According to a new report, Cadillac->ke18 is looking into possibly transplanting the Camaros Z/28’s 7.0-liter V-8 engine into the ATS-V and create an even more radical version of the fast caddy dubbed the ATS-V+.

Motor Trend doesn’t give up its source in this report, as it instead just says that it’s “dug up some more dirt” on the ATS-V+. I already expected the rumored hotter version of the ATS-V to have an updated suspension system, and other bits to make it even more track-ready, but rumors of a power boost also were swirling.

These rumors are coming to a head now, as the last time GM->ke1024 used this engine – in the 2015 Camaro Z/28 – it laid down 505 horsepower and 481 pound-feet of torque. Even if GM left this engine as is, that would be a nice power bump relative to the 464 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of twist the twin-turbo V-6 in the ATSV puts out.

The report also claims that the LS7 V-8 is lighter than the 3.6-liter V-6. I couldn’t find any information to personally confirm this, but if it is true, then this would make it even easier for Cadillac to turn the ATS-V into a track monster that snacks on M3s->ke2366 and M4s->ke4183 on a regular basis.

Continue reading for more information on this development.

Why it matters

While putting a V-8 in the ATS-V+ may seem like overkill for some, there are many who believe that GM designed the ATS to use a V-8 engine initially. However, with the CTS and CTS-V in the mix, there was some debate as to what V-8 engine could produce enough power to entice buyers to bump up from the base ATS-V without encroaching on the CTS-V’s turf.

The 7.0-liter LS7 engine gives Cadillac the middle ground it needs between the ATS-V and the 640-horsepower CTS-V. There is still a little wiggle room to bump up the power on the LS7 engine and still leave a nice power gap. Cadillac needs to tread lightly though, as too much of a bump may make the ATS-V+ faster than the CTS-V, which may lead to cannibalization.

This report remains unconfirmed for now, but given the fact that the ATS-V still falls short of the 503-horsepower Mercedes-AMG C63 S, I wouldn’t be shocked to see this become a reality. This is particularly true with the ultra-competitive Johan de Nysschen at the helm of Caddy.

2016 Cadillac ATS-V

Read our full review here.