2013 Cadillac ATS Takes to the Nurburgring...Again

I'm not sure why so many cars need to be tuned to get around a TRACK fast.

So excited about this car, said it before and said it again, never thought I would ever be interested in a caddy, but this car has excited me

Ptcdawg, cars like this aren't about lap times. Testing on the Nurburgring actually tests all the cars chassis, suspension, mechanical and electrical calibrations in pretty much any and all driving situations.

"I'm not sure why so many cars need to be tuned to get around a TRACK fast."

I agree in concept, but the reason behind the Nurburgring testing is that it's a relatively bumpy track with lots of blind corners and crests and yumps and dips and other stuff that you'd find on real public driving roads, but the environment is relatively controlled, so test drivers and engineers can work to make a car feel safe, fun, and predictable in an environment not unlike a backroad that an enthusiast driver might enjoy.

I don't like the chasing of laptimes, because sometimes you can chase laptime and lose enjoyment (with the difference being made up by a professional driver), but if you tune for comfort and control you're going to tend to increase driver confidence which tends to increase speed and the ease with which it is attained, especially for amateurs.

So amusing... That front grille seriously looks like it's missing a 3-pointed star.

I can't wait to finally take one for a spin. I still love the lines of the current CTS, and I hope the ATS lives up to the hype. The CTS has, so I am sure this will do quite nicely.

Considering BMW has dropped a turbo 4 into the 328i, the intro luxary market is really anyone's game. Infiniti was the only non German car that C/D actually liked better than the 3 series at one point, so perhaps this will be the next sports sedan that these biased mags will at least give second place to.

ptcdawg said:

"I'm not sure why so many cars need to be tuned to get around a TRACK fast."

James May from Top Gear agrees with you. He reckons that nearly all the cars "developed" at the 'Ring all ride like planks dragged over cobbles.

coming along nicely...I hope it can really beat a 3 series...

Please, please please put a GM V8 under the hood of at least one model. ATS-V?

Lets see if GM can keep this thing under 3800 pounds and then it can compete in terms of handling and 0-60

Lets see if GM can keep this thing under 3800 pounds and then it can compete in terms of handling and 0-60.

@compressor -
An ATS-V with an LSA would destroy all in a straight line. I may prefer an ATS-V with a LS3 and 6MT with a massive OD like my GTO though (except the LS3) so I could get 27mpg hwy with M/AMG speed.

ATS-V : I would look for a 6.2L V8 normally aspirated with around 430-450hp or a turbocharged 3.6 DI V6 with around the same power rating.

"ATS-V : I would look for a 6.2L V8 normally aspirated with around 430-450hp or a turbocharged 3.6 DI V6 with around the same power rating."

Doubt they would push it that far...it would be hard to offer it at a price point that would not be be stepping onto CTS-V toes.....probably going to have the enrty model with a some type of 4-cyl with or without boost, and the range topper will be thier current 318hp DI V-6....that puts it in line power wise with 335, G37, S4

The V is going to be as fast as Thor's Charriot

The V is going to be as fast as Thor's Chariot

The 2013 Cadillac ATS seems like an awesome automobile. I hope it also beats the gtr around the ring like the Z06 and the ZR1 did a few months ago.

GM cars are great. Isn't life grand?

@n54user
I'd be really surprised if a Caddy V didn't have 8 cylinders. The LSx engines are pretty efficient for their output.

I think a 430-450hp ATS-V is spaced pretty well below a 556hp CTS-V. Very similar to a 414hp M3 v. a 500hp M5 or 430hp S6 v. a 350hp S4 or whatever Audi does. MB is a similar difference too.

I think n54user was commenting on price spacing between the CTS-V, not that I really agree. A loaded ATS-V can overlap base CTS-V pricing and be successful. We need to get over "bigger is better so it has to cost/be worth more".

Personally, I don't think it is a big issue if the ATS-V overlaps the CTS-V pricing. Different cars for different people. (Ex. I do not understand large "sports" cars - unless they are wagons - because that is just kinda cool)

I'm really looking forward to seeing what Cadillac has to offer with this car. However, I can do without the engineers throwing fluff in my face. Do like the Koreans.. Shut up and watch it eat the competition alive.

Looks like a tight design. Very anxious about the reveal.

I don't think there will be much overlap at all between the ATS and its corresponding CTS version.

I think all three ATSs (base engine, upper engine, and V) can easily come in 4 to 6K below the corresponding CTS. The CTS is already priced to compete with the 3-series, with the space of the 5-series (last gen 5, anyway), so I imagine the ATS prices to fall more in line with the corresponding 1-series.

Which would mean taking a huge swath of market share from BMW on this front. Not to mention Merc and Audi. I think there's a pent-up demand to finally own a competitive American entry sport luxury car, and this will put Caddy on the map in that respect.