If you’ve already read our features on what’s to like and what’s to dislike about the 2013 Cadillac ATS, than you’re probably already aware what needs to be fixed. But for further clarification, we will elaborate on three exact features that need to be in the Cadillac ATS for it to be the undisputed lightweight luxury performance champion of the world. They are the following:
Modern Transmissions
As outlined in the our “dislike” feature, the Cadillac ATS does not feature a transmission that is competitive with the best in class, let alone any C-segment luxury car from Germany. The eight-speed automatic transmissions cannot come fast enough. But when they do, expect fortified fuel economy to the not-so-good MPG figures, and hopefully a quicker acceleration time. Throw in a seven-speed manual while you’re at it. As a wild-card, we would like to see a quick-shifting and torque converter-less double-clutch transmission for which GM has filed a patent. And it goes without saying, the ATS should have a stick-shift offered in both the V6 and all-wheel-drive variants. Enthusiasts will notice, and enthusiasts are a powerful demographic.
A Sport Package Of Some Sort
One of the things we noticed when (safely) taking the Cadillac ATS to high speeds was that it loses its sense of stability. At the very least, a spoiler should help with this issue. But while Cadillac is at it, there should be some sort of package that rivals BMW’s “M-Sport”, Audi’s “S-Line”. Think a “V-light” package. Black out the chrome, work in a sportier exhaust, heck, even re-tune the gear ratios. Such elements should go a long way in looking to appeal to demographics that prefer the sportiness of the packages offered from Germany.
Knobs For CUE
The concept of CUE is great. In theory. Replicating the advancement and aesthetic appeal of today’s Apple iPad sounds delightful and intriguing… until operated at 70 miles per hour. And voice commands take too long. But we wanted to note that with everything being the same, flat surface, our brains were thrown out of whack from the loss of the ability to memorize the layout. With a knob or two, our sense of muscle memory will return. Even BMW’s iDrive and Audi’s MMI offer one big, universal knob to turn and press. Cadillac should notice the best qualities of these infotainment systems and find a way to implement a similar setup for CUE. That should fix a thing or two.
While that’s what we would like to see, we’re sure you have ideas of your own. Let us know what you’re thinking in the comments below.
Comments
I haven’t driven the car yet, so will give my opinion from what I see. I like the front end look and side profile, but I don’t like the trunk design and extra tall taillights, it’s not the fact that they are vertical, I would like to see them tucked up a little and form more aggressive shape.
The ATS could use some more sport touches. The red seats are great. But little things like red seatbelts and red brake calipers go a long way. CUE should be simplified as well with a few knobs. Also, some people don’t like all the touch sensitive stuff so I also think there should be a way to option out CUE and get the basic radio if someone really wishes. Not everyone likes all the cutting edge technology. 8 speeds across the board. Maybe a hybrid or a clean diesel. A better stick shift for the turbo 4. A stick for the V6 but only a good one. GM has a habit of offering crappy sticks with a V6 (see the CTS).
I don’t understand why the cue display is in the center stack. Come on GM, you pioneered HUD. That’s where nav display belongs. And why not return the radio controls to the center stack and put cue controls on the steering wheel? Hepatic switches do not belong in a moving vehicle. (IMHO)
Sport package why bother when there is an ATS-V comming soon !
Jonathan ever heard if the M-line, S-line, F sport, R-line? Not everyone wants a 450hp+ rocket.,
I drove the car and really liked it…had the base radio and it was fine…has knobs!!!! I felt the engine note too loud for a Cadillac personally but really, it is a fine car for my needs…will try the Turbo next. I also feel the interior is a bit plain…could use more luxurious seating?
Here’s a question for GM Authority readers and staff. Which improves fuel economy more, an 8 speed or a 6 speed dual clutch?
Ventilated seats. For those of us in Az, it’s really disappointing this is the only Cadillac that doesn’t offer them. I don’t care that the 3 series doesn’t have them — the idea is to meet AND EXCEED the competition.
Like Lex, I am not overly fond of the rear-end styling, but I guess we have to live with it for now. I would like to see an 8 speed auto that shifts as crisply as the current 6 speed. And IMHO, the current exterior paint color choices are underwhelming.
Eric…needs more nice colors…I want base white or nonmetallic dove ray
I agree. The color palette is too conservative, inside and out. Imagine if Cadillac offered the indigo hue that coats the Cadillac Ciel concept. I would also like to see the Cadillac logo go down to perhaps two or three colors. Grey/black, or grey/black/gold would be cool on the ATS. I want to see more colored leather options as well, and maybe some suede inserts. Blue and purple leather would be hot, if done right.
Manoli…..superb. Yes, ATS is A CADILLAC…that means superior quality, style, colors, luxe interiors, etc, etc, etc……I also do NOT understand the lack of standards….Buick is better for that…ODD????
Manny, I always thought that interior should have an option for a suede or luxe cloth and leather mix instead of the pleather….maybe next year we’ll see some nice upgrades
I’d like to see the logo go back to the original with the ducks…
It needs a wagon variant.
A wagon would be great, but I’m not holding my breath. CTS wagon sales have been abysmal (neat experiment: go on autotrader or cars.com and do a search for a premium AWD CTS wagon, new, 2013 — in Arizona, the closest one is in Northern California), and I believe GM has gone on record that the new CTS will not spawn a wagon.
