Cadillac turns up the pressure on zee Germans
Cadillac has seen a resurgence in the luxury market over the past decade mainly due to its CTS luxury sedan (a "tweener" which fits smack dab in between a BMW 3-Series and 5-Series when it comes to size). This time around, Cadillac is aiming straight at its German rivals in the compact luxury sedan market with the ATS.
The ATS clearly has the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes C-Class, and Audi A4 in its crosshairs -- in fact, its exterior and interior dimensions closely mirror those of the new F30 BMW 3-Series. When it comes to styling, there's no mistaking the ATS for anything other than a Cadillac, as it closely resembles a shrunken CTS with fewer hard edges and a smaller grille.
When it comes to the engine lineup, Cadillac is joining most other manufacturers by downsizing across the board. The following gasoline engines are confirmed for the ATS:
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2.5-liter inline-4 (200hp/188 lb-ft)
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2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (270hp/260 lb-ft)
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3.6-liter V6 (318hp/267 lb-ft)
In a rather unexpected move, Cadillac also told reporters yesterday that the ATS would receive a diesel engine within this design cycle. There’s no word on what diesel engine will go into the ATS, but the Cruze-D’s upcoming diesel powerplant is one possible option.
In order to improve fuel efficiency and vehicle dynamics across the board, the ATS will be among the lightest sedans in its class with a curb weight of less than 3,400 pounds. The ATS will also meet the "magic" 50/50 weight balance that is sought by enthusiasts. Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions will be available on the ATS and AWD will be an option.
“There are plenty of powerful sports sedans on the market, but they can feel ponderous and heavy – that’s not the case with the ATS, which feels light on its feet and immediately responsive when you put your foot down,” said Mike Anderson, global chief engineer for the Cadillac four-cylinder engines. “Best of all, it’s efficient, guilt-free driving satisfaction, because the power-dense engines and low vehicle weight combine for good fuel economy.”
Sources: Cadillac, (2), (3), Autoguide
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