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Posted by Stephen Hyden Car

Desktop Drives: America’s Drift Heroes—Best of the Rest

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Over the last four weeks I have done desktop comparisons between America’s rear-drive cars, to see which is the best at drifting around a corner. While I would have loved to talk about every car, because we live in such a great time to be an enthusiast there were simply too many. So this week, detailed in no particular order, are the rest of the ‘drift rockets’ (or drift barges in some cases) produced by American automakers.

Cadillac ATS-V

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The ATS is often overlooked, which I think is a shame. Not only does it share a chassis with the Camaro, but it looks the part and has the engines to back up those looks. Pictured above is the 3.6L V6 Twin Turbo ATS-V.
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Even the normal, more pedestrian versions feature Cadillac’s good looks. Either a coupe or sedan body style is available. That being said, if you have not liked Cadillac’s of recent years, then nothing will have changed.
Model: 2016 Cadillac ATS 2.5L

MSRP: From $37,340

Engine: 2.5 L 4-cylinder

Horsepower: 202 hp

Torque: 191 lb-ft

MPG: 22 city / 32 highway

Curb weight: 3,319 lbs

Dimensions: 183″ L x 71″ W x 56″ H

 Model: 2016 Cadillac ATS 2.0T

MSRP: From $37,500

Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder Turbo

Horsepower: 272 hp

Torque: 295 lb-ft

MPG: Up to 22 city / 31 highway

Curb weight: 3,373 to 3,571 lbs

Dimensions: 183-184″ L x 71-73″ W x 55-56″ H

 Model: 2016 Cadillac ATS 3.6L

MSRP: From $48,110

Engine: 3.6 L V6

Horsepower: 335 hp

Torque: 285 lb-ft

MPG: Up to 20 city / 30 highway

Curb weight: 3,461 to 3,693 lbs

Dimensions: 183-184″ L x 71-73″ W x 55-56″ H

 Model: 2016 Cadillac ATS-V

MSRP: From $60,465

Engine: 3.6 L V6 Twin Turbo

Horsepower: 464 hp

Torque: 445 lb-ft

MPG: Up to 17 city / 23 highway

Curb weight: 3,803 to 3,812 lbs

184-185″ L x 71-73″ W x 55-56″ H

Cadillac CTS

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While we did look at the CTS-V, even the more lay-person models feature RWD and decent powerplants. The car pictured above is a ATS-V all bloated up. The CTS Vsport features the same 3.6L V6 from the ATS-V, with more size and weight.
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Here as well, the base models feature good looks and good chassis’.
Model: 2016 Cadillac CTS 2.0T

MSRP: From $45,560

Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder

Horsepower: 268 hp

Torque: 295 lb-ft

MPG: Up to 21 city / 31 highway

Curb weight: 3,646 to 3,808 lbs

Dimensions: 196″ L x 72″ W x 57″ H

 Model: 2016 Cadillac CTS 3.6

MSRP: From $54,285

Engine: 3.6 L V6

Horsepower: 335 hp

Torque: 285 lb-ft

MPG: Up to 20 city / 30 highway

Curb weight: 3,861 to 4,017 lbs

Dimensions: 196″ L x 72″ W x 57″ H

 Model: 2016 Cadillac CTS Vsport

MSRP: From $59,955

Engine: 3.6 L V6 Twin Turbo

Horsepower: 420 hp

Torque: 430 lb-ft

MPG: 16 city / 24 highway

Curb weight: 3,990 lbs

Dimensions: 196″ L x 72″ W x 57″ H

Chevrolet Camaro

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The logic continues here: if the big engine versions are good, maybe the base ones are as well. With a 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder and a 3.6L V6 engine, the Camaro can be the performance car anyone needs at any budget.
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For those who want to taste and smell the rubber as they drift around corners, the Camaro is offered in a convertible in almost every trim level and special edition.
Model: 2016 Chevrolet Camaro 2.0T

