Welcome to Cadillac’s->ke18 new direction; sport->ke506 luxury->ke505 wrapped in an attractive package and motivated by a powerful engine. The 2016 ATS-V sedan is the latest and greatest General Motors->ke1024 has to offer with the ATS platform. The four-door luxury compact sedan first bowed in the 2012 model year and took the segment by storm. A minor refresh for 2015 brings the car in line with its new-for-2015 Coupe version while Cadillac’s new wreathless and widened crest replaces the old brand emblem. With its sights set squarely on dethroning the Germans and their performance luxury sedans,->ke142 Cadillac is upping the ante with twin turbochargers, sport suspension, and enough go-fast bits to build a racecar->ke148 – all while keeping that swanky style the brand has become identifiable with.

At the heart of the ATS-V lies a twin-turbocharged version of the familiar 3.6-liter V-6. The engine finds itself with numerous upgrades, helping it produce an estimated 464 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual comes standard while the new eight-speed automatic borrowed from the Corvette Z06 is optional. All the power is routed through a limited-slip differential to the rear tires. Cadillac expects 0 to 60 mph to come in a blazing 3.9 seconds.

Cadillac’s outspoken new front man and president, Johan de Nysschen, says this 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.” Translation: the new 2016 ATS-V sedan ain’t your grandma’s Cadillac.

Update 4/10/2015: Cadillac has announced that it underestimated the output of the ATS-V. The new output is 464 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque. That 9 horsepower more than it initially anticipated.

Click past the jump for the full review

2016 Cadillac ATS-V Sedan

Specifications

• Make: Array
• Model: 2016 Cadillac ATS-V Sedan
• Engine/Motor: V6
• Horsepower: 464 @ 5850
• Torque: 445 @ 3500
• Transmission: 6-speed manual
• [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Pros

Cons

Video

Spy Shots

July 15, 2014 - Cadillac ATS-V Sedan testing at Nurburgring

Update History

Updated 11/21/2014: We were at the 2014 LA Auto Show, so we grabbed a few shots of the all-new Cadillac ATS-V sedan. Check them out after the jump and in the gallery.

Updated 01/23/2015: Next to the new generation CTS-V sedan, Cadillac also brought the AST-V sedan at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show and we were more than happy to take some pictures. Check the new images in the "Pictures" tab.

Update 8/23/2013: Per a report from Car and Driver, the new ATS-V will not use either of the two earlier rumored engines -- 470-horsepower V-8 or a 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6. Rather, this new lightweight performance sedan will carry the same 420-horsepower, twin-turbocharged V-6 powerplant as the CTS Vsport. Given the 321-horsepower V-6 engine sprints the ATS to 60 mph in a scant 5.7 seconds, we estimate the ATS-V with the turbo V-6 doing the same sprint in about 4.5 seconds.

Updated 11/19/2014: Cadillac has unveiled the full details on the 2016 ATS-V Sedan.

Updated 02/10/2015: Cadillac announced prices for the 2016 ATS-V Sedan which will be available at dealers starting April, 2015. Prices will start from $61,460.

Exterior

Everything on the ATS-V is purpose-built. From bumper to bumper, Cadillac engineers designed every surface for better performance while slipping through the air. The added aero bits all work in conjunction to reduce drag while adding downforce. Even the wire-mesh grille is redesigned with wider openings to allow more air into the radiator and heat exchangers. The functional heat extractor on the carbon-fiber hood works to not only promote the flow of air through to cool the engine, but to also eliminate positive pressure in the engine bay that results in uplift.

Out back, quad exhaust pipes protrude form the lower air diffuser while a tall spoiler is perched on the decklid. Larger 18-inch wheels are wrapped with specialized Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires with three different compounds for enhanced handling and long tread life. Wider fenders front and rear help cover the 9- and 9.5-inch wheels respectively.

Those wheels are also key in the ATS-V’s handling. They are constructed form a low-mass forging that reduces the amount of un-sprung weight at each corner.

Exterior Dimensions

Side-by-side comparison

Interior

Cadillac certainly didn’t forget about the cabin. New 16-way Recaro performance seats are optional (yet mandatory in our opinion) and help give the cabin a purposeful appearance. Adjustable bolsters and sueded microfiber inserts hold occupants in place. Carbon fiber and Alcantara accents abound throughout the cabin, helping dress up the already classy interior.

