Cadillac back on track with 600-hp ATS-V.R racer in FIA GT3 spec [w/video]

Fri, 14 Nov 2014

There was already a rumor brewing that Cadillac might eschew the CTS as its racecar next season in favor of the ATS Coupe. It turns out that is absolutely the case, and now we know just what this 600-horsepower, future racer looks like. The coupe might not be limited to competing in just the US, though, because it's built to FIA GT3-specifications, meaning that this Caddy is also eligible to race in over 30 series worldwide against the likes of Bentley, McLaren, Audi and other premium brands.

The heart of this massively winged Cadillac is an engine dubbed the LF4.R. It's based around the unit in the production ATS-V and CTS Vsport but with larger turbos, bigger intercoolers, side exhausts and other tricks. Cadillac claims it makes a monstrous 600 hp and 520 pound-feet of torque in unrestricted form.

As the photo above shows, the ATS-V.R also wears an aggressive aero kit with a carbon fiber front splitter, and a wing at the back that could probably double as a picnic table in a pinch. The dry weight of the whole package is quoted at about 2,900 pounds, which is around 700 pounds less than the street version.

Cadillac spokesperson Brian Corbett confirms to Autoblog that the ATS-V.R is racing in the Pirelli World Challenge next season. However, it looks like some international appearances are at least being considered. "Elevating and expanding the V-Series is the next logical step in Cadillac's growth, including this new race car developed in GT3-specification, enabling us to pursue racing on a more global scale," said Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen in the company's announcement.

The ATS-V.R, along with the ATS-V Coupe and Sedan, will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Scroll down to read the announcement of this upcoming racer and watch a video with a few more glimpses of it.

Cadillac Introduces All-New ATS-V.R Race Car

Up-to-600-horsepower race car meets international FIA GT3 specifications

2014-11-14
AUSTIN, Texas – The next generation of Cadillac's V-Series elite, high-performance cars began today with the introduction of an all-new race car, the Cadillac ATS-V.R. Set to begin competition in 2015, Cadillac debuted the new race car at the Circuit of the Americas, one of country's pre-eminent racing venues.

The ATS-V.R is the racing extension of the upcoming 2016 Cadillac ATS-V Coupe, which channels more than a decade of V-Series engineering experience into the brand's first compact performance model. The ATS-V Coupe debuts next week, along with the ATS-V sedan, at the Los Angeles Auto Show and arrives track-capable from the factory next spring.

The new, up-to-600-horsepower ATS-V.R meets international FIA GT3 specifications, a highly coveted pedigree that allows it to potentially run in more than 30 different GT series around the world. Other marques in this ultra-competitive racing class include Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren and Porsche. The FIA is the governing body for worldwide motorsport, with the GT3 class representing a specific set of specifications for racing cars based on production models.

"The V-Series is the highest expression of Cadillac's rising product substance," said Johan de Nysschen, Cadillac president. "Elevating and expanding the V-Series is the next logical step in Cadillac's growth, including this new race car developed in GT3-specification, enabling us to pursue racing on a more global scale."

The heart of the ATS-V.R is the LF4.R, the racing version of the Twin Turbo 3.6L V-6 in the award-winning Cadillac CTS Vsport. Specific technical upgrades for the GT3-spec race car include larger, twin BorgWarner turbochargers; increased capacity intercoolers; competition engine management and a direct, side-exiting exhaust. The lightweight aluminum block and heads are counterbalanced by a rear transaxle unique to the race car, giving the ATS-V.R a weight distribution of 49 percent front, 51 percent rear.

"This car sounds wicked and screams like it's ripping holes in the air. I love it," said Andy Pilgrim, Cadillac Racing driver. "We have paddle gear shifters for the first time, and I'm enjoying the new tools. The engine torque is remarkable, as always, pulling strongly out of the corners."

Among the many modifications performed to meet FIA GT3 specifications, the fenders of the ATS-V.R were redesigned to contain FIA-mandated tire sizes. Other modifications include an aero kit that gives the ATS-V.R a strong stance, and a carbon fiber front splitter – complemented by corner-mounted dive planes – that provides frontal aerodynamics. A full under tray directs air beneath the car to the rear diffuser, which helps create a downforce-producing effect and plants the 18-inch racing tires to the track.

Since its inception in 2004, Cadillac Racing has amassed 26 wins, 91 podium finishes (including wins) and 22 pole positions with the CTS-V sedan and CTS-V Coupe race cars. Cadillac is a five-time winner of the Pirelli World Challenge Manufacturer Championship, including the series' past three seasons, as well as 2005 and 2007. Team Cadillac drivers won the Pirelli World Challenge Driver's Championship in 2005 with Pilgrim and in 2014, 2013 and 2012 with driver Johnny O'Connell.

"The Cadillac ATS-V.R is a 170-mph billboard for the next generation of Cadillac's V-Series," said O'Connell. "On top of its power, its aerodynamic package should pay off in the fast corners and I'm looking forward to unleashing it."

Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. Today, Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio featuring dramatic design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com. Cadillac's media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com

Cadillac ATS-V.R Specifications

Model	Cadillac ATS-V.R
Construction	Reinforced eight-point welded roll cage; carbon fiber hood, deck-lid, front fenders, doors, rear fenders
Engine	LF4.R 3.6L, Twin-Turbo V-6 with production aluminum block and heads, up to 600 HP@7400 RPM torque 520 ft-lb (unrestricted), developed and built by GM Powertrain
Fuel supply	120 liter (31.7 gallons) fuel cell
Engine management	Bosch MS5.1, programmable
Turbocharging	BorgWarner EFR Series twin-turbochargers, boost set to FIA specifications
Intake	Carbon fiber with integral high-capacity water-to-air-intercoolers
Exhaust	Side exit direct exhaust from turbos, no mufflers
Transmission	Xtrac sequential six-speed rear-mounted transaxle; steering wheel-mounted paddle shift; no lift shift; limited slip differential with 3.13 final drive
Traction control	Electronic, driver adjustable
Brakes	Brembo, six-pot front with 380mm rotor, four pot rear with 355mm rotor; Bosch ABS M4 controls with driver-adjustable modes
Suspension	Three-way Penske adjustable shocks, front and rear independent SLA suspension
Chassis	Reinforced production unibody with race-designed safety cage
Pedals	Close-ratio foot pedal box, accelerator, brake, clutch pedals
Steering	ZF hydraulic power-assisted rack and pinion steering
Wheels	BBS 12" x 18" aluminum front and 13" x 18" rears
Tires	Racing tires, front 315/680 x 18, rear 325/705 x 18, series spec
Aero kit	Carbon fiber five-piece aero kit including side skirts, front splitter, fascia and dive planes, rear diffuser and rear bumper cover
Dry weight (lb/kg)	2,900 /1,315
Other features	Motorola two-way radio; Pratt & Miller-developed side-impact-reducing crush box, carbon fiber custom-molded cool seat and competition driver air conditioning system; Willans six-point racing driver seat belts; dash display rearview cameras

By Chris Bruce