Introduced for the 2013 model year, the Cadillac ATS is one of the newest products to come out of Lansing, Michigan. Developed to compete in a market dominated by the BMW 3 Series->ke290, the ATS rides on GM's Alpha platform and is Caddy's smallest four-door sedan->ke142 as of June 2014. Although it spent less than two years in showrooms, the sedan got a mild refresh for the 2015 model year, borrowing the front end, the interior and the suspension that debuted on its Coupe cousin.

Scheduled to break cover later in 2014, the revised 2015 Cadillac ATS sedan has revealed itself earlier than expected during a commercial shoot. The four-door compact has been spotted on the road posing for the camera in its brand-new suit, allowing us to have a closer look at some of the changes Cadillac->ke18 is getting ready to introduce. Not surprising, the exterior updates revolve around the brand-new ATS Coupe and include the company's re-branding campaign by means of a redesigned crest.

Click past the jump to read more about 2015 Cadillac ATS Sedan

2015 Cadillac ATS Sedan

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 Cadillac ATS Sedan
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 202 @ 6300
  • Torque: 191 @ 4400
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The biggest changes are noticeable up front, where the trademark front grille now wears Cadillac->ke18's new, wreathless crest. Down below, the reshaped bumper ditched the three-piece intake configuration for a single air dam that stretches from one side to the other. All told, the front fascia is identical to that of the Coupe, save for the bumper-mounted DRL units, which seemingly aren't available on the sedan

The rear fascia, on the other hand, appears to be unchanged. Both the bumper and the trunk are carried over from the 2014 model, as are the side sills and the mirrors. However, expect new wheel designs and a couple of additional exterior colors to join the options list.

2015 Cadillac ATS Sedan - Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase (in / mm):

109.3 / 2775

Length (in / mm):

182.8 / 4643

Height (in / mm):

55.9 / 1421

Width (in / mm):

71.1 / 1806

Track (in / mm):

front: 59.5 / 1512
rear: 60.9 / 1548


Interior

The exterior is not the only aspect that changes on the 2015 ATS. The sedan is also in to receive a mildly updated interior with new trims along with upgraded safety and convenience features. Nearly everything will be transferred from the 2015 ATS Coupe, so expect to find an 8-inch touchscreen for the CUE infotainment system, OnStar 4G LTE connectivity with built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and many more.

Luxury is not an issue with the 2015 ATS sedan, which is set to receive the same handcrafted, cut-and-sewn upholstery as before. The cabin will come available in various color combinations and will include leather, aluminum, wood, and even carbon-fiber inserts. Just like the ATS Coupe, the sedan benefits from the same Bose premium audio system with Active Noise Cancellation technology as standard equipment.

Engines

Engine-wise, we figure the 2015 ATS gets to keep its current, three-powerplant lineup. Therefore, the base model will go on sale with the naturally aspirated, 2.5-liter, inline-four generating 202 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque. Those figures translate into a 0-to-60 mph sprint of 7.5 seconds and a top speed of around 130 mph.

Those looking for a faster Caddy will be better off selecting the mid-range 2.0L Turbo model. The peppier ATS benefits from a turbocharged, 2.0-liter, four-banger rated at 272 ponies and 260 pound-feet, a 0-to-60 mph sprint of 5.9 seconds, and a top speed of 149 mph.

Providing an even quicker rush is the 3.6-liter V-6 fitted in the range-topping sedan. Rated at 321 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of twist, the V-6 pushes the ATS from naught to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds in rear-wheel-drive guise and in only 5.2 seconds with the optional all-wheel-drive system in place.

The six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions will remain as they are and don't expect any changes in the fuel economy department. For 2015, the sedan will return as much as 33 mpg on the highway.

