultant.
As for the toning down Bob was the one who started it. He wanted Cadillac to be different and that you knew it was a Cadillac but not to the point it was so polarizing it became a love hate styling. They have hit on a good medium now.
As cool at the CTS Coupe was it was a love hate and sales just never got to where they hoped it would go.
The biggest issue for the ATS coupe now is rear leg room, I do not expect sedan room but it needs to have Monte Carlo like room. A little more would go a long way.
A main problem with Buick Aveair is that the car is far more attractive than CT6, and therefore impossible to build.
Cadillac needs to be in some manner breath taking.
Not true the Buick is very buildable.
Now do not expect many things the CT6 will get as it will never have the same level of trim or technology at least till Cadillac has moved on. Also never expect a V8.
The differences will be in things you can get in a Cadillac but not in the Buick.
Besides do not judge the future Cadillac product by the CT6 as their mission and level of product has changed since August. At this point we have not seen the new level but rest assured it will be much higher than Buick in many ways.
I expect the styling will be changed in the coming models in 5 years as they morph the present models to that over the next few years.
Also in this segment styling is not always a prime factor as Image. Lets face it Benz has had some dogs as well as BMW and the Dame Edna looking cars they had done. If it were not for image they would not have done well on style alone.
To be honest, I just don’t think Cadillac can go without another CTS/CT5 coupe.
Just look at the number of sales in the last couple years and then come back and try to make the same statement.
Only Wagon sales made the coupe sales look good.
I love a good coupe but it is a tough sale anymore. Then if you have no leg room or head room because of the styling and size it is even tougher to sell.
People are just too damn practical putting utility over styling anymore.
Well lets not forget that the last gen CTS Coupe was about as polarizing as they came. Audi, BMW and Mercedes coupes plus the Camaro/Mustang sell just fine thank you. But in such a market the styling has to be dead on.
I loved the last gen CTS coupe, but Even I can admit that it’s biggest detriment was the fact that it was intentionally extreme.
waiting for the head 2 head
gonna be a good one.
“..some of us here at GM Authority wishing we had an 2016 Cadillac ATS-V of our own.” Go and lease one for a year!
Very nice car, will be able to rub shoulders with the best in the class, but it won’t “destroy” the M3/M4 as some people on these forum predicted. I personally would not buy the M3, but as a lightweight performance machine, it is very formidable. Despite what GM is saying, I still think it would be better with a proper double clutch transmission, and I’m surprised it’s 200 pounds heavier than BMW’s M3/M4. We might despise the Germans, but for GM to have a car like this, that can run with them, and handle this brilliantly is a fine achievement, and i laud them. It’s hard to tell from videos, but it seems like they could have make the exhaust noise a little meaner, but all in all, well done GM. The only reason I would choose the C63 over this is for that thunderous V8 noise, and best in class interior.
they are all different. However, everyone is kind of cool. The first part is believed to perfection mb. you must either BMW or Audi.
we are realists. and each one would be best. number one. But it is not so easy. but possible.
But even in the mb amg c is not ideal. I guess things are not quite ideal also available.
What I like about the ATS-V is that Cadillac made everything standard! I feel like with the M3, without adding $25,000 worth of options, all you get is a 335i with an uptuned engine, excess body cladding, and a highly unnecessary amount of “M” badges.
I’ve watched most of the videos about the new ATS-V and its overall dynamics look excellent! The 3.6tt V6 offers plenty of power, but a stronger torque-curve would be great. Perhaps in a year or two, Cadillac could remap the engine for 470HP and 450LB-FT for snappier performance.
Really? Not exactly correct. The ATS-V in this video as tested price is $78,995 (base price is $63,660). So I don’t know what you mean that everything is standard.
I’m talking more so along the lines that BMW makes you buy the $10,000 performance brake package or $15,000 sports tuned suspension package. Meanwhile, the ATS-V comes standard with the best of what Cadillac has to offer such as Magnetic Ride and Brembo’s.
You guys just seems to love write fictitious things to get thumbs up or what? What $15,000 sport tuned suspension are you talking about? If it’s the adaptive m suspension, its only $1,000. Most reviewers have stated that BMW’s optional ceramic brakes are an over kill, and not necessary, and the standard brakes are just fine, so that’s a non issue. In fact, go on bmwusa.com, you can easily build a M3, with manual transmission and all the options you need (except the ceramic brakes) for under 80, grand, cheaper than the ATS-V in this video. I’m not knocking the ATS-V, i’ve said its a great car, and priced reasonable, but don’t spill garbage about the competition that is not factual, and expect rational people to agree with you.
and prices are also different. and so can be the difference may be even bigger. but certainly they are all cool. and every one of the postive and negative sides.
However, no one is better and better, and best. like a beauty pageant where all women are beautiful. But still no one wins. But let beauty contest has a theme, and this more a question of taste. in cars is not only a question of taste. even if one of the cars more like me does not have to be a real car the best.
However, many carmakers and learn to tolerate criticism. Germans, French, and many other car manufacturers can critique and learn. they know how to respect and listen to the criticism.
who does not respect and do not listen to the criticism they can not succeed.
Is not that a great motorsport events criticism which seeks to find halbasid things to become the best.
certainly like Chris Harris and especially of the Cadillac V series. But Chris Harris is one people and one car tester to. Chris Harris is to only one One car enthusiast and it also has all the