Detroit Auto Show: 2015 Cadillac ATS, Now With Two Less Doors!: Comments

[William Maley]

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The past year has seen a number of rumors and spy shots saying that Cadillac was planning an ATS Coupe. Well the rumors and spy shots were correct as Cadillac introduced the 2015 ATS Coupe at the Detroit Auto Show today.

The ATS Coupe is much more conservative in its design than the Cadillac CTS Coupe. The lines are very similar to the ATS sedan. The Coupe does have two differentiating design cues from the sedan. The first is the coupe has a much wider track than the sedan. The second is that the ATS features Cadillac's new crestless emblem.

The ATS Coupe will come with the choice of two different engines. The base will be the 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder with 272 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque (up 14 percent when compared with the 2.0L in the sedan). Optional is the 3.6L V6 with 321 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. Both engines will come with a six-speed automatic as standard, with the turbo getting a six-speed manual as an option. All-wheel drive will be optional as well.

Like the sedan, the ATS coupe will be available with the FE3 suspension package which adds Magnetic Ride Control, a mechanical limited-slip differential, summer tires, and upgraded engine cooling.

The ATS Coupe's interior will be decked out in handcrafted leather, wood, aluminum and carbon-fiber trim. Options will include Cadillac's CUE infotainment system, color heads-up display, OnStar with 4G LTE connectivity and onboard wifi, and a Bose audio system that cancels out background noise and pumps engine noises through the speakers.

The ATS Coupe goes on sale this summer.

Source: Cadillac

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected]or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

Press Release is on Page 2

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Cadillac Introduces 2015 ATS Coupe

- Cadillac's first compact luxury Coupe, infused with ATS sedan's agility

- 2.0L Turbo model is segment's lightest, with increased torque for faster acceleration

- Launching in summer 2014, continuing Cadillac's ongoing expansion

DETROIT – Cadillac today introduced the all-new 2015 ATS Coupe, a quicker and more personal addition to the award-winning ATS product line. 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.

Cadillac's first-ever compact luxury Coupe goes on sale this summer, offering drivers the choice of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and the power from a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder or a 3.6L six-cylinder. In all combinations, ATS Coupe takes advantage of its lightweight and strong structure to deliver exhilarating performance with efficiency, with a segment-leading power-to-weight ratio.

"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 extending our target groups," said Uwe Ellinghaus, chief marketing officer, Global Cadillac. "It is an exclusively distinctive American alternative, unique in its class, yet delivering a sporty and sophisticated driving experience rivaling the world's best."

Like the sedan, the ATS Coupe's driving dynamics are rooted in mass efficiency, which helps make it one of Cadillac's lightest and most agile models ever – and the lightest car in the compact luxury Coupe segment. In fact, the 2.0L Turbo engine is upgraded from the current ATS sport sedan to deliver nearly 14 percent more torque for 2015, taking it to 295 lb-ft (400 Nm). This gives the standard ATS Coupe an advantage in power and weight over similarly equipped Coupes such as the BMW 428i.

Greater torque means greater pulling power, for a greater feeling of responsiveness at low speeds, and helps the ATS Coupe achieve an estimated 0-60 time of 5.6 seconds.

"More power with less weight is always a better combination for performance, and the ATS Coupe offers one of the best power-to-weight ratios in the segment, making it feel lighter, more direct and responsive," said David Leone, Cadillac executive chief engineer. "Engineers vetted the ATS's performance on the track and the Coupe benefits from that exhaustive validation – all matched with Cadillac's trademark refinement."

Elements that contribute to the ATS Coupe's balanced performance and responsive characteristics include:

- 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.

Design details

The 2015 ATS Coupe rides on the same 109.3-inch (2,775 mm) 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. It is also the first production model to wear Cadillac's revised crest.

The Coupe also has an aggressive stance, with wider front/rear tracks than the sedan, enhanced by short overhangs and sheet metal that wrapping tautly around the tires. Standard 18-inch wheels are exclusive to the Coupe.

Bold lighting elements are a Cadillac signature feature and the ATS Coupe advances that tradition with available LED 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 collections above the standard model. Illuminating outside door handles on Performance and Premium collections lend technologically advanced style and function to the distinctive Coupe. All models feature LED technology for the taillamps and rear-center stop lamp.

