Mercedes-Benz and its in-house performance division AMG yesterday unveiled their all-new answer to the Porsche 911, the AMG GT. The two-seat sportscar is powered by a 462 horsepower twin turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, will accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 189 mph. Cadillac has already said it won’t go product-for product with the Germans, but should they take a swing at the AMG GT?
The AMG GT was developed entirely in-house by AMG, Mercedes’ performance wing. Despite that long hood, the car is actually rather small and undercuts the SLS AMG in the Mercedes lineup. Motor Trend reported a replacement for the XLR is on the way, so a Cadillac AMG GT rival would have to ride on a chassis smaller than the Corvette’s to make sense in the Cadillac portfolio.
Then there’s the question of the engine. The same 4.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 from the Elmiraj concept seems like the most viable option, however we think the 420 horsepower 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged LF3 V6 from the Cadillac CTS Vsport could easily be tuned up to match the AMG GT’s 462 horsepower. A rumored AMG GT S is also on its way with 510 horsepower, which may require the power of eight cylinders to top.
There’s no doubt Cadillac has the hardware to build a mid-size sportscar to face-off with the AMG GT, but do they really need it? No other German manufacturer really makes a smaller GT car quite like the AMG GT and you could even argue that customers would cross shop the car with a C7 Corvette Z06, so really General Motors may already have an answer to the car. On the other hand, the Cadillac would be more of a GT-car and less of a supercar like the Z06. So do they have a case for building one? Let us know in the comments.
Comments
Could Cadillac do it? Of course they could. They have the resources (Corvette or Alpha platform, TT 3.6). But there is no need for such a vehicle. What they should do, if they want an all out super car, build a mid engine vehicle. There are already rumors of a mid engine Corvette variant, why not a Cadillac? In my eyes, I think the Corvette should stay front engine layout based on heritage and if there were to be a mid engine Cadillac, not to steal sales from the Cadillac. A mid engine Cadillac super car to take on the Audi R8 would be outstanding given Cadillac’s recent performance vehicles and level of quality. Something like the Cadillac Cien concept but smoothed out a little with Cadillac’s new elegant take on Art and Science would be beautiful.
Yes
Mid-engine Cadillac and Corvette, both coupes, at the high end. Front-engine “value” Cette like the current one.
Corvette and Cadillac will expand its models, especially in the high end, on the next 3-5 years. Guaranteed. Things ate going to get exciting as they attack the profit centers of the Germans, etc. I just hope they execute things flawlessly.
To be honest all cadillac needs to do is make a sleeker low slung CTS coupe variant…..start the engine line up with the TTV6…….and skip the Vsport and then give it the monster engine going in the V series……..it will be a lovely mid size GT but will blow the merc out of the water….seeing though its highest out put engine wouldn’t reach the Vseries estimated 625+ HP rumored rating………and if GM’S really wants a mid-engined car look now were but cadillac and redo the XLR……your highest profit margins are in cadillac and would go against the corvettes’ motto of being the affordable sports car…
I’d say no, this fight has always been corvettes fight, Cadillac has had the xlr which really isnt that old and its almost forgotten already. xlr’s can be found for 20k. The corvette has much more of a following and creates much more of a buzz in the industry. I’d rather see cadillac make a large luxury coupe to compete with the s class.
Just because this was a fight for the Corvette, it should not be exclusive to Corvette only. If Audi, BMW, Lexus and Acura are making sports cars, there is no reason why Cadillac shouldn’t. IMO, Cadillac should not be limited to making large luxury coupes but they have the capabilities and expertise in making a halo sports car if they so choose to do it.
The XLR was half-ass by old GM who did not want to put investment in the car and called it for the day for the reason it was a failure.
My heart says yes, but my brain says no.
Cadillac not need For now a sports GT; if a CUV and respond well with the LTS
While it would be wonderful to see a “new” XLR with current technologies and luxury
Regards from Spain
I would love to see the Cadillac SL fighter again and a Ferrari 458 Italia mid-engine fighter.
Here is what Cadillac needs to do first.
They need to address the CTS and ATS till they are the top car in the segment with no question. They are close now.
They also need to launch the LTS right and market it properly.
Then what they should look at if they have to do a sports car would be a Z4 like roadster but not ugly like the BMW one.