MSRP: $38,295

Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder

Horsepower: 275 hp

Torque: 295 lb-ft

MPG: 22 city / 31 highway

Curb Weight: 3,339 lbs

Dimensions: 188″ L x 75″ W x 53″ H

 Model: 2016 Chevrolet Camaro V6

MSRP: $34,195

Engine: 3.6 L V6

Horsepower: 335 hp

Torque: 284 lb-ft

MPG: 18 city / 27 highway

Curb Weight: 3,339 lbs

Dimensions: 188″ L x 75″ W x 53″ H

Dodge Twins

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The Challenger is available with the big-boy Hellcat and SRT motors, but can still be had with RWD with either a V6 or a slightly smaller, 5.7L V8 in R/T trim.
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What big-brother Challenger does, the Charger can be counted on to not be too far behind. All trims are shared between the two cars.
Model: 2016 Dodge Challenger SXT V6

MSRP: From $26,995

Engine: 3.6 L V6

Horsepower: 305 hp

Torque: 268 lb-ft

MPG: 19 city / 30 highway

Curb weight: 3,834 lbs

Dimensions: 198″ L x 76″ W x 56-58″ H

 Model: 2016 Dodge Challenger R/T

MSRP: From $31,995

Engine: 5.7 L V8

Horsepower: 372 to 375 hp

Torque: 400 to 410 lb-ft

MPG: Up to 16 city / 25 highway

Curb weight: 4,082 lbs

Dimensions: 198″ L x 76″ W x 56-58″ H

Ford Mustang

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Since the beginning of the Mustang, the big V8 GT’s have gotten the press, while the more economy minded trim levels have made the money. This used to mean that grandma’s Mustang came with a inline-6 or other engine producing piddling power, connected to some trash like a 2-speed automatic. The days of econo-Mustangs being awful is over, with a V6 and 2.3L straight-4 powering these ‘lesser models’. With each engine making over 300hp, Ford now makes a Mustang for everybody that they can actually be proud to put the badge on.
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Like the Camaro, Ford is not one to miss a market with the Mustang, offering convertible body styles for most trim levels.
Model: 2017 Ford Mustang EcoBoost

MSRP: From $25,920

Engine: 2.3 L 4-cylinder

Horsepower: 310 hp

Torque: 320 lb-ft

MPG: Up to 22 city / 31 highway

Curb weight: 3,532 lbs

Dimensions: 188″ L x 75″ W x 54″ H

 Model: 2017 Ford Mustang V6

MSRP: From $24,915

Engine: 3.7 L V6

Horsepower: 300 hp

Torque: 280 lb-ft

MPG: Up to 19 city / 28 highway

Curb weight: 3,469 to 3,526 lbs

Dimensions: 188″ L x 75″ W x 54″ H

Ford Focus RS

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When talking about modern American Drift machines it is hard to not mention the Ford Focus RS. Featuring a 2.3L Ecoboost 4cylinder and AWD, it may seem like an odd contender. However, the boys at Ford have tweaked the software and installed a ‘Drift Button’ allowing easy, controlled drifts—on a closed course of course.
Model: 2017 Ford Focus

MSRP: From $36,120

Engine: 2.3 L 4-cylinder

Horsepower: 350 hp

Torque: 350 lb-ft

MPG: 19 city / 25 highway

Curb weight: 3,459 lbs

Dimensions: 172″ L x 72″ W x 58″ H

Ford Raptor F-150

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Including an F-150 might be another odd choice, but the Raptor is a different beast. Featuring special…everything…the Raptor (either generation) is a special gift to us from the gentleman at Ford.
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If kept in RWD, on dirt the Raptor is a drift machine, as evidenced by Ford’s own press photos.
Model: 2013 Ford F-150 Raptor

MSRP: (in 2013) From $44,335

Engine: 6.2 L V8

Horsepower: 411 hp

Torque: 434 lb-ft

MPG: 11 city / 16 highway

Curb weight: 6,004 to 6,113 lbs

Dimensions: 221-250″ L x 79-86″ W x 75-79″ H

 Model: 2017 Ford F-150

MSRP: From $48,325

Engine: 3.5 L V6 Twin Turbo

Horsepower: 450 hp

Torque: 510 lb-ft

MPG: 15 city/ 18 highway

Curb weight: 5600–5800 lbs* Estimate

Dimensions: 232-251″ L x 80″ W x 76-77″ H

Categories

Car, Desktop Drives, Opinion, Photos

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Stephen Hyden View All

I recently recieved a degree in History from the University of Nevada, Reno.

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