The ATS Coupe also includes capless fueling.

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, which enhance the emotional connection to the driving experience.

Choices of many interior color themes, each with unique accent trim materials, cover a wide range – from light, open and warm to dark and serious, and bold technical and sporty.

Available interior features include:

- OnStar 4G LTE connectivity with built-in WiFi hotspot

- Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity with natural voice recognition

- Text-to-voice 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. Exclusive to ATS Coupe and differing from other manufacturers' system that pipe recorded engine sounds through the audio system, Cadillac's system enhances only the car's authentic powertrain sounds to enhance the performance experience.

The 12-speaker surround sound upgrade is available on Standard and Luxury, 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 optimize the listening experience

Additionally, a navigation system is also available on Luxury and Performance collections, and it is standard with the Premium Collection.

Enhanced Cadillac CUE leads technologies

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, including a new Text-to-Voice feature for smartphone users with Bluetooth profile (M.A.P.) and Siri Eyes Free for iPhone iOS 6 and iOS 7 users enhance connectivity and convenience. Each enables voice-controlled connectivity – and helps keep phones in pockets and hands on the wheel.

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 LCD screen resembles a smartphone's screen, with large, easy-to-target icons to execute commands.

Complementing CUE is OnStar 4G LTE connectivity, featuring a new built-in WiFi 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.

Additional technologies that make life with the ATS Coupe more convenient include the capability of remotely starting the engine or lowering the windows with the key fob or the owner's smartphone. EZ Key passive entry and push-button starting is standard, too, so the key never needs to leave the driver's pocket or purse.

Power-dense powertrains

The engine lineup includes a standard 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder and available 3.6L V-6. The award-winning 2.0L Turbo is rated at 272 horsepower (203 kW) and 295 lb-ft of torque (400 Nm). The award-winning 3.6L V-6 is rated at 321 horsepower (239 kW) and 275 lb-ft of torque (373 Nm).

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 5400 rpm and the full 295 lb-ft of peak torque (400 Nm) from 3000 to 4600 rpm. The broad torque band is supported by boost levels as high as 18 psi (1.26 bar) 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.

Advanced safety features

ATS Coupe provides the same safety technologies that earned the sedan NHTSA 5-Star all-around and overall crash safety ratings – the highest available.

Additionally, Cadillac provides available advanced safety based on Cadillac's "control and alert" strategy, which employs up to two cameras, eight ultrasonic sensors and six radar signals to help prevent crashes. The safety features bolster driver vision and awareness of road hazards, and can even assist to help the driver avert potential crashes. In certain situations, Cadillac's advanced crash-avoidance systems, such as automatic braking, can pre-fill and automatically apply braking in response to potential hazards.

Among the most sophisticated of the features is Fr ont and Rear Automatic Braking . It relies on radar, camera and ultrasonic technology to help the driver prevent front and rear low-speed collisions via a progression of alerts that extend to complete braking, if necessary.

Many of the advanced safety features are bundled in the Driver Awareness and Driver Assist Packages. The Driver Awareness package is available on Luxury and included in Performance and Premium Collections. It includes:

- 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.

The Driver Assist package is available on Performance and Premium collections and includes all of the Driver Awareness package content, plus:

- Full-Speed Range Adaptive Cruise Control

- Automatic Collision Preparation

- Motorized safety belts – new to Cadillac for 2015

- 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.

The advanced technologies complement other ATS safety features, including eight standard air bags, safety belt pretensioners and load limiters, StabiliTrak electronic stability control system with full-function traction control and four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel ABS, patented rotor coating protection and auto-dry functionality.

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[dwightlooi]

That new crest is butt ugly

[ZL-1]

Live shots confirm that front logo is IMHO oddly placed in the grille... Other than that, it's a nice looking car! Meither the blue nor the white one seem to have the LED lighting up front, though... Wonder why they aren't full optioned models as many auto show cars usually are...

Edited January 14, 2014 by ZL-1

[smk4565]

I like the shape and look of it, I am glad they went for clean lines rather than the craziness of the CTS coupe. The new logo is ugly and too wide and I miss the wreath.