2015 Cadillac ATS Sedan - Drivetrain/Specifications

2.0L Turbo DI VVT

2.5L I-4 DI VVT

3.6L V-6 DI VVT

Displacement (cu in / cc):

122 / 1998

150 / 2457

217 / 3564

Bore & stroke (in / mm):

3.39 x 3.39 / 86 x 86

3.46 x 3.97 / 88 x 101

3.7 x 3.37 / 94 x 85.6

Block material:

cast aluminum

cast aluminum

cast aluminum

Cylinder head material:

cast aluminum

cast aluminum

cast aluminum

Valvetrain:

DOHC, four-valves per cylinder, continuously variable valve timing

DOHC, four valves per cylinder, continuously variable valve timing

DOHC, four valves per cylinder, continuously variable valve timing

Fuel delivery:

direct high-pressure fuel injection

direct high-pressure fuel injection

direct high-pressure fuel injection

Compression ratio:

9.5:1

11.3:1

11.5:1

Horsepower (hp / kW @ rpm):

272 / 203 @ 5500 (SAE certified)

202 / 151 @ 6300 (SAE certified)

321 / 239 @ 6800 (gas – SAE certified)

Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm):

295 / 400 @ 3000-4600 (SAE certified)

191 / 259 @ 4400 (SAE certified)

275 / 373 @ 4800 (gas – SAE certified)

Recommended fuel:

premium recommended but not required

regular unleaded

regular unleaded or E85

Maximum engine speed (rpm):

7000

7000

7200

EPA-estimated fuel economy (city / hwy):

21 / 31 (auto – RWD)
19 / 30 (man – RWD)
20 / 30 (auto – AWD)

22 / 33

19 / 28 (RWD)
18 / 26 (AWD)


Suspension

New to the 2015 ATS sedan is a driver-adjustable FE3 sports suspension with Magnetic Ride Control and a limited-slip differential. The bundle is available as an option and promises to improve ride and handling.

Prices

There's no pricing information as of 06/30/2014, but the 2015 ATS should only see a mild sticker hike. We expect the sedan to retail from around $35,000 in its entry-level guise and fetch at least $45,000 with a V-6 engine under the hood.

Competition

BMW 3 Series

The brand-new 3 Series is the ATS' most feared rival. A benchmark for the sports sedan market, the Bimmer stormed the U.S. market in four guises. Both the 320i and the 328i carry 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engines under the hood and deliver 180 horsepower and 240 ponies, respectively. The most powerful of them all is the 335i, which draws its 300 horses from a 3.0-liter, inline-six unit. BMW->ke178 also offers a diesel-powered 3 Series that comes with 180 turbocharged ponies, but Cadillac has yet to develop an oil burner and that's not likely to change anytime soon.

All vehicles can now be equipped with all-wheel-drive and return as much as 36 mpg on the highway when using gasoline. The 328d tops the fuel economy ratings at 45 mpg highway. Pricing for the 3 Series starts at $32,750 and goes beyond $43,400 for a six-banger.

Audi A4

If you're looking at the Audi A4 as an alternative for the Cadillac ATS, then you have to settle for only the 2.0-liter TFSI engine the Germans are offering in the United States. The unit churns out 220 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and enables the sedan to accelerate from naught to 60 mph 6.2 seconds when equipped with quattro and a Tiptronic transmission. The manual model is slower at 6.4 seconds, while the Multitronic version won't be quicker than 6.6 seconds. Top speed on all models is limited at 130 mph. As far as fuel efficiency goes, 32 mpg on the highway is the most the A4 will return.

If 220 ponies aren't good enough for you, there's always the S4, which delivers 333 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque from a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine. Suited to compete against the V-6 ATS, the S4 charges from 0 to 60 mph and 4.9 seconds and hits a top speed of 155 mph. Pricing-wise, the A4 retails from $33,800, while the S4 fetches $48,100 before options.

Conclusion

It's true, Cadillac did very little to improve the ATS visually, but the sedan's current, well-proportioned exterior can hold its own for a few more years. The new driver-adjustable sports suspension is definitely the most important add-on for the 2015 model year, as it pushes the ATS closer to its BMW- and Audi-badged rivals. All we need now is an ATS-V to go against the M3.