Cadillac readies BMW M3 and M5 rivals

Rear tyres beware: Cadillac is rolling out the big guns for the 2016 model year.

This November at the LA Auto Show, Caddy will finally reveal the BMW M3/M4 baiting ATS-V, which is rumoured to produce over 420bhp from its twin-turbo V6… and might have the handling to match.

How so? Because the ATS-V will be engineered by the team behind the new C7 Corvette, which, as we’ve begrudgingly admitted more than once, is nothing short of a revelation on the road. If the ATS-V can replicate the Vette’s handling sparkle, it could cause some serious damage to the German hot saloon/coupe hierarchy.

The same crew is also behind the new, bigger CTS-V replacement, which debuts at the Detroit Auto Show next January with the express aim of giving BMW’s M5 a nasty shock.

Powered by the same supercharged 6.2-litre V8 fitted in the new Z06 Corvette, but probably slightly detuned to a mere 600bhp, the big V-spec car will build on the smart handling of the standard CTS chassis to create what is effectively a four-door Corvette.

No manual gearbox is planned this time around, just an eight-speed auto. Estate and coupe versions are also not on the menu for the 2016 model year.

That said, two V-spec models is probably enough shock-and-awe for one year.

Cadillac says it plans to export the cars to all of its global markets. However, there won’t be a right-hand drive ATS-V or CTS-V for a few more years yet. Boo.