Cadillac ATS-V Leaks With 450+ Horses and a Manual Gearbox

2016 Cadillac ATS-V (Credit: © Cadillac)

We all knew it was coming, thanks to tons of spy shots and a teaser video, but unfortunately for Cadillac, its surprise was ruined by a early post from Road & Track. In an apparent software glitch, Road & Track mistakenly published the initial images and preliminary details on the hotly anticipated ATS-V before it was supposed to.

The looks of the ATS-V are pretty much par for the course, as it is basically an ATS Coupe with an aggressive body kit, fat wheels, sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber and heat extractors on the hood. Also available is a track pack that adds in a modified front splitter, side skirts and rear spoiler to tack on a hefty 100 pounds of downforce at 150 mph.

2016 Cadillac ATS-V (Credit: © Cadillac)

2016 Cadillac ATS-V (Credit: © Cadillac)

What really matters is what lies under that modified hood. This is where a 3.6-liter, twin-turbo V-6 engine lurks, ready to pounce on das Germans with at least 450 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque — the term “at least” indicates that these are simply initial estimates from Caddy. You may recognize that 3.6-liter engine as the same unit powering the CTS Vsport, but this one boasts at least an extra 30 horses and 15 pound-feet of twist. This extra power comes from a pair of titanium-turbine turbos, dual water-to-air intercoolers, and likely some fuel and spark adjustments. To handle the extra power, Caddy also installed a set of Pankl Racing titanium connecting rods.

The engine mates to either a six-speed manual — Ah, the car gods are good today — or a fast-shifting eight-speed auto transmission. The auto transmission gets some added protection by way of an auxiliary cooler mounted just behind the front air intake.

2016 Cadillac ATS-V (Credit: © Cadillac)

The suspension system is uprated, and it 50-percent stiffer than the standard ATS Coupe, which is already a good handler in its own right.

Unfortunately, the information R&T had was limited, so there are no further details to report. However, just by looking at these numbers, I think it’s safe to assume the ATS-V will crest 60 mph in around four seconds and top out in excess of 160 mph, giving the M4 a run for its money.

We’ll bring you the full details as soon as Cadillac reveals them.