[thedriver]

so, how much underneath is the next Camaro?

[Z-06]

No ATS-V unveil?

[yougojay]

so, how much underneath is the next Camaro?

I'm thinking the same thing

This is NICE! (and there sure is enough goodies jammed into this car....)

I just love the look of a Coupe, this is so sharp.

Crest isn't THAT bad, you can definitely tell it's a Caddy Crest - Can't wait to see one in person.

[Drew Dowdell]

I can't wait to DRIVE one! This car fits me like very well tailored glove! I'm going to have to pull my one very good string at Cadillac to get in on the early drives.

[yougojay]

[G. David Felt]

Have to say that GM hit a home run with this new Coupe. Lovely lines, clean and just an over all job well done.

In regards to the new updated Cadillac emblem.

WELL DONE Caddy!

Being the target market, 46 year old white collar professional, I really love this new 21st century Emblem. I truly believe this will carry them forward for many decades to come. I know the traditionalist here hate that they dropped the wreath but this is a futuristic take on where they need to go as they finally get their family line of auto's sync'd to an outstanding design language with build quality and desire to match. 21st Century and beyond this will help Cadillac attain their long range goals.

[bobo]

The coupe comes off a little bland, but overall, I much prefer this over the outgoing CTS Coupe. I don't care for the new emblem at all, but I'm not too worked up about it.

[Cory Wolfe]

When I first saw the press shots of this car, I was fairly unimpressed overall. After having seen it in person and eyeing it up threw my viewfinder, the coupe looks much better in the flesh. There's subtle changes over the sedan you don't quite notice at first. The stance is lower and wider, there's a bit more rake to every angle in the back, and it just seems to be a restrained, attractive design. The oddest aspect of the car... The crestless wreath. The grill just doesn't stand out as much without it. That is one change that will be difficult to get use to.

[Intrepidation]

About what you'd expect from an ATS with two less doors, but that's no bad thing. The only thing I don't like about it the new, too large, wreathless emblem.

[regfootball]

I think if they would have just converted the crest to a chrome ring in the same shape or something......

[dwightlooi]

The new crest looks neither as pretty nor as "premium" as the old one. Making it "oversized" doesn't help either. The older crest with the round outer wreath fits better on the ATS's Grille or any grille. It also has more fine details which projects a more premium feel.

[Croc]

Looked at photos of this the other day, and it looks like GM f@#ked up again--just like the outgoing CTS coupe, GM apparently thinks back seat passengers don't get an armrest or center console.

Stupid, stupid, stupid...

[Robert Hall]

No biggie... people w/ coupes don't carry back seat passengers very often anyway...the backseat passengers can just ride w/ their arms on their legs, I guess.

[Croc]

No biggie... people w/ coupes don't carry back seat passengers very often anyway...the backseat passengers can just ride w/ their arms on their legs, I guess.

Bull$h!. Maybe that logic flies in a brand like KIA or Hyundai, but this is Cadillac...or at least it's supposed to be.

[Robert Hall]

No biggie... people w/ coupes don't carry back seat passengers very often anyway...the backseat passengers can just ride w/ their arms on their legs, I guess.

Bull$h!. Maybe that logic flies in a brand like KIA or Hyundai, but this is Cadillac...or at least it's supposed to be.

People buy 4 doors if they are interested in the back seat...it's an afterthought in a coupe. Besides, looking at pics of the ATS coupe, C-class coupe, 4 series and CTS coupe, there are armrests in the rear side panels and a center console w/ cup holder area. All pretty much the same layout. So I don't see what you are bitching about.

ATS coupe:

C class coupe:

4 series:

CTS:

Edited January 20, 2014 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[ZL-1]

That 4-Series interior has a fold-down armrest. It wouldn't be a dealbreaker for me personally but if one is picky regarding the little details, it does show an apparent lack of attention to detail...

Edited January 20, 2014 by ZL-1

[Drew Dowdell]

This is a fantastic car... if my rear seat passengers are going to bitch about a lack of an armrest, they can walk.

More importantly, it's a coupe that regular adults can ride in the back seat of.