It’s a shame, but not GM’s fault. There’s a Cruze wagon in Europe that’s not available here. Mercedes has an AMAZING looking CLS “Shooting Brake” wagon that will be for Europe only. Americans just don’t buy wagons. BMW doesn’t import its 5 series wagon here, and Audi is no longer going to offer the A3 in wagon/hatchback form with the new model — and they already don’t offer an A4 or A6 wagon in the US, beyond the stripper “allroad” separate model.
Americans actually do buy wagons…a LOT OF THEM. Americans just add the stipulation that the wagon must be elevated a few inches higher off the ground. It’s the result of a public that is lazy, overweight, and aging. It is now a spiraling phenomenon, as with more tall vehicles on the road, people now buy them so they can see over everybody else. There are some that need the off-road capability, but I think the other reasons have driven the wagons out.
It’s unfortunate for all of us that enjoy spirited driving, but who also want a vehicle with some utility. The high vehicles compromise safety and use more fuel, but most people don’t think about that. My biggest gripe is that if you want to use the roof for boats/bikes/cargo you have to buy something that does poorly on gas and requires you to carry a step ladder. It’s ridiculous.
If ATS came as a convertible I would order one today.
I would also order a sedan IF it could be equipped with a power tilt AND telescope wheel.
My wife can’t fit behind the wheel of the sedan and I could not justify another sedan unless she could also drive it. As for a convertible, I can justify that one all on my own.
The first thing it needs is the 8-speed auto, and I mean ASAP. And hopefully GM (along with Ford) really is working feverishly on a 10-speed auto because I have no doubt that the competition is already working on theirs. GM cannot catch up just to fall behind again a year later.
Forget the ridiculous gearbox arms race! When will you people be satisfied? 10 speeds? 15 speeds? 20 speeds? When will the car ever stop shifting and hold a gear?
I agree, the more gears, the more the transmission is likely to search back and forth. I’ve been happy with the smoothness of the 4-speed in our Saturn wagon. But, it does have the drag of a torque converter. I’ll be satisfied when GM comes out with a 6 speed dual clutch. If Ford and Mazda can do this in affordable cars like the Focus and 3 then so can GM, but we’re not even seeing it in GM’s upscale models.
I’m beginning to wonder just how many years GM is really behind on this. Reuss came on here to dispute me on being behind the others. OK, show me that GM is not behind on delivering affordable, efficient transmissions. I’m flexible and would love to become a believer.
gdvalente…yes, a great car with appropriate equipment….no car is perfect but if Cadillac does it right, most will be happy! GM is on the right path…next year will bring more fine-tuning I bet!
ATS needs a plug. Electric Econ mode, and power EV-Assist mode for mountains and
lightning fast stoplight launches that would send a BMW into the dark ages.
Seriously, all the fuss about a knob here, or soft-touch leather there…will fade when and if someone surpasses the small-displacement+turbo old slag, and launches the
new era of electric-enhanced performance.
I think GM has been caught with its pants down both in transmissions and engines. The engines that GM offers are behind the curve by a year or two, compared with the Japanese and Ford. As an example, on the SRX, while the V6 is quite solid, there’s no turbo variant to compete even with the Ford Explorer Sport.
I think this is observable the most with the new Malibu, which is a solid vehicle, but barely competitive — which is showing from a sales perspective.
I agree we are reaching the limit of what makes sense for the number of gears, but the love of a dual-clutch is not necessarily the solution. Veranohatchforus says ford had Mazda have the wonderful answer. But, a friend of mine has a current Focus with the Powershift tranny which Ford has been having a lot of problems with. When the road is slick and the wheels lose grip and start to spin, it seems to confuse the tranny. It revs up high and stays there for several seconds, nothing he can do about it. This would not be so bad, but the acceleration disappears too. All you can do is hope it sorts itself out. The manual portion of a dual-clutch helps it hold gears better, but is not supposed to do this. I really feel a regular auto would not do this and I’d much rather put up with gear hunting.
I rented the new Focus for a vacation, drove it in variable conditions on mountain roads, and did not notice any problems. I did not drive it in the snow though, which is what I’m guessing you mean by “slick.” I’ll confess that I am not expert enough on transmissions to know if a torque converter would lessen this particular problem, but this is the first time I’ve read this complaint about a DCT. I would think it could be solved (perhaps better) in the controlling firmware. Overall, most shifts of the Ford DCT were better than what I could do with a stick and a clutch. Where Ford goofed up, IMO, is in not providing paddle-shifters. Drivers would use “manual” more if they had them.
The Mazda transmission with low-speed torque converter would be my choice over the Ford design. But even if the problem you describe is with the Powershift, this should be workable as the system matures. Either way, I would still choose it over the GM transmissions for the efficiency gain. I think most DCT “complaints” come from people who have never driven a manual.
Veranohatch, sometimes it’s in snow, but even just on rain-soaked streets it occurs. The torque converter idea could be right; I know they designed this tranny without one so it’s more like a manual. Paddleshifters would be nice too. Oddly, it shifts smoother in manual mode than in auto mode. I should probably point out that I drove some manuals others owned, and owned one myself for 9 years. The only reason I switched to an auto is because much of my driving is done in rush hour traffic, and the constant shifting and clutch work was a major pain in the ass. I have not driven the Mazda tranny.