Cadillac is benchmarking its upcoming ATS-V sports saloon against the BMW M3, as these spy pictures reveal.
The future range-topping performance version of the BMW 3-series-size ATS is set to be revealed at the Detroit motor show next January.
The ATS-V was spotted last week in back-to-back tests with an M3 on the roads near General Motors’ Detroit headquarters.
GM has long spoken of making the ATS a match for Europe’s best. Making the ATS-V the dynamic peer of an M3 would certainly give credibility to these claims.
Doing so could also boost the business case for equipping the standard ATS with a four-cylinder engine and right-hand drive, which would be needed for success in Europe and the UK. There are plans to do this, officials have previously said, but no dates have been revealed.
The ATS-V is likely to use an uprated version of the twin-turbo 3.6-litre V6 that produces 414bhp in the larger CTS. Other features of the ATS-V include quad exhausts, a muscular bodykit, uprated brakes, stiffer suspension and a limited-slip differential.
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Nice idea but...
..To those who think the ATS handles better than a 3-series, no. Electric power steering aside, the F30 still has the razor sharp responses and bodycontrol as the typical 3-series legacy demands.
I love the CTS-V and I am sure this new ATS-V will be very good as well, but they are going aganist a new and upcoming F30-based M3 saloon by the end of the year/early next year- and don't for a second think BMW is planning on relaxing and letting it's crown slide. It always moves the goal-posts with new M3 models, no reason why the new M3 should be any different.
Can't wait
Can't wait to drive one. It should be a fantastic drive when even the base car has a better chassis than the 3 series.
Maybe
Seeing as the standard version of the ATS is said to have sharper handling responses than the new 3 series, this should be a good car to drive.