I am basing this on the fact that the 3.6L performance trim of the new ATS starts at $44,590. That is without adding anything that doesn't come with the performance package. The premium trim starts at $47,590. This is not even with AWD either. I see the ATS-V being $57,000 minimum. Any thoughts?

 

High 50s sounds reasonable considering the CTS-V starts at $64,500.

 

If it is under 60 i will be really happy assuming they fix the bland, boring, out of place nose. When will we see the v hoss? Next year is new car year for me.

The m3 starts in the 60s and the c63 gets expensive very quickly.

 

Hopefully Cadillac can fill the void of the old BMW M3 market by allowing you to get a more stripper "sport" model for less than that. Maybe $50k-$53k.

 

Not if it's a "V" spinoff or has anything other than the 3.6 V6.

Cadillac's not about "stripper" models.... nor should they be.

 

Quoted to emphasize common sense.

 

If it's competing with the BMW M3, why wouldn't they offer a "stripper" model? I'm not talking 1980's 1LE stripper. I mean like No Nav, No heated seats, Manual adjusting seats. BMW still offers you the ability to purchase your M3 in this way, idk why the ATS-V wouldn't at least offer it.

 

BMW's M3 is hardly a stripper model.

It starts at $60,000. It's loaded to the gills with everything from heated mirrors, to rain sensing wipers, to automatically dimming xenon headlights, to a built in hands free phone system.

Although it's not standard, the M3 most certainly has a navigation system and heated seats. Also has dual climate control. In fact, other than having manually adjustable seats, there's nothing you can get on a 3 series that isn't on the M3 standard save a program for the Nav System (all of them are wired for it) and the heated seats (likewise).

Cadillac is making all these things standard at a lower price than the M3 (or in the case of the CTS, the M5). People who actually buy Cadillacs want the things loaded. Even those that buy the "V's".

It's similar to the Corvette debates we had here about 10 years ago. There's a few people who support a base level, low content, "stripper" performance model, but no one buys them. On top of that, there's the added cost of making a variation. In some instances it's actually cheaper to the manufacturer to make everything a certain way than to engineer a second cheaper version. That's why essentially everything today has power windows.

So, ironically, it would cost GM additional money to make a "stripper" Cadillac. And because it wouldn't sell enough to spread the cost, would cost GM more to make (and therefore, actually carry a higher price or a lower margin) than the vehicle with all the items in place that's selling in volume.

So, in the end Cadillac (or GM, or any other car maker) doesn't gain anything by a low content, lower price, luxury sports car, and why no one really makes them.

In fact, IMHO, a car like that would damage Cadillac... and for no purpose whatsoever.

 

Because its a Cadillac?

 

I expect the ATS-V to be about $10k cheaper than a CTS-V.

Since the 2014 CTS is going to be on Alpha, is the LSA going away? I've always heard that Alpha wasn't built to handle 600HP engines like Zeta. Could we see a ~500HP LT1 CTS-V and a 450HP twin turbo 3.6L V6 ATS-V? That is the only way I see them giving us some difference between the two cars.

 

I am thinking the next CTS-V will move up market and cost a little more. ATS-V will cost same as CTS-V does now.

 

I tend to agree Branden.

 

Yep, the Zeta is one tough (and relatively light weight) chassis that can handle serious horsepower and hardware. But Alpha was made to be as lightweight as possible. Not because GM created new elements in the periodic chart or invented magic pixie dust, but by using high strength steel and using as little of it as possible. One really neat thing about Alpha is it doesn't have a traditional floor pan. It's like 2 side rails connected by crossrails. Most of the structure itself has holes stamped out to further lighten the car.




Im sure you could make a version of the Alpha that could handle the CTSv's 600hp and massive chassis twisting torque (non punched stampings, thicker metal in some places, etc...) but it would be a modified (and heavier) Alpha, and it isn't very likely to be the ATS.

Compare the difference....especially the floor and front end.

Zeta:


Alpha:


Now....which do YOU think could handle 600+ horsepower without bending itself in half or torque from a high powered drivetrain ripping itself from underneath the car?