Mannai Auto Group and Cadillac hosted a special track day for its customers and VIP guests at the Losail Circuit on Saturday. The event welcomed the brand new Cadillac CTS-V and ATS-V models to Qatar in an event that saw specialized race drivers as well as select fans and journalists take a spin around the race track in the high performance Cadillacs.
Mr. Mohammed Helmy, Group General Manager, Mannai Auto said: “The V-Series vies for honors in a highly competitive performance category and is well worth the wait for our customers who placed advance orders last year for the 2016 models which have just become available. With the ATS-V and CTS-V, Cadillac is able to open a new avenue for automobile enthusiasts to fulfill their passion for high performance luxury cars. These cars are built for peak performance, but they are also cars that anyone can drive with ease. Regardless of skill level, they deliver powerful performance, supported by advanced safety and drive control systems with luxury only a Cadillac can bestow.”
Mr. Felix Weller, Managing Director, Cadillac Middle East said: “With the launch of the last generation CTS-V in 2009, Cadillac entered an exclusive and elite segment of performance sedans, without any compromise on comfort. The all-new CTS-V is the first car to combine sophisticated road manners expected in this segment with track-readiness as a factory standard, while setting a benchmark for power in its class. The 2016 CTS-V is simply awe-inspiring.”
Mr. Weller said the response from performance fans across the region has been overwhelming and that Cadillac expected similar enthusiasm when the CTS-V and ATS-V (both couple and sedan) are available for everyone to explore at the upcoming Qatar Motor Show at the end of January.
The V-Series represents the very best of what the Cadillac brand can do. It is a showcase of the brand’s ability to bring design, performance and technology together in an expressive package.
The 2016 CTS-V, which graced the Losail track, introduced a new supercharged 6.2L V-8 engine certified at 640 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque. With more horsepower and torque than its main segment competitors, the new CTS-V is capable of 0-96kph performance in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 322 kph.
The ATS-V, meanwhile, is an all-new addition to Cadillac’s family and arrives in the region with a strong pedigree to uphold. Powered by the first-ever twin-turbocharged engine in a V-Series, it is rated at 464 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque. The engine is the segment’s highest-output six-cylinder and enables 0-96 kph performance in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 304 kph.
The new Cadillac Twin Turbo engine supports comprehensively redesigned chassis, suspension and drivetrain systems developed to make the ATS-V one of the most agile, responsive and confident luxury performance cars on the market.
Both V-Series models are backed by a paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission featuring launch control and Performance Algorithm Shifting.
V-Series performance features don’t stop there. Both models have an available Performance Data Recorder which allows drivers to record high-definition video, with data overlays of their driving experiences on and off the track. Drivers can capture real-time video, cabin audio and performance data.
It also allows enthusiasts to share their personal track results with friends on social media. The system is controlled via Cadillac CUE’s color touch screen, and recordings can be reviewed on the screen when the vehicle is parked.
Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system is also new and improved, with a faster processor for responsiveness, and phone projection capability. Other conveniences include text-to-voice which converts incoming text messages to speech and reads them over the audio system speakers.
For those seeking even more convenience, the segment flagship CTS-V offers front and rear park assist, as well as Automatic Park Assist – which enables the car to park itself in parallel and perpendicular spaces – as well as a Curbview Camera for a lower-front view of the CTS-V to help when parking.