By Mauricio Lezcano / carsntravel.com
For 2015 Cadillac introduced the all new ATS Coupe, a quicker and more personal addition to the ATS product line. Designed to be lighter, more agile and more engaging than its competitors, it extends Cadillac’s product driven growth and the brand’s tradition of dynamic luxury Coupes.
The 2015 ATS Coupe rides on the same 109.3-inch wheelbase as the sedan, but features its own bodywork. The roof, doors, rear fenders and trunk lid are unique to the Coupe, along with a specific front fascia and front fenders that accommodate a wider track than the sedan.
Bold lighting elements are a Cadillac signature feature and the ATS Coupe advances that tradition with available light emitting diode headlamps with Adaptive Forward Lighting. Base models feature projector beam headlamps, while high intensity discharge headlamps and front vertical LED light signatures are included on all but the standard model. Illuminating outside door handles on Performance and Premium collections lend technologically advanced style and function to the distinctive Coupe.
Inside, the sedan’s driver-focused cabin carries over to the Coupe, featuring handcrafted cut and sewn upholstered interior combinations, decorative stitching and authentic materials, including leather, aluminum, carbon fiber and wood, intended to enhance the emotional connection to the driving experience.
Choices of many interior color themes, each with unique accent trim materials, ranging from light, open and warm to dark and serious, to bold technical and sporty. 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.
The 12-speaker surround sound upgrade is available on Standard and Luxury models, and it is included with Performance and Premium collections. It includes Bose Audio Pilot, which continuously monitors ambient sounds and adjusts the music volume and program content to make the most of the listening experience. Additionally, a navigation system is available on Luxury and Performance collections, and it is standard with the Premium Collection.
Cadillac CUE is the centerpiece of the ATS Coupe’s comprehensive collection of technologies designed to enhance the driving experience and complement customers’ increasingly connected lifestyles. It is available on base models and standard on Luxury, Performance and Premium collections, with enhanced connectivity and convenience for 2015.
The heart of CUE is the eight inch LCD multi touch sensitive screen, integrated into the top of the central instrument panel and featuring a motorized, fully capacitive faceplate at the bottom concealing a 1.8L storage area. CUE’s vibrant liquid crystal display screen resembles a smartphone screen with large, easy to target icons to execute commands.
Complementing CUE is OnStar 4G LTE connectivity, featuring a new built-in Wi-Fi hotspot that can connect up to seven devices at once. The new 4G LTE connection can also be used to power CUE Collection, a new in car app marketplace coming to Cadillac vehicles this year.
The engine lineup includes a standard 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder and available 3.6L V-6. The 2.0L Turbo is rated at 272 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The 3.6L V-6 is rated at 321 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque.
At 136hp/L, the 2.0L Turbo is one of the most power-dense engines in the industry, topping engines from European competitors. It also delivers 90 percent of its peak torque from 2100 rpm to 3000 rpm and the full 295 lb-ft of peak torque from 3000 to 4600 rpm. The broad torque band is supported by boost levels as high as 18 psi in the speed range, which is designed to give the lightweight ATS Coupe an exhilarating feeling of immediate power on demand.
Both engines feature direct injection and dual overhead camshafts with continuously variable valve timing, which help optimize power and efficiency, as well as reduce emissions. And each is matched with the Hydra-Matic 6L45 six-speed automatic transmission with tap-shift control. A six-speed manual is also available with the 2.0L Turbo.
The 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe is a natural step in the brand’s progression, and another distinctive, fun-to-drive and technologically advanced product for a new generation of drivers. It is an exclusively distinctive American alternative, unique in its class, yet delivering a sporty and sophisticated driving experience rivaling the world’s best.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price starts at $47,095.00, the one I drove included the Morello Red / Jet Black Accents and Red Obsession Tintcoat, and it came in at $50,380.00 including destination charge. The EPA fuel economy estimates 21 MPG City and 30 MPG Highway with the 2.0L Turbo 4-Cylinder Engine.
mlezcano@carsntravel.com
