The small Cadillac will begin production next summer at Lansing Grand River, the same Michigan assembly plant that builds the award-winning midsize Cadillac CTS sedan, coupe, and wagon.
"The car we codenamed ATS is being developed to be a driver’s car on an all-new Cadillac-specific RWD-AWD architecture," General Motors North America President Mark Reuse said. The Cadillac ATS Compact Luxury Sedan will be launched in 2012.
Following months of rumors and spy shots, General Motors has released the first teaser image of its upcoming Cadillac ATS sedan.
The ATS’ design is clearly inspired by the CTS sedan, highlighted by crisp lines and bulging wheel arches. XTS-like fog light opens also look to be a part of the ATS’s front-end treatment.
Like the larger CTS, the Cadillac ATS will be available in sedan; coupe and wagon body styles, although the Euro-rival will also be available as a convertible.
The entry-level Cadillac ATS is slated to come equipped with a 270 horsepower version of GM’s turbocharged 2.0L engine, backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission. Thanks to those eight cogs, the 2.0 ATS should return 22/32mpg.
All ATS models will be assembled at the automaker’s Lansing, Michigan, assembly plant.
Cadillac is moving forward with the often-teased ATS, a model slated for a 2012 debut and aimed straight at the Infiniti G37, Mercedes C-Class and other German and Japanese competitors in the entry-premium segment.
"We're finalizing the four-door show car of the ATS first," a well-placed source told Inside Line. The source said Cadillac is currently "not too sure about the compromises of a folding hardtop."
