Cadillac's teaser image of the ATS. Image: © GM Corp.
Cadillac wants to pitch its upcoming ATS series against the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes C-Class. Original plans for the ATS called for a sedan, a coupe, a wagon and a convertible, which would have given Cadillac a counterpoint to every one of BMW’s offerings. It also would have given Cadillac a far broader range than Mercedes-Benz currently offers with the C-Class.
First, the ATS wagon fell victim to cost cutting, since projections didn’t show enough sales to justify design and production costs. Now GM Inside News reports that the ATS convertible has suffered the same fate, also a victim of insufficient demand to warrant production. That leaves a planned ATS sedan (which will appear first) and a planned ATS coupe, although the coupe is probably next on the chopping block.
Plans call for the ATS sedan to hit the market in the summer of 2012, powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder or a 3.6-liter V-6. Rear wheel drive will be standard, but all wheel drive is said to be an available option. If the coupe survives to see production, don’t expect it to hit Cadillac showrooms until 2014 or so.
There are still rumors of a V-Series variant for both the ATS sedan and coupe, but details are sketchy. There’s no word on which engine will power an ATS Type V, and it may be 2015 before we see the V-Series badge on any ATS model.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