[G. David Felt]

Do Coupe owners really drive around that many rear seat passengers? I suspect less than 10% of coupe owners have peeps in the back seat that often and if they do, they probably have a 4 door sedan to take everyone. It is so rare to have actual adults in the back seat.

[Robert Hall]

Do Coupe owners really drive around that many rear seat passengers? I suspect less than 10% of coupe owners have peeps in the back seat that often and if they do, they probably have a 4 door sedan to take everyone. It is so rare to have actual adults in the back seat.

It was pretty rare that I carried passengers in the back seat in the 20 years I drove coupes....once in a while I'd go out to lunch at work and drive my Mustang GT or M3 and have people pile in, or in college when I had my Mustang LX....but usually someone had a 4dr car or SUV that we would take. And if I was going to out to dinner w/ a group riding w/ me I'd take my Jeep. And before the Jeep, I had 2dr SUVs which were a pain to get in and out of the backseat..

Edited January 20, 2014 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Drew Dowdell]

I almost never carry people in the back seat of either of my 4-door crossovers and I think maybe twice ever in the back seat of my Toronado.

[Croc]

Honestly, Cadillac is supposed to be the "Standard of the World," so when it falls short, to me it's all the more glaring.

Look, I lusted after the CTS coupe only to find a crappy interior (especially the back seat). The excuse given was that the CTS coupe was a pre-bankruptcy car, so some cost-cutting should be understandable. I called bull$h! then.

Now, we have an ATS coupe, post-bankruptcy, with neither a proper rear console, nor a folding rear armrest.

I'm sorry, but the CTS coupe is not a valid basis of comparison; indeed, Cadillac set to meet/exceed the 3-series with this car, and unfortunately the lack of attention to interior details is a dealbreaker for me.

I wanted to like the ATS sedan, but the lack of a 6-disc CD-changer blew it for me since the only CD player was located in the glovebox as far from the driver as possible; had it been at least a 6-disc changer, I could have forgiven that. Now, the ATS coupe is deficient in the same way the pre-bankruptcy CTS coupe was, and is still deficient when compared to the European competition.

Please, someone in the auto industry correct me if I'm wrong, but adding a rear armrest (at minimum) or a proper rear center console couldn't cost more than $500 per car AT MOST--at the price ranges the ATS competes in, $500 is chump change; yet, a proper rear seat isn't even an option here.

More glaringly, the sedan has a proper-height, fold-down armrest. Why should coupe owners have to pay a premium yet sacrifice in passenger comfort the few times they have passengers? Shouldn't the odd rear seat passenger get the same amenities as in a sedan, especially with the pricing premium?

Unacceptable.

Hey, it's no snot out of my nose...I just really want to get a new car, but until GM can build a suitable upgrade, I'll just stick to my 14-year-old Oldsmobile Aurora that continues, to this day, to get plenty of compliments from my passengers--both front seat and rear seat. While I'd love to part with $50,000 on a new car, I'll just continue onward babying Princess Aurora as long as I can. Saves me money, right? But I'm sitting here, a potential new car sale, who refuses to "upgrade" with a compromise.

Get it together, GM. I want you to succeed, and I want to be a Cadillac owner ASAP...and I want to make an emotional purchase I may or may not actually be able to properly afford...but I refuse to compromise in the process.

[Drew Dowdell]

6-disk changers are going away for everyone. In this case you're trying to hold on to a dying technology. The seats are sublime and the interior materials equal to or better than the Germans. What lack of attention are you seeing here?

[G. David Felt]

So here is a shot of the 2015 BMW M3 back seat. Where are those fold down arm rests that you say all German Brands have?

In regards to 6 disk players, as Drew stated they are a dying technology. I have them, but rarely use them any longer since I like most people have stripped the music onto more efficient digital players.

Trust me, CD players are not going to have the renaissance that record players are having. Most people are more than happy with a single CD player and the head unit having storage so they can strip and move their music to that internal storage or play it via the USB or Bluetooth ports.

As auto's go Internet accessible, then we will see people use the Cloud to access their music, videos and pretty much anything else.

[Robert Hall]

The fold down center armrest in a coupe seems like an anachronism back to the olden days of large '70s 'personal luxury' coupes. The 4 series, ATS, etc are all pretty tiny in the back...pretty much a place for children or child seats. Though the best use of a coupe back seat is folded down to increase cargo space.

