Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. Photo Galleries
  4. Legacy Archives

Cadillac’s 2016 ATS-V blows into LA with 455 turbocharged horses – UPDATE

By
Add as a preferred source on Google

The Cadillac ATS has been stalking BMW’s 3 Series for awhile now, but there’s been one thing missing from its arsenal: a rival for the vaunted M3 sedan and M4 coupe.

That will finally change at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show, where the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V will shout down the Germans with a twin-turbocharged wail.

V is to Cadillac as M is to BMW, an in-house tuner producing insane versions of regular cars. So what kind of magic does the V badge bring to this ATS?

As we previously reported, the ATS-V will use use a 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged V6. It will drive the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.

What no one could predict was how powerful it is. Cadillac estimates output at 455 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque, outclassing the turbocharged inline-six M3/M4’s 425 hp and 406 lb-ft, but a bit behind the V8-powered Lexus RC F and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG.

 

With all of that grunt, Cadillac says the ATS-V will launch itself to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds with the automatic, and reach a top speed of “more than” 185 mph. Those figures are the same for both coupe and sedan.

The 0 to 60 mph time matches that of a dual-clutch automatic M4 coupe (the quickest iteration), and the Bimmer is electronically limited to 155 mph.

To make the ATS-V as multi-talented as its German rival, Cadillac also stiffened the structure by 25 percent, and added the latest version of its Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension, which it says can make adjustments 40 percent faster than before.

It’s all concealed within a pumped-up version of the stock ATS’ styling. Both the coupe and sedan look ready to intimidate BMW drivers.

To increase cooling airflow, aerodynamic performance, and general badassery, Cadillac added a vented carbon-fiber hood, meaner-looking front and rear fascias with larger air intakes, and front splitter.

Wider fenders house lightweight 18-inch aluminum wheels and Brembo brakes. For an even more aggressive look, and available Carbon Fiber package adds more aero aids.

On the inside, the ATS-V features Recaro sport seats and a model-specific 5.7-inch digital gauge cluster. It’s also available with all of the tech features of a standard ATS, including the CUE infotainment system and OnStar 4G LTE with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot.

The ATS-V can also be had with the Performance Data Recorder that debuted on the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, with video, audio, and telemetry recording capabilities.

The 2016 Cadillac ATS-V arrives nest spring. Pricing and final specifications will be announced closer to the on-sale date, but the party doesn’t stop there.

The ATS-V’s big brother, the 2016 CTS-V, will be unveiled at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show in January.

UPDATE: We added more photos for you to admire.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen Edelstein
Former Contributing Editor
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Topics
China has new EV safety rules ready. The US needs to follow in its footsteps
Mandatory battery fire protections and hard power cutoffs show what a tougher EV safety playbook could look like in the U.S.
EV

China's EV safety rules are about to make automakers prove their cars can fail safely, not merely warn people before trouble spreads.

Starting July 1, 2026, two mandatory national standards will require stronger battery safeguards and a physical one-touch way to cut high-voltage power during an emergency. The pressure points are the ones drivers, firefighters, insurers, and regulators can't brush aside for much longer, including battery fires, crash damage, smoke exposure, and rescue access after a severe incident.

Read more
Mercedes’s Chinese partner made an EV that costs under $10,000 and looks deceptively stylish
At around $10,000, the Arcfox Beta T1 has a feature list that embarrasses several $30,000 US EVs.
Car, Transportation, Vehicle

BAIC, the Beijing-based automaker that produces Mercedes-Benz vehicles in China, has launched the refreshed Arcfox Beta T1 on June 16, a compact EV priced roughly between $9,200 and $11,700, depending on the trim.

It's not coming to the United States, but the fact that its most affordable version undercuts the cheapest new car sold here by roughly $13,000 and the cheapest EV by almost $20,000 deserves some attention. What BAIC has built here is a direct indictment of the higher EV costs here in America.

Read more
The world’s biggest battery maker just pumped the brakes on solid-state EV hype
CATL chairman Robin Zeng says the technology is still in lab-phase development, with mass-market deployment unlikely before 2030.
Architecture, Building, Shop

Solid-state batteries have been hyped as the technology that will transform electric vehicles, promising higher energy density, faster charging, and improved safety over the lithium-ion cells powering most cars today. But the head of the world's largest battery maker says buyers should not hold their breath.

CATL chairman Dr. Robin Zeng told Caijing Magazine (via CarNewsChina) that large-scale commercialization of solid-state batteries will not be achievable before 2030. The company has set a threshold of 1 million vehicles as the production volume required to justify mass deployment, a figure that remains out of reach for the foreseeable future. When solid-state cells do reach the market, Zeng said initial integration will be limited to premium vehicles priced above 250,000 yuan (roughly $37,000).

Read more