Like all ATS sedans, it comes with the CUE infotainment system and haptic feedback control panel. Bluetooth and natural voice recognition, along with text-to-voice text message reading and OnStar’s 4G LTE connectivity with built-in Wi-Fi hotspot helps keep the occupants connected and the driver’s eyes on the road.

Also included is the Corvette’s Performance Data Recorder. The system allows the driver to record video, audio, and track performance data to CUE’s hard drive. A USB thumb drive will transfer the data to a computer where the info can be stored and shared on social media.

Interior Dimensions

Drivetrain

Creating all the motivation for the ATS-V is a twin-turbocharged, 3.6-liter V-6 making an estimated 464 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque. Cadillac didn’t just throw some turbos on the old 3.6-liter, no -- engineers completely reworked the engine’s internals for a free-revving mill that loves to run.

Lightweight Titanium connecting rods reduce internal inertia of the rotating assembly while a high-performance oiling system keeps everything lubed up no matter the lateral force. The turbos feature lightweight titanium-aluminide turbines that allow for quicker spool-ups while a low-volume charge-cooling system keeps temperatures down for increased air density.

Backing up that power are two transmission options: a six-speed manual and the same eight-speed automatic found in the new Corvette Z06. Both offer launch control. The six-speed manual offers Active Rev Match for to avoid nose-diving when downshifting and no-lift shifting for quicker zero to 60 mph times.

All of this ads up to some amazing performance specs: 0 to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 185 mph.

Drivetrain Specifications

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Chassis & Suspension

While the twin turbos might get all the headlines and spotlights, Cadillac gave equal attention to making the ATS-V handle like a proper sports sedan. Engineers added a strut-tower brace, V-bracing in the engine bay, a strengthened rocker bulkhead, and a unique aluminum shear panel at the front of the chassis. All this culminates in a chassis that’s 25-percent stiffer than the standard ATS sedan.

The ATS-V also gets the new third-generation of GM’s Magnetic Ride Control. The system now monitors the road surface 40-percent quicker than before, allowing for near instantaneous adjustment of the magneto-rheological fluid-filled dampers. Cadillac says that at 60 mph, the shocks are taking measurements and calculating dampening once for every inch of pavement. As usual, the system offers driver-selectable driving modes that include touring, sport, and track.

High-performance Brembo brakes bring everything to a stop, with 14.5-inch rotors up front squeezed by six-piston calipers while the 13.3-inch rotors out back are capped with four-piston calipers.

Cadillac will offer two option packages right from the start. The Carbon Fiber pack includes a different front splitter, more aggressive rear diffuser, hood vent trim, rocker panel aero bits, and the larger rear spoiler. The Track Package then adds the Performance Data Recorder, a low-weight battery, and removes the tire inflator kit and carpeted floor mats for reduced weight.

Prices

The 2016 Cadillac ATS-V sedan is priced from $61,460. It will be put on sale in April, 2015.

Competition

2014 BMW M3

The BMW M3 has long been the benchmark for four-door sports sedans, and the new and highly improved 2014 M3 takes that benchmark to the next level. The new turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder produces 425 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual and a seven-speed M Double Clutch transmission are optional. The drivetrain adds up to a 0-to-60-mph sprint of 3.9 seconds with the dual-clutch transmission and 4.1 seconds with the manual. Top sped is limited to 155 mph.

Though the M3’s new powerplant is stout, the Caddy’s twin-turbo setup out powers it. It will likely take a side-by-side comparison to see if the extra power pays off. The same is likely true with the ATS-V’s driving dynamics.

Pricing for the BMW M3 starts at $62,000

2014 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

The C63 AMG is the bruiser of the bunch, with its all-new 4.0-liter bi-turbo V-8. The engine comes in two outputs, but for argument’s sake we’ll stick with the lesser version, the one making 476 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. The engine is backed by a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic

Zero to 60 mph comes in 4.1 seconds with a very German-like 155 mph top speed.

Like the BMW, prices for the C63 AMG fall just north of the $60,000 mark.

Conclusion

Cadillac is poised to become a dominant player in the world’s sports sedan arena. The ATS-V and its two-door brother, the ATS-V Coupe seem well equipped to handle the best Germany has to offer. With its 0-to- 60 time of 3.9 seconds and a top-speed of 185 mph, the ATS-V Sedan is on par with one of GM’s other force-fed pure breeds: the Camaro ZL1.