Hotly Anticipated Cadillac ATS-V Bows

General Motors unveils ahead of tomorrow’s Los Angeles auto show the ’16 Cadillac ATS V-Series, the latest addition to the luxury brand’s high-performance line of sedans and coupes.

The ATS-V, which arrives at U.S. dealers in the spring, brandishes a 455-hp twin-turbo 3.6L V-6 spinning out 445 lb.-ft. (603 Nm) of torque. The engine, which first appeared in the ’15 CTS V-Sport but made 35 fewer hp, mates to either a 6-speed manual transmission or an 8-speed automatic.

The car also is flush with chassis, suspension and driveline tweaks to make it what GM calls a dual-purpose luxury performer – a track-capable vehicle straight from the dealership that also boasts sophisticated luxury on the road. A unique exterior design is meant to match the performance of the ATS-V.

Pricing will be released closer to the on-sale date.

“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,” Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen says in a statement ahead of the car’s unveiling at a Los Angeles studio.

Few cars from Cadillac have been as hotly anticipated as the ATS-V, because the standard sedan and coupe versions of the car already were impressive for a blend of luxury and fun-to-drive attributes.

GM hopes the V-Series variant can add some punch to ATS sales, which so far this year are down 18.9% to 25,143 from 30,989 in like-2013, according to WardsAuto data.

The twin-turbo V-6 is the first forced-induction 6-cyl. for the V-Series line, which first bowed in 2004. The boosted engine will be the highest-output V-6 on the market next year, GM says, capable of sending the ATS-V from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.9 seconds.

The 6-speed manual receives technologies such as Active Rev Match, no-lift shifting and launch control for its off-the-line quickness. The 8-speed automatic is no less sophisticated with its own launch control and Performance Algorithm Shift technologies.

Curb weight for the ATS-V has not been released.

Other key features of the ATS-V include Brembo high-performance brakes; GM’s high-speed Magnetic Ride Control suspension-damping technology; specially integrated chassis controls to balance everyday drivability and track demands; a 25%  increase in the car’s structural stiffness to handle higher cornering loads; and driver-selectable driving modes for touring, sport and track.

The car also receives tri-compound tire technology for improved grip and tread life; an optional, track-oriented aerodynamics package; exterior design modifications to enhance powertrain and drivetrain cooling, as well as aerodynamics; and an interior fitted with high-performance seats and other driver-focused ergonomics targeting sporty driving.

“As the smallest and lightest V-Series ever, the ATS-V forges a great connection with the driver, with exceptional nimbleness and responsiveness,” says David Leone, executive chief engineer-Cadillac. “It’s adaptable to the driver’s preferences, with every selectable mode developed to deliver the best performance for all types of driving scenarios, including the track.”

The ATS-V makes Cadillac’s first use of an onboard Performance Data Recorder, which bowed on the latest-generation Chevy Corvette and allows owners to record high-definition video, with data overlays, of their driving experiences. They can share the files on social media.

GM says nearly every exterior panel on the ATS-V is unique and each one was designed to support the car’s capability.

“All of the design elements have a purpose,” says Andrew Smith, executive director-Global Design at Cadillac. “They contribute to lift reduction, enhanced cooling, reduced mass or all of the above.”

Smith says the V-Series line is the “emotive core” of the Cadillac brand, and the ATS-V marks the height of its Art & Science design philosophy, “offering a bold sense of arrival, serious performance, seamless integration of technology and precision craftsmanship.”

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