ATS weighs in lighter than expected

[dwightlooi]

With GM's announcement yesterday, we finally have concrete numbers on the ATS's weight.

• ATS 3.6 V6 = 3,456 lbs
  
• ATS 2.5 / 2.0T < 3,400 lbs
  

Honestly, this is at the lowest end of the expect range for the V6 powered car and only about 100 lbs heavier than the 328i. It also means that with the same engine, the ATS is no heavier than the Delta II Verano -- that's no small feat. Given GM's porky track record, I expected the ATS to come in at about ~3,600 for the V6. This is excellent news.

Given that the Small Block V8 is only 40 lbs heavier than the DOHC 3.6 V6, this opens up the possibility of a Pushrod V8 powered ATS-V at around 3,600 lbs and still under 3,700 lbs if they go with a bi-turbo V6.

The 202 hp / 191 lb-ft rating of the 2.5 liter also brings it to the front of the 2.4~2.5 cylinder pack, toping Acura and Hyundai's 201 and 200 hp mills. The engine is still running on Regular, another plus.

Edited January 9, 2012 by dwightlooi

[hyperv6]

GM made it clear they will be working to lower the weight on all their new platforms. The Alpha is only the first to show the results of their work.

[Drew Dowdell]

Then I expect Epsilon III, if there ever is such a beast, will bear little resemblance to the current one.

[dwightlooi]

Then I expect Epsilon III, if there ever is such a beast, will bear little resemblance to the current one.

Well, there is already a 3rd generation Epsilon. The stretched version used in the XTS; that is not exactly an Ep II.

[Lamar]

Well, there is already a 3rd generation Epsilon. The stretched version used in the XTS; that is not exactly an Ep II.

Really? Wheelbase and track of the XTS and LaCrosse are exactly the same.

Edited January 20, 2012 by Lamar

[riviera74]

Either way, lighter is aleays better from a performance and fuel efficiency POV. This is nothing but a positive development in GM platform engineering .

The XTS and the LaCrosse have the same wheelbase and track ? Really? They should make both of them roomier, if not a little longer since there are no roomy full-size sedans anymore (at least as roomy as a Lucerne!).

[Robert Hall]

Well, there is already a 3rd generation Epsilon. The stretched version used in the XTS; that is not exactly an Ep II.

Really? Wheelbase and track of the XTS and LaCrosse are exactly the same.

Yes, they are both 'long' wheelbase Epsy Dos (though I'd hardly consider 111.7 a 'long' wheelbase--shorter than the CTS!). The NG Impala will probably be the same...

Edited January 21, 2012 by Cubical-aka-Moltar