Cadillac has released more photos of the amazing new 2015 ATS Coupe and it is a real looker. The ATS coupe is longer, wider and lower than its conservative 4-door sedan sibling. This new coupe is arriving right on time to do battle for the budgets of customers that might have chosen a BMW, Audi, Mercedes, or Lexus and it offers an outstanding choice to the already splendid market offerings. The Cadillac CTS Coupe is one of the world's best luxury performance coupes. The ELR is the US market's only electric sport coupe. This new ATS Coupe will add a more affordable and more compact car line to help Cadillac build on that legacy.
The new 2015 ATS Coupe, built in Lansing Michigan, will arrive using the same wheelbase, but with a wider track. Coupled to the excellent chassis of the sedan this new body style makes sense. The ATS is tight in back, and is really a 2+2 passenger car at heart. “All of the surface development unique to the ATS Coupe was done with aerodynamics in mind,” said David Masch, ATS chief engineer in a company press release. “We are able to achieve lift and downforce requirements to insure, at top speed, we retain handling without having to add a rear spoiler.” Cadillac Executive Chief Engineer David Leone added “The wider track also helps improve steering precision and direct response. The lower roof contributes to a lower center of gravity height, which also reduces roll and improves steering response.”
Presently the Audi A5, Mercedes C coupe, and coming Lexus RC 350 all are taking aim at the BMW 4-Series. They may succeed in topping that car, but will the ATS Coupe be the surprise winner overall? It has its work cut out for it. The Mercedes is new, the Audi is a modern classic, and Lexus is letting the RC F and RC 350 off the chain, giving its cars more power and a better transmission than any previous Lexus vehicle other than its limited production supercars. The near-luxury, rear drive (or AWD in the case of Audi), compact sport coupe is the new halo car for these manufacturers, and unlike the rare supercars they build to bolster brand loyalty, customers can actually afford these vehicles.
Cadillac is expected to offer the 2015 ATS coupe with its excellent 3.6 liter V6, surprisingly popular 2.0 liter turbo, and with both manual and automatic transmissions. Cadillac may also offer it with a base 4-cylinder, something we think diminishes the brand.
The 2015 Cadillac ATS coupe on sale this summer is exactly what the brand needs to bring in more first-time Cadillac shoppers. The only question that remains is when will Cadillac finally introduce the Cadillac ATS-V Coupe with the twin-turbo V6 we all know is coming?
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