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This Cadillac ATS Is Wearing The Official Cadillac Accessories

We spotted this 2013 Cadillac ATS in Crystal Red Tintcoat during the 2013 Belle Isle Grand Prix wearing the official Cadillac accessories that debuted with the 2014 ATS.

As you can tell, the looks brought on by the accessories are subtle, but distinct — with the black chrome sport grille (5XR), 19″ gloss black painted wheels (5XZ), and a black chrome rear trim (VNI; not pictured) giving the compact sport-luxury sedan a distinct look.

So, do you prefer the looks of this slightly-accessorized ATS, or that of the stock model and its gleaming grille and wheels?

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Comments

  1. Looks great! I don’t usually care for black wheels, but from this angle, they look good. I especially like the grille.

    I thought you’d reported that the 2014 would come in Red Obsession Tintcoat. Is this one of the first pictures of the new color (it looks a little darker in this photo) or is it really a 2013 model in Crystal Red Tintcoat showing the 2014 accessories?

    I wish GM would bring back Cadillac-specific paint colors — Crimson Pearl, anyone?

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    1. John — you’re absolutely correct — that’s a 2013 ATS in Crystal Red Tintcoat with 2014 accessories, which can (of course) be applied to 2013s.

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      1. Thanks for the correction. I’m really curious to see the new red side-by-side with the current color to see what’s changed!

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        1. When reading the article about the color deletions and additions for 2014 i had asked how the new Red Obsession for Caddy compared to the Torch Red and Crystal Red of the C7. I know, “but thats the C7…different car, different shape etc…” but I needed help in visualizing it somehow and Manoli said the Red Obsession was the color they debuted the new CTS in in NY. When he said that it made me a bit weery, because i watched the debut online and the angles i saw the car from (i dont think the stage lighting helped either) the red came across to me as being of a bright red, almost like a fire engine or lipstick red, which i told Manoli i’m not crazy about. I like the darker, richer reds…not the brighter ones, just preference. He described it as being more vibrant, and in his opinion, better looking then the Crystal Red. I’m a big fan of the crystal red, 1.) because i’m partial to it because my old man has an ’09 v sedan which i love, and in direct sunlight…holy crap…i just think it looks gorgeous; 2.) because i’m a fan of any car with a candy-apple or similar red paintjob that has a slightly darker tone to it. Right now i guess i have to agree to disagree with Manoli, however, I cant definitively say if i like the new red yet because 1.) i havent seen what to me is a GOOD picture of it in A.) direct sunlight and B.) indoors with softer lighting. If i see a good photo of it and realize that it still has a darker tone to it then i’ll probably change my opinion, but as right now with how the new CTS looks in the new obsession…not a fan. Maybe that’ll change though…have to wait and see.

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  2. like my stock ATS better…do not like the black wheels at all

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  3. Lowered 1″ and flush mount rear spoiler (D3 Tuning) and it’s perfect exterior wise… maybe body colour match the callipers and I’d probably wrap the chrome window trim in black satin vinyl just to see.

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  4. I agree with the rest of you black wheel haters.

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  5. i love this car. 28 years old. played grand theft auto and designed my own cars for +10 years. wouldn’t change a thing. of course, i may not be the target demographic.

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  6. Sure would love to see a dark green, nonmetallic gray, or nonmetallic white again

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  7. I like it.

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  8. I like the grill, the design of the wheels i like but them in black not so much. I’d like to see what the black chrome rear trim looks like…someone HAD to have gotten a shot of that. I’m anxious to see how the ATSV is going to look and what changes they made to the body. I’m sure there’s going to be more flared areas on the body, especially the fenders…but i also have a feeling there’s going to be more extensive use of the black chrome.

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  9. what about the front lip spoiler? or was that available before?

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    1. Good eye! The front lip is not listed as a a 2014 accessory, nor does it seem to be one from 2013. I wonder what it is…

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      1. That’s part of the “body kit” accessory that as announced for 2014.5 MY.

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  10. I love the Black Rims and Black Grill.. Makes me like this car even more…

    I just wish it had more leg room in the back

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  11. I think the grill and wheels would look awesome if the black chrome was an option for them instead of just black.

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  12. I don’t care for black wheels – for myself. Now. A metallic orange Camaro ZL1 convertible with black leather and black top works with black wheels.

    Personally I changed the OE 17″ wheels immediately for a chrome plated set for my ATS. The Glacier Blue exterior gets only chrome accents. The “silver” powder coated wheels looked sort of cream in color rather than silver. I’m seriously looking at the thin chrome lower door accents on the Mercedes C Class sedan – they’ll fit exactly on my ATS. I really like how those thin accents look on both the C and E Class models. I’m sorta back and forth on this issue. We’ll see.

    Anyone want the OE wheels and Michelin Primacy ZP’s?

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  13. The car looks great! But I’ve got to admit…I’m not a fan of black wheels either. I’ve seen them on Corvettes and they look terrible. I think it comes down to personal taste. Long live chrome!

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    1. Exactly it is personal taste, so I agree.

      For me, chrome rims are too gaudy. I’d take machine finish aluminum, black (gloss, satin, matte), gun metal, or silver painted, over chrome any day.
      I am a huge Cadillac fan, and multiple owner, but the amount of chrome on Cadillacs is still a problem. Chrome doesn’t equal luxury, unless you live in Florida.

      Like I said above, i’d likely wrap the chrome window trim in black satin vinyl to see if it looks better than that chrome plastic.

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      1. Andrew,

        One of the pleasures of this forum? Floating ideas for reaction. Trim color is very frankly a personal issue, particularly when the resulting change fits the owner’s personally, for example. As I recall Bob Lutz, when he was in charge earlier on, had the polished molding surrounds added to the side window area on all models going forward. That said – IMHO it is not totally appropriate in every model. Less is more very often. Adding polished trim to a new Camaro Z28 – for example – just wouldn’t work for I believe obvious reasons.

        I could’ve changed the wheel/tire combination when I purchased my ATS and/or I could’ve selected an ATS in the metallic Tuxedo Black. That color is just gaudy IMHO, adding the plated wheels just makes it worse IMHO. And upkeep of a black finish in dusty West Texas – well – let’s not even go there.

        Price those after market grille assembles through CarID. Then read the installation instructions. OMG. The black mesh units are nice – but not $1500 worth of nice IMHO. Those are not an “owner” installation situation.

        I found last night Magnaflow is listing part numbers for ATS exhaust systems for each of the 3 engines – “Being developed” and not yet available.

        108 degrees is predicted again today – YUCK. We’ve had zero rain since January.

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  14. Or to offer a V-Sport?

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  15. On the ATS, i would like the “gleaming” wheels, but also the black grille. Do you have pics of the “black chrome” rear end?
    Cadillac is really terrific in offering these dress-up options! Any more in the pipeline?? For any Cadillac model??

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  16. Are we going to see the same 295 tq on the 2014 ATS that the 2014 2.0t Malibu will have?
    Right now the ATS has 260tq.

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  17. speaking of accessorizes i was over at LightWurkz shop last week piking up as set of Halo rings for my GT500 and i saw them taking apart ATS headlights and blacked out all the chrome inside. Looked amazing. Thought to share this for those with ATS’s that are looking for something customs since there are barely any parts available yet.

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