2013 Cadillac ATS - Track Tested
The number of luxury sedan owners who will ever flog their rides on the race track is admittedly a small one. That doesn't mean, however, that the closed circuits of the world aren't a great place to test and tune a premium car before it is unleashed on the public. In fact, Germany's famed Nordschleife at the Nurburgring has become the go-to spot for automakers of all stripes eager to squeeze as much performance as possible out of their suspensions, chassis designs, and drivetrains - even for vehicles that might never get closer to a track than the parking lot outside a NASCAR event.
The 2013 Cadillac ATS compact luxury sedan is the latest vehicle to have received the Nurburgring treatment. The Cadillac ATS has been positioned as a make-or-break car for the domestic luxury brand, a vehicle that has been targeted at stealing away sales from the segment-leading BMW 3 Series. Given that a poised platform with plenty of power and exceptional handling has always been a hallmark of the 3 Series, it makes sense that Cadillac invited us to Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (better known as Mosport) to get a feel for how its new baby performs when driven at 10/10ths on a road course.
Wet / Dry
The circuit at Mosport was damp and cool for our first morning session but gradually the wind and warmer temperatures gave us a dry surface for our later sorties, allowing us to gauge the performance of the Cadillac ATS in a range of different driving conditions. Our track weapons for the day were a pair of turbocharged four-cylinder ATS models matched with six-speed manual transmissions parked alongside two V-6 sedans featuring six-speed automatic gearboxes.
The 2.0-liter unit found in the former is the very first turbocharged four-cylinder engine to have ever been offered by Cadillac, and it represents third-generation Ecotec technology. Output for the robust mill is listed at 272 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, and it stands as the only ATS motor that can be attached to a manual gearbox. The 3.6-liter V-6 churns out 321 horses and 275 lb-ft of twist. Each motor also features variable valve timing and direct fuel injection.
It's also important to note that each of the vehicles we piloted at Mosport were rear-wheel drive and came with the FE3 Sport Suspension Package. In addition to the Magnetic Ride Control dampers that are the centerpiece of this track-ready set of features, FE3-equipped cars also offer a mechanical limited-slip rear differential, 18-inch high performance tires, and upgraded cooling. The Magnetic Ride Control system can be set to Sport mode in order to stiffen up the ATS chassis as much as possible for optimum handling. This particular package is not available with all-wheel drive ATS models.
Back To Back Comparison
Our first turn around the track was in the Cadillac ATS turbo, and we were immediately struck by just how balanced the vehicle's platform feels when being flung from one corner to another. Coming in at a base weight of just 1,504 kg (with the turbocharged edition tipping the scale at roughly 100 kg more), the ATS undercuts or matches the BMW 3 Series depending on what trim level it is stacked up against. The effect of the car's 50/50 front/rear weight split on our lap times was undeniable: the ATS was exceptionally nimble in both high and low-speed corners, and was very difficult to upset even when carrying too many km/h through sweeping turns. Body roll was minimal, and we never once felt the rear wheels lose traction. Stability control, when set to Sport mode, was quite transparent, and the minute corrections made to our driving line by the system were welcome and non-intrusive. Braking was confident, without a hint of fade, and when pulling the car down from 180 km/h there was never a question of front-wheel lock-up prior to setting the car up for the next corner.
The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine's personality was such that it begged to be wound out all the way past its 6,000 rpm redline in order to maximize power production. We kept the motor in the upper reaches of its power band almost the entire time we were behind the wheel, and never did we find ourselves cursing lag or wishing for a few more horses. Torque delivery was smooth and linear, and while we would have liked an aggressive exhaust note or perhaps a bit of an aural indication of how hard the motor was working, the quiet ATS cabin was the picture of placidity.
The V-6 engine was an entirely different beast, providing more grunt down low and offering more elastic power delivery and a surly snarl that added an exciting visceral element to the track experience. The V-6 was noticeably quicker on Mosport's long straights - a fact that we verified by chasing down a turbocharged ATS that had set out 30 seconds before us during out final session of the day.
The magnesium paddle shifters attached to the ATS' steering wheel were quite capable of initiating rapid gear changes on command, but we were more interested in how consistently the six-speed transmission attached to the V6 was able to automatically predict the optimal gear for any given on-track situation. The unit interfaces with the sedan's accelerometer in order to help it determine whether the car is going uphill or downhill, or is about to enter a corner, and it blips the throttle on each downshift in order to keep the ATS as settled as possible.
Two Flavours, One Result
Both the turbocharged and V6 versions of the 2013 Cadillac ATS deliver a unique on-track experience. The 2.0-liter motor is more involving, requiring that the driver stay on top of his or her shifting duties, and it offers greater control over the amount of power heading to the rear wheels at any given time. The V6's broad torque band makes for quicker lap times, providing an almost relaxed road course tour until it comes time to brake down from the higher speeds that its additional motivation makes possible.
Choosing one version of the Cadillac ATS over the other as a track-day warrior comes down to a matter of personal preference. Engine characteristics aside, each model provided the same consistent and predictable handling that has never before been offered by a Cadillac product outside of the hot-rod V series family of vehicles. The automaker has finally built the entry-level performance luxury car that will allow it to present a serious challenge to the established pecking order in the compact sedan market.
