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| 2013 Cadillac ATS Review, Price, Interior, Exterior, Engine |
2013 Cadillac ATS Review, Price, Interior, Exterior, Engine - Development of the new 2013 Cadillac ATS was considered such a priority, it was one of the few programs that was not stopped during GMs bankruptcy. Why?... Because the ATS is GMs entree into the largest luxury vehicle segment in the world, a segment basically created by BMWs 3 Series. This is the car that will make Cadillac a global luxury brand.
The ATS is virtually all-new from the tires up. About the only parts that could be considered carryover are the revised 3.6 liter DI V-6 and the 6L45E six speed automatic transmission. It rolls on GMs new lightweight Alpha architecture the base ATS weighs just over 3300 pounds and the chassis has been tuned to deliver razor-sharp steering, precise handling, and buttoned down ride. The car has been optimized around 17- and 18-inch wheels to keep weight down and improve agility.
The first pre production cars rolled down the line at the Lansing Grand River Assembly plant in Michigan just before Christmas. The ATS will launch as a sedan only, but coupe, convertible and wagon versions will be rolled out over the next two to three years. There will also be V-series versions. No official word on powertrain for the ATS-V, but a twin turbo version of the 3.6 liter V-6 looks likely, partly because of the tight underhood packaging, but also because rivals like BMWs next-gen M3 are moving to smaller forced induction powerplants.
The ATS was presented as a true BMW 3 Series competitor, and was benchmarked against what Cadillac says is the best 3 Series ever, the E46. Thems fightin words, right there. Since then, Cadillacs been running its mouth with Super Bowl commercials, Nurburgring test videos, and more. In the meantime, BMW has returned fire in a very reserved, German way, by introducing the new F30 3 Series, which easily trounced the competition in a recent MT comparison ("The More Things Change...", May 2012).
The singular question, then, is whether Cadillac can back it up. Given Cadillacs boasting and GMs general long standing but finally fading habit of overpromising and under-delivering, I was skeptical. That new 3 Series is damn good, and I should know Im assigned to MTs long term 328i. Has Cadillac really done it?... The answer is yes. The Cadillac ATS is shockingly good. In fact, here are the four things I dont like about the ATS: the instrument cluster is boring and uninspired; the shift paddles on the steering wheel are too far away from your fingertips; the back seat is too cramped, and the 2.5 liter base engine has no business being in a car aimed at dethroning the 3 Series. Thats it. But does that make it better than the 3 Series?...
Without the right running gear, in fine tune, the ATS would fall as flat on its face as the Catera the Caddy that zagged right into automotive historys footnotes, complete with a laugh track. Consider that passage erased. The ATS is brilliantly composed, with electric power steering and a multi link suspension that know each other intimately. Its clear from only a mile or two of driving, that this is the most tossable, responsive Cadillac ever built and thats before you tap the 272 horsepower of the mainstream versions 2.0 liter turbo four, or the throaty 321 hp of the available 3.6 liter V-6. (If youre choosing the base 202 hp 2.5 liter four, youre not even reading this.).
The base ATS, which starts at $33,990 including destination, comes with a 2.5 liter naturally aspirated four cylinder putting out 202 horsepower and 191 pound feet of torque (the 2012 BMW 328i starts at $35,795 with destination, but its turbo 4 puts out 240 hp). Earning 22 city/33 highway/26 mpg EPA combined, this engine is clearly little more than the ATSs mileage and price leader a fact that is obvious the first time you apply real pressure with your right foot. Its quiet and smooth enough, and the six-speed automatic is a worthy companion with its silky operation but, no lie, we checked to see if the parking brake was on a couple of times.
Acceleration testing on a pre production ATS Premium 3.6 at an unfamiliar test venue resulted in 60 mph in 5.7 seconds (5.4 seconds with a 1 foot rollout as at a drag strip) and the quarter-mile in 13.9 seconds at 101.9 mph. For reference, the last BMW 335i we tested, a 2010 sedan with a six-speed manual and a turbocharged inline-6, hit 60 in 5.2 seconds (4.9 with rollout). The 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 posted a 0-60 time of 5.6 seconds (5.4 with rollout). Translation: As nice as Caddys V6 is, its no match in pure numbers or in terms of refinement/usability for BMWs turbo-6. Source: neocarsuv.com, autocarrelease.com.