Edited January 22, 2014 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Drew Dowdell]

6-Disk changers are the one common part across all brands that have the highest levels of failures. They break often and cause issues for manufacturers reliability ratings. I expect that they will rapidly be dropped from new vehicles. In 5 years, it will be hard to find a CD-Player at all in a newly released car.

[G. David Felt]

Are you sure it will take that long as I went through the GM web sites for the 4 brands and did not see a 6 disk option. Now I did not check every auto / SUV / Truck line but the few I checked on each brand I never once found a 6 disk player. Found DVD and CD player which would imply a single drive option.

I bet in the next 24 months Auto companies drop multi-CD players from the options list.

[Drew Dowdell]

I meant in 5 years nearly ALL CD-players will be gone... even the single disk ones.

[Cory Wolfe]

Honestly, Cadillac is supposed to be the "Standard of the World," so when it falls short, to me it's all the more glaring.

Look, I lusted after the CTS coupe only to find a crappy interior (especially the back seat). The excuse given was that the CTS coupe was a pre-bankruptcy car, so some cost-cutting should be understandable. I called bull$h! then.

Now, we have an ATS coupe, post-bankruptcy, with neither a proper rear console, nor a folding rear armrest.

I'm sorry, but the CTS coupe is not a valid basis of comparison; indeed, Cadillac set to meet/exceed the 3-series with this car, and unfortunately the lack of attention to interior details is a dealbreaker for me.

I wanted to like the ATS sedan, but the lack of a 6-disc CD-changer blew it for me since the only CD player was located in the glovebox as far from the driver as possible; had it been at least a 6-disc changer, I could have forgiven that. Now, the ATS coupe is deficient in the same way the pre-bankruptcy CTS coupe was, and is still deficient when compared to the European competition.

Please, someone in the auto industry correct me if I'm wrong, but adding a rear armrest (at minimum) or a proper rear center console couldn't cost more than $500 per car AT MOST--at the price ranges the ATS competes in, $500 is chump change; yet, a proper rear seat isn't even an option here.

More glaringly, the sedan has a proper-height, fold-down armrest. Why should coupe owners have to pay a premium yet sacrifice in passenger comfort the few times they have passengers? Shouldn't the odd rear seat passenger get the same amenities as in a sedan, especially with the pricing premium?

Unacceptable.

Hey, it's no snot out of my nose...I just really want to get a new car, but until GM can build a suitable upgrade, I'll just stick to my 14-year-old Oldsmobile Aurora that continues, to this day, to get plenty of compliments from my passengers--both front seat and rear seat. While I'd love to part with $50,000 on a new car, I'll just continue onward babying Princess Aurora as long as I can. Saves me money, right? But I'm sitting here, a potential new car sale, who refuses to "upgrade" with a compromise.

Get it together, GM. I want you to succeed, and I want to be a Cadillac owner ASAP...and I want to make an emotional purchase I may or may not actually be able to properly afford...but I refuse to compromise in the process.

It would seem to me that you are simply destined for a BMW 428i... Luxury line, probably in Imperial blue with the Venetian beige leather. You can have the rear seat armrest and centrally located single CD player (6-disc isn't on the option sheet from what I saw) and give your backseat passengers the best experience possible after ducking and contorting their bodies to enter into the cramped backseat. I suppose there's also the Audi A5, the only other entry in this segment to offer a rear seat armrest, but I think you'll find its even more cramped. Atleast neither are FRS/BRZ levels of cramped.

[Croc]

You all are missing my point RE: the 6-disc changer--I honestly couldn't care less about having one as long as I have a functional single-disc player, which the ATS does not have. While you, the driver and owner, are seated in the driver's seat, you cannot safely use the single-disc CD slot because not only is it located inside the glovebox, but it is mounted on the far outboard side of said glovebox. In other words, unless you are Gumby with stretchy arms, you cannot load/eject a CD at all from the driver's seat without seriously compromising your ability to keep your eyes on the road and pilot the ATS safely.

