While You Were Sleeping: Cadillac Minuses V8 ATS-V+, Volkswagen Picks Boring Font and Ford Releases Patents Into the Wild

by Mark Stevenson

Published: May 28th, 2015

while you were sleeping cadillac minuses v8 ats v volkswagen picks boring font and

The ATS-V+ rumored by Motor Trend is definitely not happening according to Cadillac spokesperson David Caldwell. The proposed new model would encroach too much into CTS-V territory for comfort.

Here’s what happened overnight.

No V-8-Powered ATS-V Plus In The Pipeline, Says Cadillac (Motor Authority)

A big, emphatic “no” was uttered by Cadillac spokesperson David Caldwell when speaking to Motor Authority about the possibility of a V8-powered ATS-V+.

Todt says F1 will not ban alcohol sponsorship (Motorsport.com)

Despite a report from the European Alcohol Policy Alliance suggesting F1 fans were exposed to alcohol brands to an excessive degree, FIA head honcho Jean Todt has said the sponsorships will continue unabated.

An Unquestionably-Japanese Lotus (Speedhunters)

Fluffy leopard upholstery, RAYS’ Volk Racing TE27 wheels, and a Honda K20 to give it motivation, this Elise is as Japanese as it gets.

10 dealership terms you may not know (Detroit News)

“Be back”, “mini deal”, “pack” and “skate”. These are 10 dealership terms all customers should know.

Ford to make EV technology patents available to rivals (Automotive News)

Ford is following Tesla’s lead and opening up its portfolio of patents for competing products.

Judge puts GM suits on hold pending appeal (Detroit News)

The question of bankruptcy immunity will be the deciding factor in a number of ignition switch lawsuits filed against General Motors. A federal judge has put the suits on hold as they await a ruling from another court.

VW Changes Their Corporate Font To Something Less Interesting (Jalopnik)

Even Volkswagen’s marketing is becoming more beige as the German automaker adopts a new font for sales materials.

Mark Stevenson

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5 of 11 comments

DenverMike on May 28, 2015

Yeah kill the ATS-V no one asked for and just have a normal V8 option. Like a 5.3, normal output that doesn't exactly set the Nurburgerkingring on fire. Maybe a manual trans is asking too much, but why not? Why try to be BMW? That'll never happen. Instead give Germany car fan boys a better option.

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- JohnTaurus on May 28, 2015
  
  The cheaper Camaro has a 6.2L now, Caddy needs something more fitting as a premium car. I dont think they are "trying to be BMW". I think theyre trying to be a better, premium (with sport) American alternative to all sporty luxury cars around its size. Mercedes, Audi, Lexus and Infiniti all have entries with very sporty pretensions in this arena, not just BMW. BMW does regularly set the bar of the small premium sporty RWD luxury car, but that doesnt mean every one else's entry is not worth having around just because it does not beat it. Theyre all pretty good and though they excell here and there, theyre not perfect. None Im aware of have kidney grilles and other blatent rip offs, most seem to be an honest effort to be nothing but their designer's car, not a BMW designer's car after it was photochopped a little. The same is true of this Cadillac. Its not that they dont have similar attributes to BMW, but thats just basics, what makes the formula for this type of car work. A Hyundai's engine/doors/drive wheels/seats are all in the same place a Corolla's is, doesnt make it a copy. This is (if youll forgive me) "the Cadillac of small RWD sport sedan/coupes". If you look at it more in that light, its pretty good and Im happy they built it.
  
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- DenverMike on May 28, 2015
  
  @JohnTaurus If a 5.3 V8 seems cheesy, what about the plain V6 and turbo 4? OK use the 6.2 if it makes anybody feel better. A_V8_engine_choice. That's all I'm saying. Not the premium model necessarily. Why does a V8 ATS have to the top/premium model? Cadillacs just need the feel of a quality, healthy engine. If German autos want to go the route of cheesy, let them. I was extremely underwhelmed by the 3.6 CTS. Yuck! But why is it all or nothing? Ballz to the wall or not at all? Just a normal V8, around 5 to 6 liters. No supercharger, no raspy/throbbing exhaust. Is that asking too much???
  
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Notapreppie on May 28, 2015

I'm not all that broken up by the lack of a V8 ATS-V. Then again, I'm sort of weird in that I prefer a turbo-6 to a V8.

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- Bball40dtw on May 28, 2015
  
  LT1 > LF4 Always.
  
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