William Maley

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] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. Press Release is on Page 2 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. View full article