The Cadillac ATS-VR: a 600CH unveiling at the Los Angeles Show

Cadillac will unveil, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the succession of the CTS-V Coupe in the Pirelli World Challenge. After a decade, the famous V8 engine is retiring and is replaced by a 600-hp V6 biturbo. And with the all-new ATS-VR model, in the GT3 category, Cadillac will start the 2015 season in the United States.

According to the manufacturer, 2015 will be a year of development, a kind of prelude to the crossing to Europe (in 2016) where the ATS will face the best European, such as Porsche, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, McLaren and other cars racing in GT3. In fact, at the international level, there are about thirty series in which this new model can participate. And Cadillac plans to offer ATS-RVs ready for racing to anyone wishing to participate in one or more of these series!

True, the fact that the V8 is set aside does not suit everyone. But Cadillac intends to impress the gallery with its technical prowess in turbocharging.

Here are some specifications of the car (English)

Model Cadillac ATS-VR

Construction
Reinforced eight-point welded roll cage; Carbon fiber hood, deck-lid, front fenders, doors, rear fenders

Fuel supply
120 liter (31.7 gallons) fuel cell

Engine management
Bosch MS5.1, programmable

Turbocharging
BorgWarner EFR Series twin-turbochargers

Xtrac sequential six-speed rear-mounted transaxle; Steering wheel-mounted paddle shift; No lift shift; Limited slip differential with 3.13 final drive

Brakes
Brembo, six-pot front with 380mm rotor, oven pot rear with 355mm rotor; Bosch ABS M4 controls with driver-adjustable modes

Suspension
Three-way Penske adjustable shocks, front and rear independent SLA suspension

Wheels
BBS 12 “x 18” aluminum front and 13 “x 18” rears

Tires
Racing tires, front 315/680 x 18, rear 325/705 x 18, series spec

Dry weight (lb / kg)
2,900 / 1,318

Nissan Micra Cup: a new series in 2015 (Photos and Video)

In the mid-2000s, a series called La Coupe Echo appeared on Quebec’s motor sport scene. It was a good idea to offer an affordable way to race, using an inexpensive platform (Toyota Echo) and fair competition (all cars had the same modifications). This series lasted a few years and allowed several drivers to make their debut in motor sport.

Nissan Canada, JD Motorsports and sponsors such as Fast Wheels and Pirelli will embark on a similar journey starting in 2015. With the all-new 2014 Nissan Micra, the manufacturer and its partners will host a championship that will feature several races in Quebec. If all goes well, we can imagine that the series will visit other Canadian circuits in the following years.

The car will be offered by JD Motorsports for a cost close to $ 20,000, which is very affordable for a “race-ready” car. The small 1.6-liter engine developing 109 hp will not be modified, but each car, prepared by Motorsport in Action of St-Eustache, will be modified as follows:

Nismo S-Tune suspension
FIA-approved racing seat
5-point safety harness
Extinguisher
Modified
exhaust High-performance brake pads
Safety cage
Driver safety net
Front and rear tow hooks
Fastwheels rims Styled with high-performance Pirelli low-profile tires

According to the organizers, the Nissan Micra Cup will offer participants the lowest annual cost of participation in any series of car races in Canada.