Locals may have been taken aback when spotting this slice of all-American design on local roads in Australia, but the 2017 Cadillac ATS-V has no plans to make its way down under.
Motor has spy shots of a Cadillac ATS-V test mule snapped in local Australian neighborhoods, and naturally, Holden was contacted to understand the sighting.
“It’s here for ongoing global powertrain calibration work”, Holden spokesperson Sean Poppitt said. “We’re going to be retaining that powertrain calibration engineering department and that’s the exactly the work we’re going to be doing – ongoing global work.”
In laymen’s terms, that means the ATS-V is being quietly engineered further by Holden experts. The brand previously stated it would keep its engineering division following the demise of local manufacturing.
Now, for us Yanks, the real question is what exactly are Holden engineers “honing”? Could the ATS-V be in for a power bump? We don’t know, but we know Holden engineering is certainly up to the task.
Comments
Could the ATS-V LT1 be the “rear-drive V8 sportscar” that GM has been promising ‘straya?
Unlikely as the Alpha platform was never engineered for RHD configuration.
Alpha is not suitable for RHD as stated many times. From my understanding, it would take significant engineering work to update the chassis which would not be a good return for GM since these would be low volume. Includes ATS, CTS, and Camaro.
It will be brilliant and low cost to sell ATS or CTS as Commodore given that Insignia already has good name recognition, and, honestly, Commodore will always be RWD.
Cadillac design for one car would suit the like up nicely.
Please correct me if I am wrong but doesn’t the article say there are no plans for Australian sales? Hence, no RHD needed.
More power could come in the form of the twin-turbo 4.2L DOHC-4v V8 that was seen in the Escala concept car as it should be a major jump from the LF4 and output near 550 hp as the only word to describe the ATS-V would be blistering.