Cadillac may have taken the wraps off the ATS-V sport sedan and coupe several weeks ago, but the significance of the car has not diminished. Gleaming under the lights at Cobo Hall during the North American International Auto Show, Cadillac is giving potential buyers and up close look at the brands most agile performance model. The ATS-V is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 that produces V8-like power output. Horsepower is rated at 455 and torque at 445 ft.-lbs. A six speed manual appeases the traditional enthusiast crowd while an eight speed paddle shift automatic caters to those who don’t mind a little bit of technology assisting in their sprint to 60. Cornering is enhanced by magnetic ride control while braking is accomplished with 14.5″ diameter front rotors with staggered six-piston calipers. That speed is accomplished in a mere 3.9 seconds and terminal velocity is achieved at 185 mph. It will be easy to distinguish an ATS-V from its standard coupe and sedan brethren by means of a mesh grille, vented hood, and deck lid spoiler. The ATS-V should eliminate any doubt that Cadillac is capable of playing in the premium sport sedan league.
The unveiling of the 2015 Cadillac ATS coupe at the NAIAS is a significant car in more ways than one. First, it is a sign that Cadillac is serious about going head-to-head with the European premium brands by offering multiple body styles off with its lowest cost offering. Second, it shows that Cadillac is committed to the flair that a coupe body style offers to the buyer that is clearly buying more car than needed. For a short while it appeared Cadillac had given up on the coupe bodystyle having offered four coupes in 1992 to only one by 1994 only to surprise the world with its dramatic CTS coupe in 2010. Indeed, if we trace back the heritage bestowed upon the ATS coupe we see that this latest Cadillac has much to live up to. Read more…
The Cadillac ATS coupe may not seem like big news in the design world. After all, we have had a full model year to admire the ATS sedan on the roads. After witnessing the dramatic styling of the original CTS coupe with that car’s sedan counterpart, one could be forgiven into thinking that the new ATS coupe is nothing but the ATS sedan with few doors. To draw such a conclusion, however, would be to overlook the incredible attention to detail the Cadillac designers exhibited in creating the latest two-door Cadillac. The end result is a coupe that is readily recognizable as an ATS, and yet is simultaneously more expressive in design and more emotional to view. Certainly this is the type of design that once made coupes unquestionably more desirable than the sedans on which they were based. To help understand just why the ATS coupe is such an attractive design we can compare and contrast with the already handsome ATS sedan. Read more…
Cadillac is looking to expand its critically acclaimed ATS line by adding this handsome coupe to showrooms this fall. While not as dramatic as the CTS Coupe, the smaller ATS is striking from every angle with an especially long greenhouse and an athletic stance. One thing you’ll notice when giving the car a once over is the updated Cadillac crest front and rear, which drops the wreath and has been widened to convey a more modern look and brand. Both the 2.0-liter turbo four and the 3.6-liter V6 are available but the smaller engine may be our pick since it now produces 295 hp and can be ordered with a manual.
Kicking off the festivities at Cobo Hall for the North American International Auto show was the announcement of the North American Car and Truck / SUV of the Year winners. The Cadillac ATS was named North American Car of the Year, edging out the Ford Fusion and Honda Accord midsize sedans. This was Cadillac’s first time receiving the award and was no surprise since the automotive press has been giving the luxury brand’s compact rear-wheel-drive sport sedan high praise. North American Car of the Year awards are determined by a panel of 49 journalists from the United States and Canada. The jurors are given 25 points to distribute among the cars. The ATS led with 207 points, followed by 159 points for the Honda Accord, and 124 points for the Ford Fusion. Cadillac executive cheif engineer, Dave Leone, was on hand to accept the award on behalf of the Cadillac team. Read more…
Cadillac might have sold the CTS as its 3-Series competitor when it debuted a decade ago but the truth is the CTS has always been a bit too big and heavy to match the stalwart 3-Series punch-for-punch. In an effort to make the fight more interesting Cadillac introduced the ATS that measures within an inch of the Bavarian in every important dimension. The result is a tidy sport sedan with short overhangs and a lot of design details borrowed from the full-size XTS. Read more…
