It’s rare that I absolutely gush over an automobile. After all, as an automotive journalist I drive about 80 new vehicles every year. And yes, we’re talking Porsches, BMWs and Benzes, Bentleys and Bugattis. So when the press folks at Cadillac offered up the all-new 2015 ATS Coupe, my interest was piqued because I like the direction Caddy is moving in, but I was not ready for the superb effort that is the ATS Coupe.
The ATS is the baby of the Caddy lineup, with Big Daddy Escalade at the top of the heap, and XTS, ELR, SRX and CTS in the middle. The ATS can be considered in many ways a baby CTS, which in itself is a compliment. So imagine my angst when Cadillac announced that the scorching hot CTS Coupe, with its performance “V” variants would be eliminated from the lineup, replaced initially by the smaller ATS Coupe, with performance models to follow at some point in the future.
I immediately thought “Caddy is punking out. They want a cheaper coupe, and will somehow sacrifice performance.” I thought back to other performance/luxury oriented cars that Cadillac and parent company General Motors produced, got them just right, and pulled the plug. The GTO, XLR, Allante, Grand National and Firebird came to mind. But alas, this is no trickery by Caddy or the big General. I recently drove the all new Chevy Corvette, which I dubbed “the best American car I’ve ever driven.” That still holds true, but the ATS Coupe is certainly a strong number two.
In Cadillac media releases, they refer to the new ATS Coupe as “Low, Long and Wide.” It’s the perfect description. Recently at the swanky Graham Hotel in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C., Cadillac assembled a mini-fleet of 10 ATS Coupes for journalists to road test. It’s when you are behind the wheel and see other examples of what you’re driving that you can either appreciate or denigrate the manufacturer’s efforts.
To see the ATS Coupes pass by repeatedly showed off the seriously sexy lines of this two-door masterpiece. Though a couple of inches shorter than the CTS Coupe, it looks the same size because of the low slung styling it incorporates. The Coupe’s aggressive stance features wider front/rear tracks and a lower roofline than the ATS sedan. At 60.3 inches front and 61.7 inches rear, the two-door has a 0.8-inch wider track. Overall vehicle height is 1.1 inches lower than the sedan. The lower roof contributes to a lower center of gravity height, which also reduces roll and improves steering response.
The 2015 ATS Coupe is also 0.8 inches longer than the sedan; although it rides on an identical wheelbase. The extra overall length helps to further enhance the ATS Coupe’s dynamic appearance, resulting in a swept-back look from front to rear. Dual exhausts exit the rear, enhancing the performance look.
At rest stops, where the buying public could weigh in on the new coupe, men and women were equally enthusiastic, and impressed with the car inside and out. No guy wants a “chick car,” and few women want a car that’s so macho it’s a bear to drive. The ATS Coupe is about style and performance, executing both well.
Settle into the cockpit with body hugging seats, and grip the thick-rimmed steering wheel. Peer out of the windshield and view information projected there by the optional Head Up Display. Look out over the hood with its subtle power dome, knowing underneath you’ll find either a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged engine, or the optional 3.6-liter, naturally aspirated V6. Both are a blast to drive. You can get rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive with either engine. Shifting chores are handled by a 6-speed manual transmission (only available with the turbo four), or a super crisp 6-speed automatic with magnesium paddle shifters mounted to the steering wheel.
As you cruise down the road, know that the ATS Coupe’s 50/50 weight balance will enhance your driving pleasure. 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.
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When it’s time to stop, optional Brembo performance brakes haul you down from high speeds in a hurry. And if you don’t want to flex your performance muscles and just chill, the ATS Coupe is very compliant. Inside, the driver-focused cabin features handcrafted cut-and-sewn upholstered interior combinations, decorative stitching and, depending on trim level, leather, aluminum, carbon fiber and wood.
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All of the latest safety and tech wizardry is incorporated, including 4G LTE connectivity that works through Caddy’s “CUE” telematics and turns your ATS into a rolling Wi-Fi hotspot that connects up to seven devices.
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Bold lighting elements are an expected Cadillac feature and the ATS Coupe includes front vertical LED light signatures that make quite a visual statement.
Prices for the 2015 ATS Coupe begin at $38,990. This is a very impressive automobile. Well done Cadillac.
While I realize the technical advancements auto makers have made in turbo four cylinder engines it still looks stupid when I see a 2.0L emblem on the back of a Caddy or Lincoln no matter how good the newer engines may be. IMO a good V-6 should probably be the entry point but with the outrageous 54.5 mpg CAFE decree from DC politicians without a technical clue in the world, society will pay dearly. These smaller engines will have much higher wear rates than larger engines that can deal with the heavier loads with less strain. And as these smaller engines wear out prematurely their emissions will increase drastically. See the Ford turbo 2.3L and Chrysler turbo 2.2L engines of the past for mosquito control applications…