It would be a lower cost GT roadster with a ample trunk for short weekend trips and be affordable to a broader group with fun to drive levels all over it. Offer it with the Turbo 4 and The TT V6 for a M killer option. Also keep it light sub 3000 pounds.
This car would be profitable and would be one that could get people to take a chance on to help Cadillac to earn the rep and the right to sell a much higher priced GM later on.
You have to walk before you run and also this car would be everything the Corvette is not. A more refined euro car that is fun to drive but better ride and more quiet. This car would play well with the female buyers and that is a big market.
The problem with American cars is the handling and stability against the German ones.
Also, Germans engines have more than 100hp/litter to 150hp/litter in all sport cars. Witch means, z06 could achieve 1000 hp easily.
In the other hand, our cars have longer age, afford costs, repaired easier, and better for the drag racing.
But I hope, we will have sport cars better handling, better stability, better cornering, and better every thing then Germans cars.
While true in the past and still on some cars the American companies are now building cars much in the way of Germany.
It was never about that the Germans had any secrets but more about the cheaper easy way out and philosophy.
While in the past GM would just slap on big bars and bigger tires today they are no longer doing this. For years they would make a car handle great on the Warren black lake but on the real roads the ride was harsh but they would turn great numbers on a smooth surface.
Today since GM started the GM Performance Division and incorporated these folks into the suspension programs from the start on new platforms like the Alpha and still work on the older ones like the Z/28 they have it figured out. They did not go to Germany for a vacation but to find how to make a car work on some of worst roads and not a skid pad alone.
My HHR SS is a great example of the new GM think. Here they took a old Delta platform and tuned it with some new bits like control arms and Sach struts and socks. They yielded some skid pad numbers and spring rates for a much better real world handing car. It drive much more like a Euro car. It makes going fast in the real world on bad roads easy. I do not have to work at it like I do in my Pontiac. A well tuned car makes going fast feel slow.
Also I have 2.0 engine that is 290 HP. 140 HP per liter. It is durable even wit 23 PSI of boost and easy and chap to repair.
As for drag racing the only issue I have is the weight transfer of the FWD makes it hard to hook up and the Launch control only slows me down. IF you can get it to hook up it will spin a high 13 second run if you feel the need. I may be getting old or tires are just too damn expensive as I find no real thrill in spinning tires. To me it is just a loss of ET anyways.
You will find the new CTS and ATS embody this new way as will many other new cars. The same engineer Mark Steilow not only over saw my HHR SS and Cobalt SS but the new Z/28 and more.
GM has gone in the correct direction here and will continue. The new Camaro coming will reflect much of this refinement.
If you have not driven a Cobalt SS or HHR SS take a drive it is a shame the suspensions were saddled on older cars but that will change here. I never really cared about the HHR till the SS and one drive hooked me. It is about the drive and nothing else for me there.
I don’t think the Motor Trend article said anything about them reporting “A replacement for the XLR is on its way”
It lists logical reasons, from both a commercial and engineering standpoint, that an XLR replacement could make sense. It simply noted the slot is there to be filled and that sharing volume w/ the Zora would help absorb the high cost of developing an entirely new and unique MR platform.
I’ll put money on Cadillac standing pat until SALES of their newest models indicate they’ve moved upmarket in the eyes of the consumer. While we few GM lovers know, and I certainly believe 100%, that Cadillac’s newest offerings are the best available in their respective segments, the world still thinks that Lexus = Reliable and BMW = The Ultimate Driver’s Car.
It won’t benefit GM to botch the unveiling of a truly premium sports/super car if consumers are still blind to the truth. GM unfortunately has shot themselves in their collective foot several times relatively recently from a PR perspective (emissions scandals, recalls, the bailout), and that bullsh*t still dominates the headlines despite other OEM recalls; everybody seems to forget that Toyota, the supposed beacon of reliability, sensibility, and quality, lead the world in recalls for the past 3-4 years. It’ll take some time before the genius of their engineering is fully appreciated. Another “flop” like the XLR and Cadillac may forever damage its image — everyone will think them incapable of delivering a true SLS competitor. It just isn’t time yet. I give it until the 19MY – 20MY range.
Until then, I’ll just save up for an ATS and hope that by the time I’m 35-40 they’ll have mastered each segment of the luxury world.
With the complete recent flop of the ELR, they need to focus on making the ATS/CTS a success.
How about a CTS-V coupe complete with 7 speed manual and 650hp? That would make waves. And don’t detune it if you want to make a proper statement.