Cadillac ATS-V offers big power, race car styling
Will Chamberlain|For Calkins Media
Where the Cadillac ATS-V is awesome is on the road. Fire up that twin turbo V6, select Sport mode and listen to the exhaust loosen up a bit. It gives you a nice throaty note just enough to get you excited.
Will Chamberlain/For The Times
Cadillac ATS-V
Earlier this year we had the opportunity to take a look at Cadillac’s flagship BMW M5 fighting behemoth, the CTS-V. That car is all about big horsepower and track shredding performance. Anything that Cadillac puts the “V” tag on will be impressive, you can bet on that.
The ATS-V I had an opportunity to road test follows suit with the V brand. Even though it’s a smaller sedan, the ATS is much more rewarding in the corners and packs a manual tranny to boot.
Under the hood is a twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 engine producing 464 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque. Power is routed through a 6-speed manual and to the pavement via rear-wheel drive. You can also opt for an 8-speed automatic. This example of a manual transmission is incredibly easy to drive and very rewarding. The clutch is a bit heavy but provides great feedback. This is a very different animal when compared to the CTS. This car feels tighter, lighter and still packs a great turbocharged punch.
Exterior styling is designed to promote “race car” thoughts anytime you look at it. An aggressive front bumper with tinted mesh and hood vents to allow heat to dissipate foreshadow the performance beneath. A carbon fiber front spoiler guides your eyes around to the large 18-inch black wheels and huge 6-piston calipers from Brembo. Follow the body lines to the rear and you’ll find four exhaust pipes and another carbon fiber spoiler. Everything about the exterior is purposeful and adds to the performance of the car.
Jump inside and you will be greeted by incredibly supportive and rigid Recaro seats that really provide support in the corners on a race track. A lot of people don’t like the seats or fit into them but it really adds to the overall feel of the car. Generally, the interior is just like any other ATS with the additions of carbon fiber and a video recorder that can record your laps around the track.
But where this car is awesome in my opinion is on the road. Fire up that twin turbo V6, select Sport mode and listen to the exhaust loosen up a bit. It gives you a nice throaty note just enough to get you excited. Step on the throttle and the car is civilized up to about 3,500 rpm where the turbos join in and slam you into the seat. This car is incredibly flat in the corners and rigid on smooth pavement thanks to the magnetic ride control and inverted struts. Just like in the CTS, the ATS is set up to be a track performer straight from the factory.
Being that the ATS is a bit smaller and lighter it can really highlight the V6 under the hood. Power is smooth and predictable while maintaining the ability to stay in the power all the way to redline. In the CTS you always feel on the verge of complete disaster while in this version the engine is powerful, yet controllable. Not to mention the 6-piston Brembo brakes offer a safety net like none other. My overall impression of the ATS-V is a one of satisfaction and incredible fun. It looks amazing in Velocity Red paint with black trim and the performance is equally menacing. It’s fun to drive hard and can also be toned down when performance isn’t needed. Cadillac claims an average of 19 mpg, but I was only able to crack 18 mpg once.
MSRP for the V is $60,695 but adding the Carbon, Luxury and safety packages as well as the video recorder and Brembo calipers brings the final cost to $77,085.
Will Chamberlain is a local freelance automotive journalist and can be reached at wchamberlain@pghcarguys.com and www.pghcarguys.com.