My point was that I could forgive this egregious ergonomic nightmare if the far-right, completely out-of-reach glovebox-mounted CD slot were multidisc because I could learn to deal by simply pre-loading a few discs and safely cycling between them while behind the wheel. As it is, not only is the CD slot completely useless virtually all of the time I would use it (read: all the radio presets are on commercial breaks and/or attempting to subject me to Katy Perry's caterwauling), but I would still be having to pay several hundred dollars to even get it in the first place.

THAT is what I find so objectionable--that I would have to pay for a feature (which I honestly wouldn't mind in and of itself) that is practically, functionally useless because of its poor ergonomic location.

By the way, I'm laughing at the predictions that CD players will be gone entirely in 5 years--casette players were still in cars well past the point of when casette tapes stopped being manufactured, and optical discs are still being manufactured, and most certainly will still be manufactured, 5 years into the future. No CDs pretty much means Apple and its iPod would have a monopoly in the distribution of music, and record labels would never risk something like that as Apple would have carte blanche to charge whatever exhorbitant prices they wanted.

Lastly, regarding the fold-down armrests, I would actually prefer a full-length, full-height console between the rear buckets, but in lieu of that (for ease of ingress and egress on the passenger-side for both rear seat occupants, I assume) a fold-down armrest would be fine, too. Not only would one greatly enhance passenger comfort for the two miserable f@#ks stuck back there, but one with a small storage compartment is always a great place to store things you don't want attracting attention from prying eyes in parking lots. Fold-down armrests also provide opportunities for a pass-thru door, which has a variety of practical uses, too.

[Croc]

Honestly, Cadillac is supposed to be the "Standard of the World," so when it falls short, to me it's all the more glaring.

Look, I lusted after the CTS coupe only to find a crappy interior (especially the back seat). The excuse given was that the CTS coupe was a pre-bankruptcy car, so some cost-cutting should be understandable. I called bull$h! then.

Now, we have an ATS coupe, post-bankruptcy, with neither a proper rear console, nor a folding rear armrest.

I'm sorry, but the CTS coupe is not a valid basis of comparison; indeed, Cadillac set to meet/exceed the 3-series with this car, and unfortunately the lack of attention to interior details is a dealbreaker for me.

I wanted to like the ATS sedan, but the lack of a 6-disc CD-changer blew it for me since the only CD player was located in the glovebox as far from the driver as possible; had it been at least a 6-disc changer, I could have forgiven that. Now, the ATS coupe is deficient in the same way the pre-bankruptcy CTS coupe was, and is still deficient when compared to the European competition.

Please, someone in the auto industry correct me if I'm wrong, but adding a rear armrest (at minimum) or a proper rear center console couldn't cost more than $500 per car AT MOST--at the price ranges the ATS competes in, $500 is chump change; yet, a proper rear seat isn't even an option here.

More glaringly, the sedan has a proper-height, fold-down armrest. Why should coupe owners have to pay a premium yet sacrifice in passenger comfort the few times they have passengers? Shouldn't the odd rear seat passenger get the same amenities as in a sedan, especially with the pricing premium?

Unacceptable.

Hey, it's no snot out of my nose...I just really want to get a new car, but until GM can build a suitable upgrade, I'll just stick to my 14-year-old Oldsmobile Aurora that continues, to this day, to get plenty of compliments from my passengers--both front seat and rear seat. While I'd love to part with $50,000 on a new car, I'll just continue onward babying Princess Aurora as long as I can. Saves me money, right? But I'm sitting here, a potential new car sale, who refuses to "upgrade" with a compromise.

Get it together, GM. I want you to succeed, and I want to be a Cadillac owner ASAP...and I want to make an emotional purchase I may or may not actually be able to properly afford...but I refuse to compromise in the process.

It would seem to me that you are simply destined for a BMW 428i... Luxury line, probably in Imperial blue with the Venetian beige leather. You can have the rear seat armrest and centrally located single CD player (6-disc isn't on the option sheet from what I saw) and give your backseat passengers the best experience possible after ducking and contorting their bodies to enter into the cramped backseat. I suppose there's also the Audi A5, the only other entry in this segment to offer a rear seat armrest, but I think you'll find its even more cramped. Atleast neither are FRS/BRZ levels of cramped.

