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Cadillac ATS-V+ To Feature 7.0L LS7, Seven Speed Manual Transmission?

We loved the Cadillac ATS-V following our brief period spent behind its leather-wrapped wheel, but despite the immense amount of power on tap from its twin-turbocharged V6 LF4, we couldn’t help but wonder what the compact performance vehicle would be like with a V8.

If a new report from Motor Trend turns out to be true, we might not have to wonder forever how the ATS-V would be like with a thundering eight-cylinder power plant. Apparently, a more hardcore version of Cadillac’s high-performance compact luxury car will  soon arrive with General Motors’ legendary 7.0-liter LS7 V8 under the hood, answering the prayers of enthusiasts all over America.

It’s not entirely clear where Motor Trend got its intel, only saying they “dug up” the info on the super high performance ATS-V, which is set to be called ATS-V+. If the vehicle ends up featuring the same motor used in the Camaro Z/28 and C6 Corvette Z06, it will trump the 464 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque on offer from the ATS-V’s twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 LF4 with 505 horsepower and 481 pound-feet of torque. Motor Trend points out the LS7 is also lighter than the LF4, which should aid in driving dynamics such as acceleration and handling .

As far as transmissions go, customers will have a choice between GM’s 8L90E eight-speed automatic transmission and seven-speed manual from the C7 Corvette. A dual-clutch will reportedly be on offer sometime down the road.

There’s no word on when the 7.0L V8-powered ATS-V+ will arrive, but we wouldn’t be all that surprised if it turned up at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this coming January.

Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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Comments

  1. odd, seems to all be vaporware at this point. I would think the LS7 would be discontinued after the current z/28 seeing as how the engine is almost 10 years old now, an incredibly long lifespan for any motor in todays fast moving industry, however, the engine has stood the test of time very well and In my opinion is one of the greatest engines ever made.

    Reply
  2. Although who wouldn’t welcome the added power, burly V8 symphony and lower weight over the front wheels I can’t help but think the LS7 is a little old tech for ATS duty or any Cadillac for that matter.

    I think they should at least modernize it with direct ignition and cylinder deactivation to increase efficiency and more power. Say in the 550hp /500 torque range.
    To make the dream complete, add AWD to put all that wonderful power the ground and make it all wheather capable.

    That would make an even more formidable M4/C63 destroyer and they would have nothing to counter with.

    Take that right in your M4!

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    1. Technically, the ATS has no weight directly over the front wheels from the engine, since the engine is properly positioned behind the front axle. What the wheels do carry, however, is distributed weight from the engine and other vehicle components. That said, I do understand what you’re saying: less weight is always better, especially in the front.

      That said, I don’t see a fifth-gen Small Block follow-up to the LS7. In other words, I can’t see an LT7. Not now, not ever. Meanwhile, the LS7 is perfect for an ATS-V+ because it makes plenty of power (much more than what can be had in the M3/M4) and is a beast in power delivery and sound. Plus, we’re talking about a super high performance/hardcore performance luxury vehicle here. Cylinder deactivation to increase efficiency? Not one person who will buy the ATS-V+ will care about that.

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      1. I’ll give you that a buyer looking for this kind of vehicle is not that concerned about fuel economy but the halo ATS model shouldn’t get the same engine as the Z28.
        A Cadillac should never be just a dolled up Chevy using 14+ year old engine tech.

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        1. Agreed! A Cadillac should never be a dolled up Chevy. And in the case of the ATS, it isn’t.

          The Alpha platform, for instance, isn’t shares with Chevrolet until the all-new Camaro comes to market. And even then, the Caddy has an entirely different feel to it.

          But you wanna know what’s funny about old technology? It works. Mercedes-Benz used its iron horse 2 valve engines in the AMG series cars from 1991 – 2009. These were antiquated from a technology perspective, not fuel efficient by any means, and not as immediately refined as the new DOHCs with 4 valves. But they did one thing very well: reliably deliver neck-breaking power on demand. The LS7 is very similar.

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          1. I get platform sharing. It is a necessary evil to spread development costs over as many units as possible as in the case of the Camaro but Cadillac should utilize exclusive engines at least.

            When you think about it the LS7 doesn’t make sense for what Cadillac seems to be trying to do.
            They have developed the 3.6TT, a 3.0TT and have said a high feature DOHC V8 (likely TT) is on the way. So why go low tech?

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            1. One possibility is that some buyers of the first- and second-gen CTS-V were/are alienated by the V6 TT. An LS7, though not supercharged, would be great for them.

              And it would still take the ATS into an even higher performance envelope.

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              1. That is a legit possibility.

                As I said in my original post who wouldn’t welcome the added power and other attributes that the LS7 brings?
                I just think Cadillac should up the ante in power, efficiency and refinement if they are going to use the engine so it is not the exact same motor as the C6 Z06 and current gen Z28.

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                1. Just a guess, but I highly doubt the ATS-V+ or whatever see’s a LS7. A hopped up version of the LT1 is far more likely. Maybe it won’t be a displacement change to 427 and more along the lines of a LS1 to LS6 upgrade, but putting a LS7 in would be a bad choice.

                  LT1 and its teeny weeny cam is begging for a Hi-Po version. Would put the GT350’s face back in the mud in a 6th gen Camaro, just like the SS is going to do to the GT.

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  3. new ford mustang kill, destroyed and win bmw ahhaaaa

    Reply
    1. I will never get over just how ugly that Mustang is up front. Just awful. Back it up with lack luster 5.0 performance and barely the ability to break into the 12’s….Keep it.

      Reply
  4. mb c63 amg beat bmw m3. gm made only better and better cars and thats it nothing more we dont need

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  5. No all wheel drive no value anywhere it snows.

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    1. I wonder how on earth people in the snowbelt ever drove in the winter without all-wheel drive? I guess every car sold there now must be all-wheel drive. Sarc!

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      1. People simply do not believe snow tires work. Put on snow tires, not all season, and your car will go through any snow storm/icy condition you can throw at it on a road. Ground clearance can still be an issue on a car like this, but it’s an issue with awd too. Unless you slam it, you will have no issues.

        It’s because these cars typically come with summer tires that they’re not great in the snow. So keep your summer tires, get some cheap or base model wheels and snow tires and you will have the best of both worlds.

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  6. I think they should at least modernize it with direct ignition and cylinder deactivation to increase efficiency and more power. Say in the 550hp /500 torque range. This should be in the corvette too

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  7. In a Cadillac, I also think that the LS7 should employ SIDI and cylinder deactivation to increase horsepower and torque while improving on efficiency. So 560 bhp and 525 lb-ft along with 16 mpg city and 27 mpg highway is possible here. Oh, 0-60 should be 3.4 seconds with 1/4 mile 11.4 seconds and top speed 194 mph. All of this in hyper performance, can be wrap in to a 3550 lbs sedan. Lastly, this new LS7 should also see duty in the corvette of course.

    Reply
  8. LS7 production shutdown with the Wixom facility for this class of engine after the 14 Z28s were run. I heard Mark Ruess mention they had to get special approval to keep the Wixom shop open when the C6 Z06 prodcution shutdown. They got a extension to keep the line going post Z06 for the 2014 Z28 batch.

    Reply

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