Cadillac Pfadt ATS....The new AMG of General Motors???

The Pfadt Cadillac ATS program had only one goal in mind upon its inception: Create an All-American-built machine to reflect the power, energetic spirit, and excitement of a new generation of drivers. For far too long German and Japanese small sedans have had the spot light in this regard..... but according to Pfadt that just might be a thing of the past. I had a chance to sit down with owner Aaron Pfadt and get a sneak peak at what they've been up to. At Pfadt, their initial reaction when the new Cadillac ATS was unveiled was positive- “The ATS was a fantastic platform straight from the factory, and it was poised to capture the spirit of a younger more vibrant generation” said Aaron Pfadt, owner of Pfadt Engineering. However to Aaron, fantastic is apparently never enough. “Cadillac's new vision couldn't be its final destination. It just couldn't. With the ever changing M-series and AMG revisions and the excitement they offered to consumers, the ATS had to be considered just the starting point.” I think I could see where he was going with this. I've been drooling of the E63 AMG for quite some time now myself. "We need a platform like the AMG, but for GM ...at this point in time, we can't chance getting beat out anymore in the global market. We didn't just look at the ATS as a chance to come up with some parts, we took it as an opportunity to create an OEM quality performance platform, like what AMG does for Mercedes." Their goal was hefty, but if anyone here in the states could tackle it, it would be Pfadt. They started from scratch, and set the goals high. The started with the powertrain...and the result was the worlds fastest Cadillac ATS record. But reliable, seamless, dominating power is only one part of the equation. Aerodynamics and handling have also been addressed by the engineers. The Pfadt ATS features innovations to the exterior styling as well; namely refined body panels and upgraded wheels. "We look at optimizing as whole-car approach, not a slap together backyard job. The goal of our approach is to heighten the driver's experience though our commitment to excellence and personal touch. With our new venture into these power systems we are not just solving problems; we are igniting passion in the ATS owner!". With that I wrapped up my interview and started to digest the information. Can Pfadt become the AMG of General Motors? Will engineering and talent be enough, or will the marketing gods decide the fate of the project? I guess we'll have to wait and see....but after seeing this car in the Texas mile, I can say I hope to whatever gods are listening, that it becomes a reality.