When the Cadillac CTS->ke1200 dropped onto the market, it was available in a variety of versions, including a sedan, a coupe and a station wagon. Now, the same recipe for success is being applied to the new ATS. Cadillac->ke18 will first put out a sedan and a coupe version, but a station wagon version and a convertible are also said to be in the mix. Why? Well, Americans need cheaper alternatives to German coupes and Cadillac is ready to deliver just about anything we're looking for in order to pick up sales.

They have the platform to build on and will more than likely make sure they get their money's worth on it.

At the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, Cadillac finally revealed the all-new 2015 ATS Coupe, and borrowed a host of features from the sedan version, except for the new body panels, the equally new Cadillac badge and the sedan's two rear doors

The ATS Coupe is also built on the same rear-wheel-drive Alpha platform and is offered with nearly the same engine lineup as the sedan: a turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder with 270 horsepower, and a 3.6-liter, V-6 with 321 horsepower. The engines are combined with either a six-speed manual transmission or an automatic transmission. There will also be an option for an all-wheel-drive system.

BMW->ke178 and Audi->ke14 better start prepping themselves for some competition.

Update 5/15/14: Cadillac has announced a starting price of $38,990, including the $995 delivery fee for the 2015 ATS Coupe.

Updated 07/25/2014: We added a new set of about 50 high res images to our ATS Coupe gallery. Check the new pictures in the 'Photos' tab.

2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 272 @ 5500
  • Torque: 295 @ 3000
  • Transmission: Six-speed manual
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Update History

Updated 11/25/2013: According to a report coming from Edmunds, the ATS Coupe will be officially unveiled at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show and will be put on sale later in the summer of 2014.

Updated 01/10/2014: The new ATS Coupe will be unveiled on Monday at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, and now, spy photographer reports that he saw the model and that it dropped the traditional wreath logo.

Rendering vs Reality

Our rending for the 2014 Cadillac ATS is very similar to what the final product ended up being. That being said, there were still some noticeable differences, the most obvious of which is Caddy's decision to finally slap on its new badge on a new car model.

Notice also the lower front bumper on the actual ATS and you'll see that the Cadillac didn't divvy it up into three sections, opting to make it one long one with the silver grille running the entire length. The new badge aside, the front grille is also different with the actual ATS Coupe lacking the crisscross look of the previous Caddy models.

Exterior

Not surprisingly, the 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe shares the same wheelbase as that of its sedan counterpart. Chalk that up to making the most of what it already has in-house, but we're not complaining. On its own, the ATS Coupe still looks distinctively different from the sedan, thanks to the a wider track on the coupe that allows the front fascia to be designed with an eye towards being sportier looking than what we've been accustomed to with Cadillac.

The overall shape is also more streamlined like a true coupe should be, compared to the more sculpted ATS Sedan. That helps in establishing a difference between the two models. Also, the roof, doors, rear fenders and trunk lid are all unique to the Coupe, allowing the bodywork to have its own unique characteristic that's further highlighted by a more aggressive stance, with wider front/rear tracks to exude a more provocative appearance than its four-door counterpart.

Cadillac's new lighting setup is also prominently featured on the ATS Coupe. The base model doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the higher trim versions, but it still carries projector-beam headlamps. Move on up from the standard model and you'll get high-intensity-discharge headlamps and front vertical LED light signatures, the latter of which coming we first saw in the Converj Concept some years back.

Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase (in / mm)

109.3 / 2,775

Length

183.6 / 4,663

Height

54.8 / 1,392 (roof) / 55.1 / 1,399 (with antenna)

Width

72.5 / 1,841

Track

front: 60.3 / 1,532 / rear 61.7 / 1,568

Curb weight (lb / kg)

3,418 / 1,550

Weight distribution (% front / rear)

51 / 49


Interior

Cadillac didn't release any photos of the ATS' interior, but live footage from Detroit shows what looks like a largely interactive center console that features a 5.7-inch, three-window instrument panel cluster display and an eight-inch LCD multi-touch sensitive screen that houses Caddy's all-world CUE system, which, in turn, can be used for a host of features, including - and this is a big one for all those technologically-advanced, on-the-go mavens out there - OnStar 4G LTE connectivity with built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM Satellite Radio with three-month trial subscription, and Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity with natural voice recognition.

