The Cadillac ATS is the 2013 North American Car of the Year. It’s also Cadillac’s first all-out, no-holds-barred attempt to best the competition — an all-new, world-class, state-of-the-art luxury sport compact that’s been designed, engineered, and tested to take on the best from Germany, and win.
But despite the excellent driving dynamics and the vehicle’s other favorable qualities, some ATS models are riddled with a repellent excuse of an exhaust tip. In particular, what we’re referring to is found on the base 2.5 liter ATS — a single exhaust tip that sits in no-man’s land, being neither in the middle of the vehicle’s lower valance, nor off to the side — such as the dual-tip units found on the 3 series, C-class, or A4:
Dual-tip exhaust on a BMW 328i. Notice its far left offset.
The single off-center outlet in the base 2.5 seems to be a cost-cutting measure, given that ATS models equipped with the 2.0 liter turbo or the 3.6 liter V6 mills sport a dual exhaust setup. The dual exhaust setup, in fact, have one pipe located off-center on the driver’s side, and the other located off-center on the passenger’s side. These dual units wrap the ATS’ back-up light and give the vehicle a unique look, since they are positioned slightly closer to the middle of the car when compared to traditional dual exhaust outlets. Like so:
Dual exhaust on a 3.6 liter Cadillac ATS. Notice the tips are closer to the center, surrounding the center-mounted backup light, making a unique look.
Meanwhile, the base 2.5 liter ATS simply does away with the exhaust tip on the passenger’s side and doesn’t reposition the remaining one (on the driver’s side) closer to the edge, breaking the concerto of symmetry of a dual exhaust system and the center-mounted back-up light — leaving the remaining tip awkwardly placed in the rear bumper cover, all by itself. The whole exercise looks out of place, clumsy, and unfinished. Worst of all, it looks worse than the base models from the German three. Here’s another shot:
Another view of the base-model 2.5 liter Cadillac ATS with single exhaust. Notice its position remains the same as with the dual exhaust, even though it's missing the second outlet.
For a premium-level car, we find this level of incompletion (or inattention to detail) to be unacceptable. Here are two solutions that would solve the problem:
- Give all ATS models (regardless of engine) the sweet-looking dual exhaust treatment. Too expensive/cost ineffective? In that case…
- Reposition the single exhaust outlet to the left side, like so:
The way it should be: our rendition of the 2.5 liter Cadillac ATS with the single exhaust tip. We moved it over to the left by roughly two inches. Looks much better, doesn't it?
Now, there is the possibility that we’re making a mountain out of an molehill here, so we’ll leave it to you — dear reader — to decide whether this is a big deal or not. Vote in the poll, and talk to us in the comments below.
Comments
I don’t care what the base model looks like, I wouldn’t buy it. If I buy an ATS, I’m getting the fastest one I can. I wouldn’t make a big deal out of it.
Is the typo in the poll an intentional joke? Don’t chagne it becuase (!) its perfect given the story!
A single tip looks like a Cavalier attempt by Cadillac to save money. It certainly isn’t up to Cadillac Caliber. Indeed it suggests this Cadillac could be a Shadow of itself. Please will Cadillac engineers Focus on their jobs as a double tip would look much better. If they or the accountants prefer not to chagne the specification, they will be Escorted out of the garage by the back door.
(couldn’t resist the Chevrolet, Dodge and Ford references)
There’s a typo in the poll?
Anyway, this is an atrocious effort to save money. Looks like the rear end of a kit car. I noticed it before but having seen your guys’ chop with the exhaust on the left, the real life photo looks worse every time I see it. Horrible.
Yes there is a typo in the poll
To help you spot it “Should be chagned ASAP!”
Rocky: fixed. Thanks for that… But it would be nice if it was “changed” as well 🙂
Like!
Pretty cool when the only negative that can be found on the ATS is the exhaust tip!
Well done Cadillac!
Well done, indeed. But there are still a few lingering issues with the ATS, such as these:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2012/12/five-things-we-dislike-about-the-cadillac-ats/
They’re nothing major, but something that still calls for improvements to be worthy of being a “Cadillac”.
I could care less about the single exhaust tip. The cost cutting measure that bugs me is the instrument cluster. Those gauge needles are so nineteen eighties. I wonder if the gauge cluster is a stopgap solution. Maybe a configurable gauge cluster, ala XTS, wasn’t ready in time?
I think its a relatively big deal , not so much for most ATS owners , but right now every Cadillac on the street is like an ambassador , the not so impressive exhaust look might turn off someone who would otherwise find this a stunning car.
Im very particular about exhaust location, this would be a deal breaker for me, not that I would buy the base anyway, but all ATS models should have the dual exhaust treatment, makes the car look eons better.
I could see GM not even giving the 2.5L an exhaust tip PERIOD… so I’m glad it’s at least visible.
I hope to see them ditch the 2.5L and just stick with the Turbo.
@Eric — The spy photos of the CTS reveal the reconfigurable cluster. I’m sure they want to stagger that option accordingly. ATS – N/A, CTS – maybe Premium only, XTS – Premium and Platinum. (Just my speculation) I totally agree though, they should offer it in the high line (Perf and Prem) trim levels. I believe someone called it “uninspiring”. Pretty accurate.
Would we want to see it 6 inches to the left? I just don’t know if it makes sense to move it now. So just ditch the 2.5L!!!
The 2.5 really has grown to be the scourge of the range, hasn’t it? I am yet to read a single word of flattery towards it. Here’s another option that you haven’t mentioned, Alex. Why not remove the exposed tip altogether. Retract the tip to fully behind the bumper and turning the tip downwards (the way many European diesel cars have it), thus giving the bumper a clean look. That would save money in terms of not having to sculpt the bumper for the tip and not having to chrome plate the tip either.
That’s another idea, Richard. I’m not sure what the priority is there: cost or design, but given the offset single-tipped monstrosity, I think it’s the former. Anything would be better than the current half-assed implementation.
Hidden tip seems to be Buicks thing
The good news as far as leasing goes, the ATS 2.0T is less than $20 more than the 2.5L on a 36 month lease. My dealership leases 75% of the ATS’s we sell.
The exhaust tip could be better of course but there are lots of other things to change/update….fogs, folding rear seats, cd player, back-up camera….all that should be worked out in a year or so….I think 2.5 is quite good for most people…but I think the turbo will be standard later? Typo? We figured out what it meant, so what?
The 2.5 is the secretary, gay divorcee model.
But a dual exhaust is available for the 2.5 as a dealer-installed accessory.