What the Cadillac ATS-V should have been - Weapon X Motorsports swapping an LT4 V8 into the ATS chassis

[Sticky]

The Cadillac ATS-V is a sales failure. BoostAddict can tell you exactly why. It is not more desirable of a car than a BMW M3 or Mercedes-AMG C63. It lacks the looks, polish, and performance of the aforementioned models.

In order for Cadillac to be taken seriously as a rival they need to offer more for less money until they prove they are on top. BMW, Mercedes, and Audi all have the market perception of superiority. Cadillac simply is not on par just yet despite the strides forward the V models have made.

The ATS-V performance, looks, and interior quality for the money just quite honestly stink in the luxury sport sedan segment. The chassis is great (despite being pretty heavy) but who cares if nobody wants the car built on top of it?

Instead of messing around with the LF4 V6 and trying to mimic their German rivals with a turbocharged six-cylinder Cadillac just should have stuck a big V8 under the hood.

The LT4 probably would have been too much to ask for but an LT1 naturally aspirated V8 realistically could be done and the ATS-V would offer something unique in the segment. Instead, we got a bad try of Americans trying to be Germans. Note, the CTS-V succeeds precisely because it isn't mimicking the Germans.

It is going to fun to see the result of this swap.

[SpeedLimit?]

It's sad when small shops have to do the work major manufacturers were supposed to do...But on a brighter note big ups to Weapon X for doing something i'm sure many enthusiasts dreamed about!

[subaru335i]

I love the look and small size of the ATS-V and it apparently handles crazy good. Putting the LT4 in it is badass, WXM is legend.

[BPCMotorsports]

I love the look and small size of the ATS-V and it apparently handles crazy good. Putting the LT4 in it is badass, WXM is legend.

It handles OK. My wife has a 2016 ats-v 6spd. It makes decent power and handles ok. The problem is the quality of the vehicle. It is just such $#@!. From peeling factory paint, cracking CUE screens, leather pulling up on the dash, wiring nightmares causing shorts to the cluster from a wire being pinched behind the clutch pedal..... The list goes on and on and on. Such a waste of what could of been a knock out in the luxury sport car segment. On paper the thing makes more WHP then my car on 93 oct but it feels so Lackluster when driving it. It is just not a fun car at all to own. I am so glad my wife leased it.

Putting a thirsty, powerful V8 sounds like a load of fun, but it isn't going to make up for everything the car is missing.

[RobNyc]

@BPCMotorsports

Do you mind showing us if you have a Dyno graph of the best pulls of your wife's ATS-V vs Stock F80 ?

[subaru335i]

It handles OK. My wife has a 2016 ats-v 6spd. It makes decent power and handles ok. The problem is the quality of the vehicle. It is just such $#@!. From peeling factory paint, cracking CUE screens, leather pulling up on the dash, wiring nightmares causing shorts to the cluster from a wire being pinched behind the clutch pedal..... The list goes on and on and on. Such a waste of what could of been a knock out in the luxury sport car segment. On paper the thing makes more WHP then my car on 93 oct but it feels so Lackluster when driving it. It is just not a fun car at all to own. I am so glad my wife leased it.

Putting a thirsty, powerful V8 sounds like a load of fun, but it isn't going to make up for everything the car is missing.

Sounds like you got a lemon, I have heard great things and I know several people with these cars.

[BPCMotorsports]

eh, to each their own. If I had never owned an F80, I would think its a very nice car. But getting out of my wife's car and straight into mine, there is no contest.

[RobNyc]

Sounds like you got a lemon, I have heard great things and I know several people with these cars.

+1 my thoughts exact