Meanwhile, the whole space of the cabin is well-balanced, leaving enough room for both the driver, the front passenger, and the rear passengers to sit comfortably without worrying about space constraints.

As far as style goes, the interior seats boasts of some luxury amenities, impressive considering that the ATS is being pegged as a compact luxury coupe that will have no shortage of competitors. Handcrafted cut-and-sewn upholstered interior combinations, including leather, aluminum, carbon fiber and wood, combine with decorative stitching and authentic materials not only enhances the emotional connection of a true Cadillac but also provides modern luxury that only a handful of American-born auto brands exude.

Interior Specifications

Legroom (in / mm)

front: 42.3 / 1074 / rear: 33.5 / 850

Headroom

front: 37.6 / 954 / rear: 35.1 / 891

Shoulder room

front: 54.1 / 1375 / rear: 51.1 / 1298

Hip room

front: 54.1 / 1374 / rear 44.5 / 1131


Interior Features

-OnStar 4G LTE connectivity with built-in Wi-Fi hotspot

-Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity with natural voice recognition

-Text-to-voice that converts incoming text messages to speech and reads them over the audio system speakers

-USB, auxiliary and SD memory card ports

-SiriusXM Satellite Radio with three-month trial subscription

-Reconfigurable 5.7-inch, three-window instrument panel cluster display

-Full-color reconfigurable head-up display.

-A Bose ® premium audio system with Active Noise Cancelation technology is standard on all models and includes electronic sound enhancement on models equipped with the available premium surround sound audio system. -

Drivetrain

The 2014 Cadillac ATS Coupe will be powered by two separate powertrains: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 272 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter V-6 that develops 321 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. Performance numbers weren't released, but we assume the former has a 0-to-60 mph time of around six seconds to go with a top speed of 140 mph, whereas the latter is quicker by a few tenths of a second with a top speed of 155 mph. Both engines are connected to a six-speed automatic transmission with an optional six-speed manual. Likewise, rear-wheel drive is also standard with all-wheel drive available as an option.

Engine

2.0L Turbo DI VVT

3.6L V-6 DI VVT

Displacement (cu in / cc)

122 / 1998

217 / 3564

Bore & stroke (in / mm)

3.39 x 3.39 / 86 x 86

3.7 x 3.37 / 94 x 85.6

Block material

cast aluminum

cast aluminum

Cylinder head material

cast aluminum

cast aluminum

Valvetrain

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

Compression ratio

9.5:1

11.5:1

Horsepower (hp / kW @ rpm)

272 / 203 @ 5500 (SAE certified)

321 / 239 @ 6800 (SAE certified)

Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm)

295 / 400 @ 3000-4600 (SAE certified)

275 / 373 @ 4800 (SAE certified)

Recommended fuel

premium recommended but not required

regular unleaded or E85

Maximum engine speed (rpm)

7,000

7,200

Cadillac-estimated fuel economy (city / hwy)

21 / 31

19 / 28


Performance Features

-Nearly perfect 50/50 weight balance and low center of gravity

-Five-link independent rear suspension featuring lightweight, high-strength steel and efficient straight link designs

-A multi-link double-pivot MacPherson-strut front suspension with direct-acting stabilizer bar

-Underbody aerodynamic shields

-Premium, belt-driven electric variable-effort steering gear from ZF Steering Systems

-Brembo front brakes

-Eighteen-inch aluminum wheels

-Available all-wheel drive.

-A driver-adjustable FE3 sport suspension is available and includes Magnetic Ride Control, a mechanical limited-slip differential, high-capacity engine cooling system and 18-inch summer-performance tires. Magnetic Ride Control is a real-time damping system that delivers more precise body motion control. It “reads” the road and can change damping every millisecond.

Chassis & Suspension

The Cadillac ATS Coupe rides on either a MacPherson-type front suspension with dual lower ball joints, twin-tube struts and direct-acting stabilizer bar or a Magnetic Ride Control with monotube inverted struts. Meanwhile, the rear suspension features an independent five-link with twin-tube shock absorbers or a Magnetic Ride Control system with monotube shocks.

