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Is the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V a Proper M3 Rival? Not Quite

There’s been a high emphasis on the difference more power makes on a car. Is it enough to give new models more power in order to make them better than their predecessors? What about their direct rivals? Is it better to shave weight instead?
2016 Cadillac ATS-V 1 photo
Photo: screenshot from Youtube
These questions led to all sorts of new developments in the world of high-performance automobiles. A close example is the new M3/M4 duo. BMW decided to focus on cutting weight rather than improving engine output. In consequence, their 3-liter biturbo mill makes just 11 HP more than the 4-liter V8 of its predecessor. However, it dropped a lot of weight off its hips.

That made a huge difference as well in the final product, every reviewer out there, including us, liking the way the two drive. Is that good news or bad news? How could it be bad news, right?

Well, it’s not bad news for us but it is for the competition. That includes the C63 AMG as usual but also newcomers like the ATS-V from Cadillac.

After ruffling the feathers of German car fans last week via a statement from the American company’s CEO, the guys from MotorTrend wanted to see how things pan out and how the new ATS-V compares against the king of the segment. Therefore, they took one for a spin and found a couple of interesting facts.

For example, the Caddy is heavier but at the same time, has more power coming from the 3.6-liter V6 twin-turbo engine under the hood. That doesn’t make it more enjoyable though and not even faster.

The 0 to 60 sprint took 4 seconds flat while an M3 or an M4 will do the same run 0.1 or 0.2 seconds faster, depending on various factors. Sure, it’s not a big difference but for some people it will matter.

That’s not the problem with the ATS though. As much as Carlos avoided saying it, the Cadillac is just too refined and too comfortable to be enjoyed to the fullest. It’s dull on the track and will make you want to simply watch the view instead of focusing on the road. That’s not a bad thing, depending on your personal preference, but it’s definitely not the most exciting car out there.

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