The 2012 Detroit Auto Show saw the introduction of the 2013 Cadillac ATS sedan, the American luxury brand’s latest rival to popular German models like the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4. We’ve been down this road before, with previous compact Caddy sedans proving woefully uncompetitive (think Cimarron) or bland and forgettable (the Catera). Based on its handsome exterior and impressive spec sheet, the ATS appears to be a quantum leap forward from past efforts, as Cadillac finally takes a serious fight to the compact sedan competition.
To flesh out the ATS lineup, Cadillac will soon introduce a coupe model, with sales expected to begin sometime in early 2014. These artist illustrations provide a sneak peek at the upcoming ATS Coupe, which employs the same rear-wheel-drive Alpha platform as the sedan. From these images, the transformation from four to two doors has been done extremely well. The sweptback headlamps, prominent grille, and side character line – running along the sides and through the door handles – look especially handsome on the ATS Coupe.
Expect the same range of engines offered in the ATS sedan to migrate to the coupe. These include the 200-bhp base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, a 270-bhp 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, and 318-bhp direct-injected 3.6-liter V-6. While the V-6 is expected to be the performance model, Cadillac reps have hinted the turbo 4-cylinder could offer the ideal blend of power and handling balance, thanks to the engine’s lighter weight. Fuel economy should also be better – in the Buick Regal GS sedan, this same engine returns 20/32 mpg city/highway.
All-wheel drive will be optional with the turbo 4-cylinder or V-6; the base model is rear drive only. A choice of 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission can be had with the top two versions as well, while the base ATS Coupe (like the sedan) comes only with an automatic. Adding all-wheel drive to the turbocharged engine also means having to opt for the auto gearbox. Confused yet?
According to our sources, Cadillac considered adding a station wagon and convertible to the ATS range. However, for the time being, those plans appear to have been put on ice. Luckily, the ATS Coupe is still on track, and we expect the production version to appear later this year at the L.A. Auto Show, or early next year in Detroit. An ATS-V Coupe powered by a turbocharged V-6, delivering somewhere in the region of 400 to 450 bhp, is also likely and could be revealed at the same time.
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