Before I took these two Cadillac V cars a spin round Daytona, let's go to the Top Gear Test Track for a quick primer of what's what with these high-performance Caddies.
We begin with the Cadillac ATS-V Coupe, that's their smallest offering of the V cars. Made to compete against the BMW M4, Audi RS5, and the Mercedes-AMG C63, the ATS-V is the first V car to be powered by a Twin Turbo 3.6L V6 engine that produces 455HP of power and 445lb-ft of torque, capable of going from 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds and onwards to 185mph. It can be mated with either a 6-speed MT with Active Rev Match or an 8-speed AT featuring launch control and Performance Algorithm Shift. We have the one with the 6-speed MT and while this is is not as fast as the AT variant, it's still one of the most enjoyable Caddies to drive since the CTS-V Coupe of yesteryears and despite being turbocharged, it can be as downright crazy as an all-American muscle car. I know, I tried.
Speaking of muscle, you can't really beat the CTS-V, which runs on the same engine as the Corvette C7 Z06. Although short on power compared to the Dodge Charger Hellcat, the CTS-V's track-honed capabilities courtesy of its Brembo brakes, Magnetic Ride Control, and many others can really upset the likes of the Germans. A lifetime ago, I drove this CTS-V round Laguna Seca and it managed to knock out the Charger Hellcat and a Tesla Model S. Just like old times.
Both are born from Cadillac's involvement in motorsports, mostly the IMSA per se, and with all that motorsports know-how, along with the added firepower and dynamics, these Caddies can really make a gearhead happy because they can do most of the things the Germans can't such as going fast everywhere while retaining the smiles on their faces. Now that's the American way I know, well only on the CTS-V that is because while I appreciate the ATS-V's dynamics, the turbocharged engine feels like a let go for me because it doesn't have the get-out-of-the-way attitude as the CTS-V's. Still, for the junior of the range, the ATS-V feels good as an all-rounder.
Anyway, let's give these two V cars for a spin round the Top Gear Track before they're going to a salutatory lap round Daytona, shall we?
And now, the time...
ATS-V - 1:27.471
CTS-V - 1:26.817
On a damp surface because of the rainy weather we're having, feels like they're showing no signs of slowing down and when the conditions are normal, seems that only one of these V cars are proven to be the better one and my money's on the CTS-V, apparently, because despite all of the Nurburgring-honed dynamics, the ATS-V wasn't enough to outpace the BMW M3. Still, now that I got to know about these V cars.
It's time to send them for a congratulatory lap round Daytona in honor of Cadillac's another win at the Daytona endurance race last weekend. Feels good to be driving with the luxury brand that made headlines at last weekend's race. However, looks like their little celebratory lap has cut short and these two wanted to duke out who's the better one and for some reason, I have to accept the request of the cars themselves and since this is Daytona, the track where Cadillac won last weekend, it's time to settle which of the V cars is the best.
After a lap round Daytona, here are the results...
CTS-V - 2:07.129
ATS-V - 2:14.065
The CTS-V performed brilliantly on high speeds while the ATS-V, being the lightest and the smallest offering in the range, done rather well on the corners, but in the end, looks like the one with the supercharged V8 trumps the little man with its turbo V6. Still, I'd rest my case here.
As manufacturers try to shorten the engine sizes and adding whatever means necessary to make it more powerful, they're losing the one important thing about how a car is made, the will to make drivers happy. With the V cars from Cadillac, they always keep the promise by doing what they're good at; more power to upset the Europeans while keeping its customers happy, now that is the American way all good high performance makers should learn from as long as they're making stuff that will keep them happy for longer.
I hope this celebratory lap round Daytona with the Cadillac V cars will serve as a reminded of how great high-performance cars can be when they stick to the winning formula that works, something that the Germans failed to achieve.
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