BMW designs, while much improved over the past decade, still leave me cold. When a Cadillac rolls past, the design grabs you. In Los Angeles, BMWs are dime-a-dozen; they're the Toyotas of the successful professionals.

[Croc]

2015-BMW-M3-back-seats.jpg

So here is a shot of the 2015 BMW M3 back seat. Where are those fold down arm rests that you say all German Brands have?

In regards to 6 disk players, as Drew stated they are a dying technology. I have them, but rarely use them any longer since I like most people have stripped the music onto more efficient digital players.

Trust me, CD players are not going to have the renaissance that record players are having. Most people are more than happy with a single CD player and the head unit having storage so they can strip and move their music to that internal storage or play it via the USB or Bluetooth ports.

As auto's go Internet accessible, then we will see people use the Cloud to access their music, videos and pretty much anything else.

Didn't look at the 3, but the 4 certainly has one:

RE: Cloud storage--great in theory, until you remember that an internet outage, server glitch, or hacker attack can render you without your music. You also give up ownership rights to the Cloud operator, in many cases. No thanks. I buy the music, I want the content, and I want to still have access to the content even in the event of a technological failure. Plus, with all the drama about the NSA having backdoor access to Cloud services, I really don't want the government knowing I actually paid for Heidi Montag's debut album...whoops, cat's out of the bag on that one now!

[ocnblu]

What has been heard cannot be unheard.

[Drew Dowdell]

Why are you laughing at the idea that CD players will be gone (from newly designed cars I said, btw) in 5 years? It is already starting.

[G. David Felt]

2015-BMW-M3-back-seats.jpg

So here is a shot of the 2015 BMW M3 back seat. Where are those fold down arm rests that you say all German Brands have?

In regards to 6 disk players, as Drew stated they are a dying technology. I have them, but rarely use them any longer since I like most people have stripped the music onto more efficient digital players.

Trust me, CD players are not going to have the renaissance that record players are having. Most people are more than happy with a single CD player and the head unit having storage so they can strip and move their music to that internal storage or play it via the USB or Bluetooth ports.

As auto's go Internet accessible, then we will see people use the Cloud to access their music, videos and pretty much anything else.

Didn't look at the 3, but the 4 certainly has one:

RE: Cloud storage--great in theory, until you remember that an internet outage, server glitch, or hacker attack can render you without your music. You also give up ownership rights to the Cloud operator, in many cases. No thanks. I buy the music, I want the content, and I want to still have access to the content even in the event of a technological failure. Plus, with all the drama about the NSA having backdoor access to Cloud services, I really don't want the government knowing I actually paid for Heidi Montag's debut album...whoops, cat's out of the bag on that one now!

Interesting as I did not look at the M4, figured what they did to the M3 4 door would be the same for the 2 door M4 coupe. Interesting that they have different seats with the fold down arm rest.

I still believe that CD players will be gone in 2 years or so, I have not seen a single new car model that has a cassette deck. Those have been gone for a long time as far as I have seen.

The ATS has Multiple USB ports especially in the center arm rest console that allows charging but also ease of plugging in your USB thumb drive and loading music onto the built in 40GB storage of the NAV/Stereo unit. This is far easier and more reliable than a CD player.

Yes it requires you to prep by stripping your music off the CD and onto the thumb drive, but you will get better reliable playback.

I understand the points you are making, but I also feel you are wanting to keep things status quo in a business that is clearly moving forward fast. I do see how a center fold down arm rest with pass through to the trunk would add versatility to the car. Then all I drive due to my Shrek size is full size SUV's. So space is never lacking when it comes to carry something.

[Croc]

2015-BMW-M3-back-seats.jpg

So here is a shot of the 2015 BMW M3 back seat. Where are those fold down arm rests that you say all German Brands have?

In regards to 6 disk players, as Drew stated they are a dying technology. I have them, but rarely use them any longer since I like most people have stripped the music onto more efficient digital players.

Trust me, CD players are not going to have the renaissance that record players are having. Most people are more than happy with a single CD player and the head unit having storage so they can strip and move their music to that internal storage or play it via the USB or Bluetooth ports.

As auto's go Internet accessible, then we will see people use the Cloud to access their music, videos and pretty much anything else.

