William Maley

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 7, 2012 With summer just around the corner, Cadillac decided to announce pricing for the new ATS sedan today. Pricing begins at $33,990 (Includes Destination) for the base 2.5L four-cylinder producing 200 HP and 188 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a six-speed automatic, Cadillac says highway fuel economy will be "well over 30 mpg". Want a bit more power? Well, the 2.0L turbo-four producing 270 HP and 260 lb-ft rings in at $35,795. Buyers will have the choice of either a six-speed manual or automatic, as well as rear or all-wheel drive. The top dog of the ATS lineup, the 3.6L DI V6 producing about 320 HP comes in at $42,090. The 3.6L comes with automatic transmission, available AWD, Cadillac's CUE infotainment system, leather 8-way power seats with memory, adaptive start, and more. Press Release is on Page 2 2013 Cadillac ATS Priced from $33,990 New luxury sport sedan launches this summer DETROIT – The all-new, rear-wheel-drive Cadillac ATS compact luxury sport sedan with a fuel-efficient 2.5L engine and next-generation six-speed transmission will be priced starting at $33,990, including destination charges. Highway fuel economy will be well over 30 mpg. "The ATS enters a vehicle segment this year that's one of the most competitive in the market, from both a price and performance standpoint," said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac Marketing. "ATS will bring a distinctive presence and compelling value while offering quick, nimble, fun-to-drive dynamics that will appeal to the lifestyles of modern luxury buyers and challenge the segment's status quo." A mid-level model with a lightweight and powerful 2.0L turbocharged engine costs $35,795 including destination and will offer automatic and manual transmissions, and rear- or all-wheel drive. Topping the engine range is a 3.6L V-6 with a preliminary rating of 320 horsepower, costing $42,090 including destination with an automatic transmission and standard content that includes CUE, leather 8-way power seats with memory, adaptive start and more. All-wheel drive will be available. A full breakdown of availability and pricing of packages and options will be available later. ATS goes on sale this summer, but already the new sport sedan is positively impacting Lansing, Mich., where more than 440 new employees have been hired at Cadillac's Lansing Grand River plant where the ATS will be assembled. A total of 600 new employees are expected to be part of Cadillac's $190 million investment in the facility. A dedicated engineering team has traveled the globe refining and advancing the ATS to meet customer demands. The addition of advanced materials has reduced curb weight to less than 3,400 pounds, more than 100 pounds less than an Audi A4 or Mercedes-Benz C250. Time spent at premier race tracks around the globe, including Road America, Road Atlanta, Phoenix International Raceway and the Nürburgring in Germany has enhanced the ATS' sporty ride and handling and engine tuning. The 3.6L model is expected to have a 0-60 mph acceleration time of well below six seconds. Cadillac's new CUE user interface, standard on most ATS models, offers the first automotive use of capacitive touch to create an intuitive, modern way for drivers to interact with the car. This technology, used for most smartphones and tablet computers, uses electrodes to sense the conductive properties of objects, such as a finger. View full article

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 7, 2012 From the Twilight Zone files: Reuters reports that BMW is in talks with Hyundai about jointly developing engines. "The talks are at early stages," a source told Reuters. Another source said the two companies had discussed a comprehensive alliance, which included developing an engine and sharing development costs equally. German industry publication Automobil Produktion reported on Thursday that Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Mong-koo's son and heir apparent, Chung Eui-sun met with BMW officials to talk about this. BMW currently has partnerships with Peugeot, Toyota, and GM. "Further co-operation partners are currently not foreseen," BMW chief executive Norbert Reithofer said to reporters. Source: Reuters View full article