AutoGuide Gets Behind The Wheel Of The 2016 Cadillac ATS-V
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First impressions of the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V are starting to pour in, and they’re good. Very good. AutoGuide is the most recent publication to step into the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V and its bolstered Recaro seats for some track time at Circuit of the Americas.
We already knew the 2016 ATS-V was ready to outgun the Germans on paper, but paper is only two-dimensional. We’re concerned with the execution, the three-dimensional product that comes to life after countless hours of engineering, blood, sweat and love. The Cadillac team has delivered here.
AutoGuide reports instant power delivery from the sweet-sounding 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, the first for a V-series Cadillac. The 464 hp and 445 lb-ft of torque provided from said V6 are then sent to your choice of an eight-speed automatic, or, drumroll please, a six-speed manual transmission. Something glaringly missing from its most direct rivals. Track time shows the eight-speed to be an incredible pairing with the car, with direct and quick shifts. But the six-speed impressed with quick throws, and flat-foot shifting feature.
Input is said to be spot on, too. The wheel defines the term “point and shoot.” Where you turn the wheel, the 2016 ATS-V goes. And that’s important for the car’s inevitable track days.
Nothing is perfect, however, and for as well as the 2016 ATS-V looks on the outside, and performs, it falls a tad short in the interior. Notably, AutoGuide says the cramped rear seats are still an issue, and echoing the voices of our staff here, the gauges are so underwhelming it hurts.
It seems Cadillac has crafted the ultimate answer to what the Germans have to offer, and Johan de Nysschen, Cadillac’s man in charge, believes M, AMG and RS fans have a lot to be afraid of with the launch of the latest V-series. The proof is in the pudding, or in this case, the potency.
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Cadillac has produced a belter of a car here, capable of competing with the best from Germany. Whilst it is a great alternative to the M3/M4, the prediction on these forums that it will “destroy BMW’s M” might not prove correct. I’m not a fan of the M3 and its tin can exhaust note, but as a performance car, with its light weight, that double clutch transmission, and inline 6, it is sublime. I’m surprised the ATS-V is a couple hundred pounds heaver, but as I have said before, all these cars have more capabilities and power than anyone needs, and no one will be disappointed with one of these cars. I personally would pick the C63, primarily because of that thunderous V8 exhaust noise, and the best interior in the business, but I would still lift my hat to any one driving the M3 or the ATS-V, as they are all superb driving machines.
The only thing that the ATS V needs work on is the interior. The next model year definitely needs the digital reconfigurable gauge cluster.
I think the interior looks fine!! I’m not getting the trends of why people at motor trend thinks it looks boring as the M sedan and coupe doesn’t look special as well. Wasn’t the only reason Cadillac didn’t put the tft display is that it’s too big for the ats?