Configuration

rear-wheel drive

Differential

open (FE2) / mechanical limited-slip (FE3)

Front suspension

FE2: MacPherson-type with dual lower ball joints, twin-tube struts and direct-acting stabilizer bar / FE3: Magnetic Ride Control with monotube inverted struts

Rear suspension

FE2: independent five-link with twin-tube shock absorbers / FE3: Magnetic Ride Control with monotube shocks

Steering type

ZF rack-mounted electric, power-assisted and variable assist

Steering ratio

FE2: 16.8:1 / FE3: 15.3:1

Steering turns, lock to lock

FE2: 3.16 / FE3: 2.86

Turn circle (ft / m)

FE2 RWD: 36.38 / 11.09 / FE2 AWD: 38.05 / 11.60 / FE3 RWD: 35.99 / 10.97

Chassis control

four-channel StabiliTrak w/ brake assist and traction control


Safety

Like with most of today's newest cars, a whole lot of attention was made into fitting the ATS Coupe with a bevy of safety features. Buyers are becoming increasingly sophisticated with their safety requirements and a car like the ATS Coupe needs to be up in the front and offer safety items that buyers will appreciate.

One such feature, which also appears on the ATS Sedan, is Cadillac’s “control and alert” strategy, a system that includes up to two cameras, eight ultrasonic sensors and six radar signals to help prevent crashes. In certain situations, the company's new advanced crash-avoidance systems, which includes automatic braking, can pre-fill and automatically apply braking in potentially catastrophic situations.

There's also Front and Rear Automatic Braking, which relies on radar, camera and ultrasonic technology to help the driver prevent front and rear low-speed collisions through a progression of alerts that extend to the car completely and independently braking by itself.

Driver Awareness Package

-Safety Alert Seat

-Forward Collision Alert

-Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist – new to Cadillac for 2015

-Intellibeam ® high-beam control

-Front and rear park assist

-Rear-vision camera with dynamic guidelines.

Driver Assist Package

-Full-Speed Range Adaptive Cruise Control

-Automatic Collision Preparation

-Motorized safety belts

-Electronic Park Brake

-Front and Rear Automatic Braking

-Enhanced Side Blind Zone Alert – new to Cadillac for 2015

-Rear Cross-Traffic Alert

-Full-color head-up display.

Pricing

Cadillac will launch the 2015 ATS Coupe in the Summer of 2014 at a starting price of $38,990, including the $995 delivery fee. There is no mention of pricing details for the optional equipment, but those should come later.

Pricing

Model

MSRP (Incl. Delivery

ATS Coupe 2.0 RWD

$38,990

ATS Coupe 2.0 AWD

TBA

ATS Coupe 3.6 RWD

TBA

ATS Coupe 3.6 AWD

TBA


Competition

BMW 4 Series Coupe

The ATS' main competitor is the BMW 3 Series, so, the ATS Coupe will of course aim against models like the BMW 4 Series Coupe. Both the 4 Series Coupe and the ATS Coupe will feature a more sportier look that their sedan brothers, so they are both expected to deliver a better driving experience. Which one will do best we'll just have to wait and see.

The 4 Series Coupe is offered with two versions: 428i and 435i. The 428i will come with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers a total of 240 horsepower, while the 435i gets a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter, in-line-six engine with 300 horsepower.

Prices for the 4 Series Coupe start from $41,425.

Audi A5

Another great car, but a little bit out dated at this point is the Audi A5. It features a great look its true, but lets face: who will share interest in a sports coupe that only comes with one engine option?

The A5 is offered in three different trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. All of them are offered with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that delivers a total of 211 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.

The A5 is priced from $37,850.

Conclusion

It's high time that the America is well represented in a market segment dominated by European brands and most recently, infiltrated by Asian automakers. So the release of the Cadillac ATS Coupe signifies a return to prominence for Team USA, a flag that Cadillac is proud to carry.

There's a lot to like about the ATS Coupe, obviously, and even more when you take into consideration the fact that it's got enough performance credentials to take on some of Europe's biggest models like the Audi A5 and the recently unveiled BMW 4 Series.

Caddy has plans to make the ATS Coupe a worldwide model so that's going to be a good barometer on how it fares relative the competition. Our money is on the model doing quite well in foreign markets given the name attached to the model. And if we're right, you might even see BMW and Audi keep a keen eye on the ATS Coupe from here on out.