Local dealers begin taking orders for the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V

Cadillac dealers have begun accepting orders for the 2016 ATS-V, the brand's inaugural luxury compact performance car starting production this spring at GM's Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan.

Available in sedan and coupe forms, the twin-turbocharged ATS-V offers a dual-purpose luxury performance experience: a car with true track capability straight from the factory with sophisticated road manners.

"The V-Series is the ultimate expression of Cadillac's re-ignited product substance and the passion at the core of our brand," said Johan de Nysschen, president of Cadillac. "The ATS-V expands the V-Series lineup, bringing a new kind of performance character to Cadillac. Lightweight, agile and potent, the ATS-V will make an ideal pairing with the larger and even more powerful all-new 2016 CTS-V midsize sedan, which arrives later this summer."

However, luxury performance does not come cheap. The ATS-V sedan carries a starting price of $61,460, while the coupe starts at $63,660. Despite the price, the ATS-V will likely be in high demand, so ordering through a local dealer now is recommended, if you're interested. You can also begin specifying your own online beginning in April.

More than just a desirable road car, the ATS-V is also Cadillac's latest entrant into the world of motorsports. Even before the new car hits the showroom, Cadillac Racing's new ATS-V.R racecar hit the Pirelli World Challenge GT 2015 season at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX. Cadillac Racing is the three-time defending manufacturer's and driver's champion in the series, which features legendary marques such as Audi, Ferrari and Porsche.

Obviously, the new Cadillac 2016 ATS-V offers some real power under the hood. It comes in the form of the first-ever twin-turbocharged engine in a V-Series. Rated at an estimated 455 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque, the engine is the segment's highest-output six-cylinder. It enables a zero-to-60 performance time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of more than 185 miles per hour on the track.

Since its inception in 2004, Cadillac's V-Series has driven remarkable power and performance capability into the brand's growing luxury car range. Building on the strengths of the award-winning ATS product line, the V-Series adds impressive track capability to what was already the lightest and most agile-driving car in the luxury compact class. The result is a dual-purpose luxury performer - a car with true track capability right from the factory that is also a sophisticated luxury car on the road.

The new engine features turbochargers with low-inertia titanium-aluminide turbines and vacuum-actuated wastegates for more responsive torque production. Compressors are matched for peak efficiency at peak power levels, for optimal track performance. It also has a low-volume charge-cooling system that optimizes packaging efficiency and maximizes boost pressure. Its lightweight titanium connecting rods reduce inertia of the rotating assembly, complementing the quick-spooling turbochargers.

The new Cadillac Twin Turbo also features a high-performance lubrication system designed to maintain optimal oil pressure and ventilation during high-lateral driving maneuvers typically encountered on a track.

The marvelous new powerplant is mated to a six-speed manual - with Active Rev Match, no-lift shifting and launch control. It can also be tied to a paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission featuring launch control and Performance Algorithm Shift.

The Cadillac Twin Turbo engine sits on a comprehensively redesigned and stiffer chassis. The underlying ATS structure is designed to meet higher performance requirements developed to respond to cornering and torque loads that go significantly beyond the levels experienced by the non-V models.

"The ATS-V feels like it was machined from billet steel," said Tony Roma, the vehicle's chief engineer. "Along with supporting the higher performance capability of the car, the enhanced structure conveys confidence to the driver through a greater feeling of solidity and sharper, more precise responsiveness."

With the stronger body structure - and more than a decade of V-Series production models and the CTS-V racing program experience under their belts - engineers tuned the ATS-V to deliver greater body motion control for a more agile feel, while maintaining excellent ride quality. Its suspension and drivetrain systems were developed to make the ATS-V one of the most agile, responsive and confident luxury performance cars on the market. And it's loaded with new performance technologies.

This includes a Brembo high performance brake system that was developed to provide durability, consistency and the capability for track-day performance straight from the factory. The ATS-V also utilizes Cadillac's third generation of Magnetic Ride Control, which delivers 40 percent faster damping response than the conventional ATS.

The ATS-V also utilizes integrate chassis controls that provide balanced performance for either touring or on the track, including class-exclusive performance traction management. There are also driver selectable modes for touring, sport or track.

"As the smallest and lightest V-Series ever, the ATS-V forges a great connection with the driver, with exceptional nimbleness and responsiveness," said David Leone, Cadillac's executive chief engineer. "It's adaptable to the driver's preferences, with every selectable mode developed to deliver the best performance for all types of driving scenarios, including the track."