Even though we know a two-door version of Cadillac’s sports salon, the ATS, was coming, its debut at the Detroit Motor Show was still a bit of surprise. The new ATS Coupe is a handsome car, armed to the teeth to take on BMW’s new 4 Series and other European sports coupe. It comes with two engines and the choice of rear- or all-wheel-drive.
The engines available for the 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe include the 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder or a 3.6L six-cylinder. The former has the BMW 428i in its sights, producing 272 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, and accelerating from 0 to 60 in 5.6 seconds, while the latter is more of a bruiser with 321 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque.
The 2.0 liter ATS Coupe can be specified with six-speed manual or automatic gearbox in rear-wheel-drive format, but all-wheel-drive versions only come with the automatic. The V6 model too is only available with the automatic transmission, but you can’t have all-wheel-drive. It is strictly RWD.
The 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe has impressive sporting credentials, including nearly perfect 50/50 weight balance and low center of gravity, five-link independent rear suspension and multi-link double-pivot MacPherson-strut front suspension, aerodynamic underbody, Brembo brakes, 18-inch wheels, and a belt-driven electric variable-effort steering gear from ZF.
What’s more, you can order a driver-adjustable FE3 sport suspension package with Magnetic Ride Control, a mechanical limited-slip differential, high-capacity engine cooling system and 18-inch summer-performance tires. While they make the ATS a serious performer against the fine German coupes in this segment, we’re not sure they are going to give the 4er a good run for its money.
In making the 2015 ATS Coupe a sporty coupe, Cadillac has not forgot about the luxury side of the car. It comes pretty much fully-loaded in its standard trim, and there is a long list of advanced convenience and safety features you can choose from, including OnStar 4G LTE connectivity with built-in WiFi and the latest CUE system.
