Category Archives: ATS / Alpha

Cadillac ATS 2L Turbo LTG promises performance

Posted on by
2
Cadillac ATS 2L Turbo LTG -- 2013 Ecotec 2.0L I-4 VVT DI Turbo

Cadillac ATS 2L Turbo LTG — 2013 Ecotec 2.0L I-4 VVT DI Turbo

Cadillac ATS 2L Turbo LTG Four Cylinder mid-line engine specs for the Cadillac ATS:

LTG 2.0L VVT TURBO ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS
Engine type Dual Overhead Camshaft
Bore and stroke, in.(cm.) 3.386 x 3.386 (8.60 x 8.60)
Horsepower 272@5500 rpm
Kilowatts(kW) 202.91@5500 rpm
Torque (lb.-ft.) 260@1700-5500 rpm
Newton – Meters (N-m) 351.00@1700-5500 rpm

Here is the engine dyno graph:

Cadillac ATS 2L Turbo LTG

Cadillac ATS 2L Turbo (LTG)

Much like the N20 Turbo Four in the BMW 328i, the ATS’ 2L Turbo LTG will run out of breath at 5500 rpm.  The BMW pulls a peak of around 222 whp at 5500 rpm, according to an Automobile dyno test.  The 328’s N20 is under-rated by BMW as a 240 hp engine.

So although the Cadillac 2L Turbo is SAE rated at 272 hp and the BMW engine at 240 hp, the BMW is likely putting out around the same power as the Cadillac engine.

Cadillac ATS 2L Turbo LTG

Cadillac ATS 2L Turbo (LTG) [click to zoom, back to return]


Cadillac suggests the ATS 2L turbo will hit 0-60 mph in 5.7 sec for the auto, or 5.8 sec for the manual RWD ATS.  For turbo engines, automatics are often quicker than manuals because it is easier for the turbo to stay on spool through the auto shift.

Cadillac ATS 2L Turbo LTG -- 2013 Ecotec 2.0L I-4 VVT DI Turbo

Cadillac ATS 2L Turbo LTG — 2013 Ecotec 2.0L I-4 VVT DI Turbo

GM has shown with earlier 2L Turbos (in the Kappa cars) that they are easily tunable for more boost and reliable power.  The GM Stage 1 power kit for the LNF Turbo engines raised output from 260 hp (194 kW) and 260 lb.-ft. (352 Nm) to 290 hp (216 kW) and up to a robust 340 lb.-ft. (461 Nm) manual trans, or 325 lb.-ft auto.  The kit had no effect on warranty, was dealer installed, and was 50 state legal.  Hopefully GM will offer a similar boost for the new LTG engines.

The 2012 Buick Regal GS uses an LHU engine, for 270 hp and 295 lb. ft of torque:

Applications: Horsepower: hp ( kw )
Buick Regal CXL 220 hp (164kW) @ 5300 RPM SAE CERTIFIED
Buick Regal GS 270 hp (201kW) @ 5300 RPM SAE CERTIFIED
Applications: Torque: lb-ft. ( Nm )
Buick Regal CXL 260 lb-ft (353Nm) @ 2000 RPM SAE CERTIFIED
Buick Regal GS 295 lb-ft (400Nm) @ 2400 RPM SAE CERTIFIED

The newer Cadillac LTG engine is tuned to provide torque at a lower 1500 RPM and a bit higher 5500 rpm on the top end, at the cost of less peak torque at 260 for the Cadillac vs 295 for the Buick.

I predict that there will be some very nice gains from tuning these engines.

Cadillac ATS MPG Fuel Economy Estimates

Posted on by
Reply

The EPA has tested the upcoming Cadillac ATS MPG and preliminary ratings are 22 city and 32 highway.

Cadillac ATS MPG Fuel Economy.gov

Cadillac ATS MPG Fuel Economy.gov

This puts the most economical Cadillac ATS right alongside the 2012 BMW 328i or 2012 Mercedes C250:

  • Cadillac ATS 2.5L 22/32 mpg
  • BMW 328i 23/33 mpg
  • Mercedes C250 21/31 mpg

HERE is the EPA comparison page for reference.  The ATS can use regular unleaded, which is an ongoing cost advantage over some competitors.

Cadillac ATS Fuel Economy on Track

Cadillac ATS Fuel Economy on Track

 

Cadillac ATS MPG vs other Cadillacs

More to the point this makes the Cadillac ATS a clear leader versus its stablemate SRX, rated at 17/24 mpg city/highway, or CTS 3L at 17/27 mpg.

Cadillac ATS MPG Summary

The Cadillac ATS will arrive as a fuel efficient Cadillac.  We live in a fun time, when a high tech four cylinder engine can produce 200+ hp and deliver 30+ mpg on the highway.  A lot of the credit here has to be shared with the light weight and careful design of the Cadillac ATS.

I remember when my 1992 Cadillac STS with 4.9L OHV V8 made 200 hp and weighed more than the new ATS 2.5L Four will weigh.  Now we get equal power from a Four, and with a 6-speed automatic to keep it in its power band!  Also note that in today’s terms, my V8 STS would have been rated 15/23 mpg city/highway versus the 22/32 mpg for the ATS 2.5L!

Cadillac ATS acceleration – good enough?

Posted on by
Reply

The Cadillac ATS acceleration has been noted: Cadillac says 5.4 sec 0-60 mph for the Cadillac ATS 3.6L V6.  They do not note if that is with or without roll-out.

On the drag strip run-out is the first distance — up to 12 inches — that the car can move before tripping the timing lights.  Some magazines measure acceleration with, some without roll-out.  I prefer if both with and without values are stated so there is no confusion.

Cadillac ATS Acceleration depends on light weight

The Cadillac ATS is a new breed of high-tech, light-weight Cadillacs.   The advantage of this lean, sporting approach is that the Cadillac ATS acceleration should be very good.

Cadillac ATS Acceleration depends on light weight

 

Cadillac ATS Acceleration depends on efficient power delivery

The Cadillac ATS will be offered with 3 power plants — an economic yet surprisingly capable 2.5L Four, a 2L Turbo Four for 272 hp, and the 3.6L V6 for 321 hp.  The V6 is the engine quoted in the press release.  We don’t know yet the equivalent performance for the 2L Turbo.

Competition improves the breed

How does that compare with the competition?

Model / 0-60 time:

  • Audi A4 2T 6.2 sec
  • Mercedes C250 Sport 7.2 sec
  • BMW 328i 5.9 sec
  • BMW 335i 4.7 sec — Motor Trend [full first test]

So while the 321 hp V6 Cadillac ATS acceleration sounds good for most drivers, it will not compare well with the BMW 335i once we get to comparison tests.

There are a couple of issues with comparing against the 335i — first, it is underrated. Although BMW says the 3L Turbo 6 makes 300 hp it clearly makes more power.    It can put down 293 whp on a chassis dyno, which equates to 344 crank hp.  BMW also uses a trick 8 speed automatic.   GM and Cadillac have new transmissions in development but not yet in production.

In the video: How do you put a metric on what the soul of the car is?

Cranking Cadillac ATS acceleration up to 11

For most owners, planned Cadillac ATS acceleration will be terrific and a good improvement over the Cadillac CTS.

What if Cadillac were to deliver the upcoming twin turbo 3.6L as the premium engine for next year’s Cadillac ATS, then bring the ATS-V in with an LSA 556 hp powerplant from the CTS-V?