With inspiration and parts from Corvette, the ATS-V makes driving hard an easy thing to do.  LETTERS can be so meaningful. M affixed to a BMW or AMG on a Mercedes-Benz seduces performance enthusiasts. The V, found on Cadillac, is the last of them alphabetically but possibly Speed Racer’s first consonant of choice. Seriously. The ATS-V sedan and coupe, built to take on C63, M3 and M4, is the real deal for taming tarmac. If only Cadillac had street cred.  Not that General Motors’ premium brand has been resting on its now nonexistent laurels — a new logo ditches the wreath, management has international experience, the head office has been moved to Manhattan, and, most important, its new product is world class. Auto writers typically gush about ATS and CTS. Buyers have responded with yawns.  Hello? Marketing? This should be a sales slam dunk.  The ATS-V is a high-octane example of what Cadillac engineers are doing right. Inspiration and parts from Corvette help. Extra bracing increases the already impressive chassis rigidity by 25 percent. Carbon fiber where it counts, Brembo brakes, oil pump and cooling systems are all track-ready. If you’re just heading for a Slurpee, the V is happy to purr about town without drama. Conversely, throw it into launch control and nail 60 miles per hour from standstill in 3.9 seconds. It’s your choice.  The ATS-V’s 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 offers the right foot 464 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque to play with. The 8-speed automatic gearbox has the feel of a dual clutch (it’s not, but G.M. claims the snappy shifts are faster than a Porsche’s). There are the expected paddle shifters and drive modes spanning grocery getter and track star. A short-throw 6-speed manual transmission is offered. Oomph is channeled to the back rubber. Government rated at 16 miles per gallon in the city, 24 highway, the premium fuel-chugging V is a fun but thirsty drinking buddy.  Remarkably balanced and precise in corners, the ATS-V makes driving hard an easy thing to do. It’s muscle car power crossed with socialite refinement. Third-generation magnetic ride control (shocks that instantly respond to driving dynamics and road conditions) tames body roll and dive. Your “Spidey sense” will value the steering wheel’s feedback. The ATS-V feels entirely planted. Top speed is 189 miles an hour, on a track of course.  The ATS-V’s instrument panel doesn’t emit the same athletic vibe as the chassis. Its gauge cluster is less sport, more luxury. Materials are top-notch, but losing one of them would help calm the visual ambience. Cadillac’s C.U.E. interface lacks touch sensitivity (not so great when traveling briskly). Excellent available Recaro chairs have adjustable bolsters, but bigger buyers would be wise to try before they buy. With integrated camera and data sensors, the optional performance recorder allows the posting of high-speed high jinks to social media. Discretion is advised.  Whether it’s the sedan or coupe, ATS rear accommodations take a back seat to 3 and 4 Series cars. BMW simply offers more room. Cadillac owners will feel the pinch when it comes to cargo room, too. The trunk is small, and large hinge arms rob valuable space. But that’s why we make friends with pickup truck owners, right?  Arguably among the most capable drivers’ cars on the planet, the ATS-V is second to none when it comes to the joy of piloting. Constant peril to your driving record begins at $61,460 in sedan form (coupes begin at $63,660 or $75,775 as tested). Enthusiasts who take the time to test drive, trust their senses and ignore stereotypes will get an exceptional, perhaps ultimate driving machine with the ATS-V.  A version of this article appears in print on November 6, 2015, on page B6 of the New York edition with the headline: Cadillac’s ATS-V, a Socially Refined Muscle Car. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe
As capable as Mercedes-Benz AMG and BMW M cars, ATS-V is letter-perfect in its driving dynamics. Now, if Cadillac can get enthusiasts to understand that.