2013 Cadillac ATS unveiled at Detroit | CarAdvice

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2013 Cadillac ATS unveiled at Detroit

By Brett Davis |
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The all-new Cadillac ATS has been unveiled at the 2012 North American International Auto Show. The ATS will take on popular German car in the premium mid-size sedan segment, including the BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, when it goes on sale in the US halfway through this year.

Featuring clean and crisp lines, and a solid front end with large vertical headlights, the ATS fits right into Cadillac’s current line-up and design theme. The ATS also features a number of innovative technologies in its design, including an active shutter grille that closes at highway speeds to improve aerodynamic efficiency.

The ATS will come in three rear-wheel drive variants, including a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder producing 149kW and 255Nm; a 2.0-litre turbo four cylinder producing 201kW and 353Nm; and a flagship 3.6-litre V6 producing 237kW and 362Nm. All variants will come with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

These powertrains will give the ATS solid specifications to compete with the likes of the rear-wheel drive 3-Series and C-Class, and the Audi A4 when fitted with an optional all-wheel drive drivetrain.

The ATS has been a highly anticipated vehicle in recent months, promising to offer refined handling dynamics like the popular German rivals. It features a front-to-rear 51/49 overall weight (1542kg) distribution, and a new five-link independent rear suspension layout.

To keep on top of performance-oriented BMW and Mercedes-Benz mid-size models, the ATS will be available with optional Brembo brakes, a limited-slip differential, and FE3 sports suspension (as seen on the Holden Commodore SS V Redline).

The cabin is kitted out with GM’s CUE infotainment system with an eight-inch touchscreen, coupled with Bluetooth, USB and SD card compatibility. A Bose sound system and satellite navigation are optional.

Unfortunately for local GM fans, the new Cadillac ATS won’t be coming to Australia. It will be a very important model for GM though, and not just in the US; reports say right-hand drive versions are on the cards, and are destined for Europe. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out.


 

  • Martin

    Who wouldn’t honestly say “No, I don’t want the C-Class, I don’t want the A4, I don’t want the 3 series. I want a Cadillac.” Got to be insane to take this over one of those three.

    • lee

      why martin?

    • annomer

      It would need to be priced competitively against the Germans but far from bargain basement and I’d take this in a flash. I can’t wait until we have more ‘high spec’ American cars here such as the Caddy and Lincolns. And I’m currently a Falcon XR6T owner and I love that car, but if this stuff is the future I’m looking forward to it.

  • Anonymous

    Can we resheet it with the TT36s metal?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Declan-Collins/1285962287 Declan Collins

    You’re kidding Martin? Stop drinking the German kool-aid. This car looks superior to the brand new 2013 3 series and actually looks good! Cadillac might not be a desirable brand name here, but in America it has a large following, as it should from its long proud history.

    Cadillac has faltered and slipped in the last 2 decades, but with the CTS and SRX currently and the brand new XTS and ATS coming up, Cadillac is making huge strides to being the ‘Standard of Excellence’ once again.

    All I can say is give mean ATS in sport specification with a 6-speed manual 201kw 2.0t. That’s got to be a sweet ride.

    • Noddy

      Oh dear.

    • Martin

      Looks are subjective, mate, something I didn’t comment on. 
      I’m sure it will be a very fine car, but I personally doubt it will be up to the overall high quality of the three Germans.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Declan-Collins/1285962287 Declan Collins

        Checking out J.D. Powers and the like the American reviews, reliability is better and build quality sounds on par with slightly less premium materials. However the new XTS and ATS supposedly are improved again.

        No doubt all 4 are amazing vehicles, they’d want to be competing in this segment, but I think for the first time in a along time, Cadillac may have the edge.

        I agree brand cachet is below the other 3 due to the recent past, but Cadillac is on the up.

        Powertrain wise, 50/50 with the 3, and edges out the A4 and betters the c-class. Really could benefit from an 8-speed (which apparently they said was coming?) and a diesel (which Mark Reuss said is coming in a year or 2).

        Looks are subjective, so by doing my own mini meta-analysis of a forum and some American journos, ATS seems to be a winner. I’m actually one of the few I’ve seen that like the new 3-series, it has grown a lot on me.

        Can’t wait for the reviews, and Cadillac’s launch down under!

    • LEE

      I agree – i think you can see the influence of Opel design (think Insigna)

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Declan-Collins/1285962287 Declan Collins

    You’re kidding Martin? Stop drinking the German kool-aid. This car looks superior to the brand new 2013 3 series and actually looks good! Cadillac might not be a desirable brand name here, but in America it has a large following, as it should from its long proud history.

    Cadillac has faltered and slipped in the last 2 decades, but with the CTS and SRX currently and the brand new XTS and ATS coming up, Cadillac is making huge strides to being the ‘Standard of Excellence’ once again.

    All I can say is give mean ATS in sport specification with a 6-speed manual 201kw 2.0t. That’s got to be a sweet ride.

  • Anonymous

    This is a great looking car and right-sized. If I was an American, or living in America with the means to buy a car of this type, I’d feel no shame in buying home grown, provided it’s as good as it looks.

  • Granitebill19

    I just bought the CTS coupe…..love it!…traded in a C class….more compliments.than any other car I have owned…Audi,Benz BMW,name it I have owned it…glad to be driving an American car and proud of it…

  • Agan982

    so thats what the new caprice will look like…..

    • Dave S

      There seems to be a lot of the Caprice in the grill. I like it a lot. Best thing RWD

  • bd

    The ATS isn’t groundbreaking in design, but it is a clean design that alleviates the blocky wedge shape front of the CTS sedan.

    Definitely a  better package design-wise than the new 3 Series which BMW turned ugly with that awful headlight shape.

    Don’t care for the design of the new Buick Verano but it has been getting a lot of kudos for the quality of its interior materials so it would be a good bet that the ATS is even better.

    GM has kept the weight down (weighs less than the new 3 Series) and it should be a fun drive.

    Look for the next gen CTS (bigger and more luxurious) to be the real head turner.

  • Mqr

    So why don’t sE have Cadillac in Australia?

    And this car has a very nice clean cut design..

  • Goodfa

    I really hope they make that 2.5 litre engine available in the Cruze.

  • Anonymous

    Um, the Cadillac competitor to the C-Class is the CTS…

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Declan-Collins/1285962287 Declan Collins

      Umm no. The CTS is an inbetweener of the 5 and 3, it was meant to be focused as a 5 alternative for the price of a 3.

      • Anonymous

        The CTS was priced at $30,000 when it first came out.  That put it in direct competition with the C and 3.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Declan-Collins/1285962287 Declan Collins

          Read what I said, a 5 competitor for the price of a 3……

  • Kuldeep_nannra

    Last time i bought a GM product it was in 2001.What a piece of garbage. At 114000km eng tranny and ac let me down.I had to dump it.This car looks impressive what about the eng and tranny and ac. Is it the same junk