Cadillac ATS: Cadillac builds BMW 3 Series opponents

C adillac is exhibiting at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS) presented the new ATS. The manufacturer is making a fresh start in the middle class and is showing an alternative to vehicles such as the BMW 3 series or the Mercedes C class. The sedan will hit the US market in the second half of 2012 at prices that have not yet been mentioned and is expected to be available in Europe a few months later. The ATS is celebrating its European premiere at the Paris Motor Show.

Cadillac ATS attracts with luxury equipment and assistance systems

Like all current Cadillac, it is angular and straightforward, and the four-door model measures 4 in length , 64 meters, 1.80 meters wide and 1.42 meters high and offers space for up to five people. Cadillac specifies the wheelbase as 2.775 meters. The interior of the Cadillac ATS, which is celebrating its world premiere at the Detroit Motor Show, is lined with lots of paint, leather and fine wood and, according to Cadillac, has more assistance systems on board than many other cars in its class. These include adaptive cruise control, an intelligent brake assistant with collision warning system, adaptive headlights and helpers for lane guidance and lane changes.

The Cadillac ATS, which is available with rear wheel and optionally with all-wheel drive, is offered with three engines 3.6 liter V6 petrol engine with 322 hp and 362 Nm will be the most important variant. For export there is a 2.5 liter four-cylinder vacuum cleaner that develops 202 hp and 255 Nm of torque. Especially for Europe, the Americans have added a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo with 273 hp and 353 Nm of torque to their range. There is still no talk of a diesel. All engines are coupled with a manual six-speed gearbox or optionally with a six-speed automatic.

With the chassis, which is tuned on the Nürburgring, the Cadillac ATS, which weighs only around 1,500 kilograms, has a five-link rear axle, electronically controlled dampers, and disc brakes all around , ABS, traction control and ESP.

Customers can choose the Cadillac ATS as a standard model as well as in a luxury, performance or premium version. The premium equipment includes the Bose surround sound system and navigation system as standard, while both are optionally available for Luxury and Performance. The prices for the Cadillac ATS start at 37,500 euros.