Didn't look at the 3, but the 4 certainly has one:

RE: Cloud storage--great in theory, until you remember that an internet outage, server glitch, or hacker attack can render you without your music. You also give up ownership rights to the Cloud operator, in many cases. No thanks. I buy the music, I want the content, and I want to still have access to the content even in the event of a technological failure. Plus, with all the drama about the NSA having backdoor access to Cloud services, I really don't want the government knowing I actually paid for Heidi Montag's debut album...whoops, cat's out of the bag on that one now!

Interesting as I did not look at the M4, figured what they did to the M3 4 door would be the same for the 2 door M4 coupe. Interesting that they have different seats with the fold down arm rest.

I still believe that CD players will be gone in 2 years or so, I have not seen a single new car model that has a cassette deck. Those have been gone for a long time as far as I have seen.

The ATS has Multiple USB ports especially in the center arm rest console that allows charging but also ease of plugging in your USB thumb drive and loading music onto the built in 40GB storage of the NAV/Stereo unit. This is far easier and more reliable than a CD player.

Yes it requires you to prep by stripping your music off the CD and onto the thumb drive, but you will get better reliable playback.

I understand the points you are making, but I also feel you are wanting to keep things status quo in a business that is clearly moving forward fast. I do see how a center fold down arm rest with pass through to the trunk would add versatility to the car. Then all I drive due to my Shrek size is full size SUV's. So space is never lacking when it comes to carry something.

I don't know the exact year of discontinuation, but I know Mercedes-Benz still had casette players in their vehicles 10 years ago, and casette sales were virtually nill well before that. I remember this because CD players were still an extra cost option, and I remember thinking, "Who the hell uses casette tapes these days?" Ironic, huh?

I've never had a CD player fail on me, so I'm more likely to argue that the failure of flash memory is far more frequent. CDs can be scratched, yes, but most scratches can easily buff out with a Disc Dr. or something similar.

It's not so much wanting the status quo as it is trying to find something that fits my needs--I don't care that I may have to pay an obscene amount just to get a CD player, but don't make me have to pay for something that's functionally useless. I have several friends who are in the music industry, and while digital sales/music have blown up the last few years, CDs aren't going anywhere. They're portable, they're great to just hand out to people (think: demo CDs for upcoming artists), and everyone has a player. USB sticks are so easy to lose/misplace, and are so tiny that labeling them is a chore.

Being in Los Angeles, parking spaces are really tiny because space is at a premium--maximizing space and utility in as small of a package at possible is extremely desirable. Being able to squeeze into that last little bit of curb space before a driveway or red zone because your neighbor parks like an asshole to try to take up 2 spots on street sweep day is also very desirable.

And for those who are still skeptical of the utility of fold-down armrests with pass-thrus, you must not go out at night with many women because women tend to carry these things called "purses" that contain, like, their whole life, yet are "too bulky" to carry into every restaurant or club while still going with their outfit. A pass-thru is great for a lady to leave her purse in the trunk, hidden from view, without having to go outside the car, pop the trunk, and draw attention to herself doing so...and then retrieve it quickly/safely/easily upon re-entering the vehicle for the ride home.

A hot-looking car designed for attention and sex appeal--like any good coupe--should, IMO, have these important, thoughtful details, at least available as a chargeable option.

Similarly, that's why I still drive my beautiful 2001 Aurora--not only has her design aged extremely well, but that car was designed with a lot of thoughtful touches and attention to detail that are greatly appreciated by my passengers along with myself. Indeed, I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard, "I love riding in your car," "She's THIRTEEN years old?!" or "I can't believe they stopped making these" because then I would have quite the tidy little sum to make it rain lol

Of course, maybe that was the idea, since I'm neither in a huge rush to get a new car nor do I plan to get rid of her in the event I eventually do purchase.

[Drew Dowdell]

The last cars produced with a tape cassette option were the Lexus ES/LS and Toyota Avalon.....

[Robert Hall]

The last cars produced with a tape cassette option were the Lexus ES/LS and Toyota Avalon.....

And before those probably the Ford Panther models in '11...

[TheBigGuy]

The only coupe you can really fit someone comfortable in is the Mercedes Benz CL-Class.

[Drew Dowdell]

in the back or front?