With the CTS-V and its awesome, supercharged V-8, GM's finest brand has a vehicle on par with offerings from Audi's Quattro, BMW’s M, and Mercedes-Benz’s AMG. And when the next-generation CTS rolls out, it will share its Alpha platform with a softtop convertible and a smaller sedan, the ATS. Given the success of the CTS-V, Cadillac insiders tell us an ATS-V also is a sure thing.

Theoretically, the CTS-V’s LSA V-8 would fit into an ATS-V, but that could cannibalize sales from the CTS-V. Rather, the ATS-V will be aimed directly at the next-generation BMW M3, which is expected to have a turbocharged inline-six. That, our sources tell us, is why the ATS-V will be powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that should make around 380 hp.

View Photos MARK BRAMLEY, KGP PHOTOGRAPHY, BRENDA PRIDDY & CO. , THE MANUFACTURER

Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions will be offered. We expect outstanding performance, with 0–60 times below five seconds and a top speed in excess of 170 mph. We have to say, though, that we’d be a lot more comfortable with Cadillac using a V-8—the brand’s last experiment with turbocharged sixes didn’t go so well.

Using a six in the ATS-V also opens up another exciting possibility: a small run of über-ATS-Vs with the incredible LSA—think of it as Cadillac’s Black Series. While that seems unlikely, Chevrolet’s fitment of the engine in the Camaro ZL1 proves that forces within GM will still back overpowered, limited-interest, but boundlessly awesome products.

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