You kids like the Cadillac ATS? Yeah, I do too. That's why I'm pumped for the V version. GM wouldn't confirm it during the Detroit Auto Show, but it's in the cards, and know we have some possible details about its power and transmission.
If this report in Motor Trend turns out to be true — and take it with a grain of salt — then the ATS-V will have a twin-turbo version of its 3.6-liter V6 pumping out 425 horsepower. That certainly sounds healthy enough to do battle with the 2014 BMW M3 and M4 and their German ilk.
What's more, Motor Trend says the ATS-V will get a seven-speed manual transmission, like the one that's currently on the 2014 Corvette Stingray. That's not the only gearbox though: MT says there will also be an eight-speed auto AND a dual-clutch transmission.
Now, that last part makes me scratch my head a bit. GM doesn't have a dual-clutch gearbox at the moment; that's why the new Corvette Z06 has the eight-speed auto. MT says that gearbox won't come along until 2015, but why? GM kept saying the new auto is better than a dual-clutch. Doesn't that seem redundant?
We'll see about that. But the other crazy bit of news is that there is supposedly also an ATS-V+ (yes, plus) in the pipeline with some sort of V8. An eight-cylinder in the small-ish ATS could be a real ass-kicker, so we'll see where they want to go with that.
If any of this holds true, good things are coming.