Production Begins for 2013 Cadillac ATS

DETROIT – The first 2013 Cadillac ATS compact luxury sport sedan intended for public sale was built today at the Lansing Grand River assembly plant in Michigan, culminating a massive design and development project.

Arriving in U.S. dealerships in August, ATS is Cadillac’s all-new entry into the most significant global luxury segment, featuring a new rear wheel drive-based architecture targeting nimble, quick and fun driving performance.

Cadillac’s Lansing Grand River plant, also the production site for the CTS Sedan, Wagon and Coupe and V-Series performance models of each, underwent a $190 million upgrade for ATS production. A second shift was added, creating or retaining 600 jobs.

In total, the award-winning plant that opened in 2001 now has 1,643 salaried and hourly employees.  

“The new Cadillac ATS represents an investment in Lansing and our workforce,” said Tony Francavilla, Lansing regional plant manager. “A successful launch needs a great process and a great product, but at the heart of it all are the people, and the care they put into each and every vehicle.”

The ATS expands Cadillac into the highest volume category in the luxury automotive industry. Following the initial start of production in Lansing, distribution to U.S. dealerships will begin in August. Exports to international markets will begin later this year.

“This is a car with a big mission, and it’s been comprehensively prepared for that mission,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac Marketing. “The new-from-the-ground-up ATS creates a new entryway into the Cadillac brand for luxury car drivers, and a compelling new challenger to the status quo among the top luxury sport sedans.”

The all-new ATS was custom-built using a new lightweight vehicle architecture featuring advanced materials and techniques to ensure precise driving dynamics.  ATS includes a host of exclusive advanced-tech features, including Magnetic Ride Control, the Safety Alert Seat, and CUE, a new in-car user experience for connectivity and control using industry-first capacitive touch and natural voice recognition systems.

The ATS hits the airwaves during the television broadcast of the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Olympics on Friday.

Courtesy of media.gm.com

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Courtesy of rd.com

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Cadillac ATS vs The World | Monaco | The Challenge

Cadillac ATS a choice contender in small luxury car market

Atlanta — Cadillac's new compact 2013 ATS does more than fill out the American luxury car maker's long stagnant vehicle lineup.

The all-new car could make Cadillac a player in the important small luxury segment dominated by the BMW 3 Series.

"This is the first time any American luxury carmaker has built a vehicle on par with the best of what the Germans have to offer in this segment," said Alec Gutierrez, senior auto analyst at Kelley Blue Book. "Nothing has ever before come even close in amenities, styling or performance. I think they are going to sell a ton of these."

The nimble and opulently appointed ATS was introduced to the motoring press last week on a drive through the Appalachian foothills and on a roadracing circuit north of the city. ATS was comfortable and capable on both the road and track.

Looking like a 3/4-sized Cadillac CTS sedan, ATS is almost identical in size to the BMW 3 Series sedans. It is, like the BMW, almost evenly weighted from front to rear. But the Cadillac is slightly lighter and it comes with more luxurious appointments and more modern technology.

ATS offers a variety of engines, including a 202-horsepower four-cylinder, a 272-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder and a 321-horsepower V-6 cylinder, that match or exceed the competition on horsepower but lag behind the Germans in low end torque. Pricing also is competitive, starting at $33,990. A well-equipped premium version will cost about $51,000.

Cadillac has never cracked the introductory luxury car market before because, frankly, it has never built a compact car worthy of consideration. ATS won't even be offered in Europe until after its reception is measured in the U.S. and China.

"I happen to think this car is superior in many ways to the BMW 3 Series, but we at least want to be part of that conversation," said Don Butler, a vice president at Cadillac.

The hard part for Cadillac will be convincing well-heeled young motoring enthusiasts to give ATS a chance. Those who actually try one will see the appeal to enthusiasts, but ATS must start as the unknown in a category loaded with respected automobiles.

"The toughest thing to overcome is another car's great reputation," Gutierrez said. "Cadillac will have to battle the perception gap on whether this is a product that will deliver. Convince people to get behind the wheel and they will immediately know this is a legitimate contender. I can see it stealing sales from the 3 Series and Audi A4."

In three months, Cadillac has added new cars to the large and small ends of its vehicle lineup that survived for more than a year offering only a mid-sized car, a crossover and a big SUV. Cadillac's new full-sized XTS is arriving in showrooms now. ATS will arrive at the end of the summer.

Courtesy of The Detroit News

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