Additional Reporting: Tarun Shyam

The 2017 Cadillac ATS-V makes a claim to be the best in it’s segment. A segment it blows away!

A quote we’ve heard quite often is “with great power comes great responsibility.” This quote hasn’t gone missing on Cadillac’s team. They say,“With great power comes great handling!”

The 2017 Cadillac ATS-V embodies this quote with a 3.6-liter twin-turbo V-6 cranking out 464 hp through the rear wheels and a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic (POWER) + Magnetic Ride Control that makes you feel as if you’re floating at heart pounding speeds!

This four-door sedan will blow the doors of several two-door coupes on the road and they won’t even know what hit them. The 2017 Cadillac ATS-V gets you buzzing at first sight. That aggressive front end with shiny carbon fiber finished hood vents with and rear diffuser housing quad tips and that legendary V badge.

“The first-ever ATS-V – offered as a coupe and sedan – introduces class-leading twin-turbocharged power and a comprehensive suite of design and performance systems, expanding the ATS product line and advancing the V-Series legacy with its first turbocharged entry.”

The Drive

It is very rare to find a car that turns heads, with instant acceleration that leaves a wide smile on your face, handles like a charm with a mean sounding engine and pitch perfect exhaust note that matches how this car looks. All that performance is not an excuse for bad interiors; the 2017 Cadillac ATS-V does not disappoint with top notch interiors housing comfortable Recaro seats.

We can see with experience that it is near impossible to get a car to accelerate to a top speed without burning ones tires. Enter, the 2017 Cadillac ATS-V. Every time you floor this beast, you don’t face the normal power loss. The car comes fitted with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, which help the car corner much better. These tires are a must for the summer season and spirited driving.

Remember that word I used earlier, responsibility? That should (ideally) kick in about 3.8 seconds when you hit 100 km/hr with no signs of slowing down. Else, 10 more seconds on the accelerator and you’ll be at 200 km/hr and with a few fines to boot.

You can really experience the beast that is the 2017 Cadillac ATS-V on a circuit or track. Keep your foot on until you see the curve only slowing down to hit the apex in. The moment you’re taking a turn at a blisteringly fast speed you’re only going to be thinking, “WHEN DO THESE TIRES LOSE TRACTION?” The car handles so well around the corner. I was wondering when I was actually going to be scared.

The Aesthetic

The demo car we reviewed was a beautiful Vector Blue Metallic with elegant 20 inch V-Forged Alloy Wheels forged from billet that delivers on both performance and design.

The hood of the car looks spectacular with carbon fiber hood V shaped hood and black hood vents in shiny carbon fiber, which again delivers on look and performance. The body of the ATS-V is made using ultra-high-strength steel, aluminum and other materials that directly affect the performance of the ATS-V, both inside and out. The quad tips give it that aggressive sport look from behind which will make people think twice before they try racing you while it integrates muffling for acoustic refinement at lower speeds while generating a visceral roar when opened up – amplifying the 3.6L Twin Turbo.

If you’re a fan of carbon fiber, Cadillac also gives you an additional Carbon Fiber Package for $5,000 not only looks very aesthetic, but also greatly improves down force. The package comes with exposed weave carbon fiber in the front splitter, hood extractor and rear diffuser adds even more dynamic form and function to an already fierce presence. It is coupled with a more aggressive rocker extension and rear spoiler to significantly improve airflow and down force.

““All of the design elements have a purpose,” said Andrew Smith, executive director, Cadillac Global Design.

They contribute to lift reduction, enhanced cooling, reduced mass or all of the above.

The Comfort

Cadillac is synonymous with success and the word itself thrives as a figure of speech. Cadillacs have been a symbol of prestige ever since the first ones were rolled out in 1902, but the association was solidified in the 1920s by GM so much so that “The Cadillac of such-and-such” became such a popular form of praise in the late ’40s and ’50s. If you’re building a car that can be taken on-road and track, you have to make compromises in either cabin quality or performance because weight reduction is everything.

The interior of the car comes in two-tone leather and suede seats for that sporty look. According to Cadillac “every aspect of stability, control and attention to detail has been taken to a magnified level of refinement.” And we can vouch first-hand.

The steering wheel comes wrapped in sueded microfiber, which gives a sporty look and feel. Once again, if you’re a fan of carbon fiber, you have an option of carbon fiber interior trim that adds a sport-inspired atmosphere to the handcrafted, cut-and-sewn interior. The magnesium paddle shifters are very responsive and light to touch that offers full control of the transmission, putting even greater control at your fingertips.

The Tech

Instant connectivity is key in the modern era and similarly the ATS-V is a pinnacle of their advancement in technology in the ATS line up. If we start talking about technology, we’d be discussing every aspect of the car from its exterior, interior, suspension, weight reduc; you get our drift…

The CUE system comes with a Performance Data Recorder that helps you track, analyze and share. The available Performance Data Recorder offers four overlays — Sport, Track, Performance or Tour — and lets drivers record their driving experience by capturing real-time video, audio and performance metrics.

The front-view camera captures each curve and straightaway, and when parked, lets you watch and analyze your driving performance on the Cadillac CUE screen. Or you can save the footage on the SD card to watch or share your performance later.

Don’t Miss: Our review of the 2017 Cadillac ATS Coupe

Not long ago data acquisition with this much information available was only found in the hands of top race teams around the world. It’s incredible to have this much power built into a production car!

However, I am not a big fan of the instrument cluster. It looks very dull, basic and falls behind in terms of look, usability and it’s the same as the other lower end ATS line up. It would be interesting to see a digital speedometer soon in the future that has many usable functions and better displayed gauges.

Statement Rating: 2017 Cadillac ATS-V (1=Don’t buy; 10=But it now!)

9/10

2017 Cadillac ATS-V  Quick Facts

• Price: AED 265,000
• 3.6L V-6 engine featuring fuel saving technologies
• Offered as a coupe and sedan
• Offered with the all-new Hydra-Matic 8L90 paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission
• Brembo high-performance brake system
• An interior with high-performance Recaro seats and ergonomics focused on the driver’s interfaces with key features for performance driving Cadillac CUE connectivity, including Apple CarPlay capability
• HID headlamps, Adaptive Forward Lighting, LED vertical light signatures, IntelliBeam® high-beam headlamps
• Illuminating exterior door handles
• Rainsense auto wipers
• Forward Collision Alert
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
• Cadillac’s exclusive Safety Alert Seat
• Side Blind Zone Alert
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Magnesium paddle shifters and aluminum sport pedals
• 17” premium painted alloy wheels on Sedan, 18” polished forged wheels on Coupe
• Sunroof