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2016 Cadillac ATS-V Unleashed at LA Auto Show

Oh how you and we've been waiting for this car to make its long-awaited world debut. Cadillac engineers really outdid themselves with the first twin-turbocharged V-Series, which comes in coupe and four-door sedan flavor to suit everyone's needs.
2016 Cadillac ATS-V 25 photos
Photo: Cadillac
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The most powerful road-going iteration of GM’s twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 develops 455 ponies and 445 lb-ft (603 Nm) of twist. Like a true drivers’ car and so unlike Cadillac in a good way, this baby gets a six-speed manual with Active Rev Match a la Nissan 370Z and many more features we'll talk about in a jiffy.

Just to name a few things that we like about the Tremec TR6060-equipped ATS-V, let’s just say the launch control feature pales in comparison to the no-lift shifting system. The latter is a part of the Performance Traction Management and it basically allows cog-swapping without taking the foot off the loud pedal, keeping the powerplant at full momentum without any over revving worries.

No word on thrust times with the manual box at the moment, but we were right on the money with out BMW M4-beating hunch when the ATS-V is kitted with the Hydra-Matic 8L90 eight-speed automatic from the 2015 Corvette Z06 - 3.9 seconds to 60 mph (96 km/h) and a 185 mph (299 km/h) top speed.

Over 90 percent of peak torque is available from 2,400 rpm to 6,000 rpm

If you’re an oily bits freak, you may like to hear that the turbos can produce up to 18 pounds of boost (125 kPa). Similarly impressive is that air charge is controlled by one throttle body that’s better for torque response. Aluminum cam covers, a 10.2:1 compression ratio, a vacuum-actuated wastegate per turbo unit and a low-volume charge-air cooling system round off the engine’s highlights nicely.

Shall we talk about the handling credentials? OK then, let’s see... “with great power comes great responsibility” said a certain someone from a cheesy action hero movie. The same applies to the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V as well, thanks to a Brembo high-performance system with 14.5-inch discs and six-piston calipers at the front and 13.3-inch discs and four-piston calipers at the rear. Anything else? Well, yes.

A standard electronic limited slip differential for maximum attack in the twisties, a five-link rear suspension and MacPhersons with dual lower ball joints and direct-acting stabilizer bar at the front, magnetic ride control with monotube inverted struts, electric steering from ZF with variable assist and a four-channel StabiliTrak with brake assist and Performance Traction Management complete the chassis’ highlights. Oh, nearly forgot. That cool-looking bonnet is made entirely from carbon fiber. Take that, M4!

“Cadillac’s V-Series is the best example of Cadillac’s emerging product substance – and the purest expression of the passion at the core of the brand,” said Johan de Nysschen, the Cadillac brand’s president. For all the info available on both variants of the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V, refer to the release below. There’s a lot of hidden petrolhead gems in there waiting for you to discover them, as well as in the photo gallery and video.

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press release
About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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