Cadillac ATS to join 2013 line-up
Cadillac, the premium luxury brand of General Motors, will enter the compact car segment; with the all-new model “ATS”. Designed to take on premium competition like the Mercedes C-class and BMW 3 series, the ATS is based on the new Alpha platform, which will simultaneously underpin the next generation Chevrolet Camaro.
The rear-wheel drive ATS will have a shorter wheelbase compared to its elder sibling, the CTS, while borrowing a large number of cues from the latter.
Word is the ATS will be available with two direct-injection engines, namely a 330 hp 3.6-litre V6 and a turbo-charged 270 hp 2.0-litre inline-4. Both are attached to a GM Hydramatic 8-speed transmission.
Cadillac will also release a sports variant called ATS-V. This model will feature a 470 hp 6.2 V8 engine, a modified version of the engine used in the present Chevrolet Corvette. The transmission will be a 6-speed GM Hydramatic.
There are plans to release sedan, wagon, coupe and convertible forms. Currently, production of the ATS sedan is slated to start in July of 2012, followed by the coupe in July of 2013. So it should reach Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and other Middle East countries by the end of next year.
Cadillacs aren’t very popular in the GCC, but introducing cheaper and smaller models like the ATS could break old perceptions.
Comments
ROJ
I dont think they can compete with cars like the mercedes c class or equivalent… I mean the car doesnt even have doors, seats or fenders.. Cost cutting is getting too evident..
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
But I think side-airbags will be optional.
marwan
let us give it a chance…i liked the SRX styling the most but what a slow seller i dont know why it is not getting popularity..very high depreciation.
ivan
I don’t really understand why GM really sticks with that big V8 used in Corvette. That V8 is VERY LOW on power considering it’s very big in size.
ROJ
On the contrary, its a small block pushrod V8, one of the last engine of its kind.. As far as i know… If you put it next to a DOHC german V8 it looks quite small for a V8..
RayanK
Didn’t they have the BLS to compete with the C-class, 3 Series and other likes and it failed?
Is it like the second generation of the BLS with a different name?
ROJ
Im not sure they know what they’re doing… Its a huge failure to build a platform and watch its sales flop… I mean they build cars to fill a gap in the market but they barely compete with anything…
Danny
If it’s a MODIFIED corvette Z06 engine…that’s ALL good
shahrooz
Caddy had made his point by making cts … it has beaten both mb e class and bmw 5 series in any matter … so be sure … this ats will be a huge success for them too … usa people never disappoint in the matter of machinery … well .. atleast in the past few years!! 🙂