ATS Sedan Gets New Colors, More Torque, Other New Features For 2015 Model Year: RPO Central
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The Cadillac ATS is highly important for Cadillac: not only is it vital from a sales volume perspective, but it also serves as the entry point to the brand of most buyers, while having the potential to set the baseline image for the brand. And for 2015, The General is doing what it can to keep its sport-lux compact sedan as fresh as possible with a host of updates and changes.
The modifications start with the replacement of White Diamond Tricoat and Mocha Steel Metallic with two new exterior colors — Dark Adriatic Blue Metallic and Crystal White Tricoat, both available at an extra charge. There are some changes to interior colors as well, with the deletion of the Light Platinum with Brownstone accents and Caramel with Jet Black accents interior color and trim combos. In their place are three new choices: Light Platinum with Jet Black accents, Light Neutral with Medium Cashmere accents, and Kona Brown with Jet Black accents; the latter two combinations are available at an extra charge.
Furthermore, the single disk CD/MP3 player is gone for 2015, as is the black chrome sport grille that was an LPO option. OnStar 4G LTE and DockSpot inductive charging (the latter as an interim model year option) are added, as are longer range sensing functionality for the Lane Change Alert is added to the Driver Assist Package, and Lane Keep Assist is added to the Driver Awareness and Driver Assist Packages. Rounding out the equipment-level changes to the 2015 ATS is the addition of Automatic Seatbelt Tightening (on the Performance and Premium Collections), as well as the inclusion of power tilt and telescoping steering column (on the Premium Collection).
But the biggest change lies under the hood: the 2.0-liter turbo-charged I4 LTG engine now makes 295 pound-feet of torque, up 35 pound-feet from the 260 seen on previous models.
Following are the official RPO-level changes:
Deletions
- Exterior color (GBN) White Diamond Tricoat
- Exterior color (GHA) Mocha Steel Metallic
- Interior color (H2F) Light Platinum with Brownstone accents
- Interior color (H2N) Caramel with Jet Black accents
- (TG5) single disc CD/MP3 player
- (5XR) Black chrome sport grille, LPO
New Features
- Exterior color (G1M) Dark Adriatic Blue Metallic (available at extra charge)
- Exterior color (G1W) Crystal White Tricoat (available at extra charge)
- Interior color (HHM) Light Platinum with Jet Black accents
- Interior color (HHN) Light Neutral with Medium Cashmere accents (available at extra charge)
- Interior color (HEY) Kona Brown with Jet Black accents (available at extra charge)
- CUE infotainment changes including SMS texting feature and Teen Mode settings
- (VV4) OnStar with 4G LTE (provides a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to the internet at 4G LTE speeds)
- (K4C) DockSpot, Cadillac inductive charging system for portable devices (interim model year availability)
- Lane Change Alert longer range sensing functionality added to (Y66) Driver Assist Package (Performance and Premium Collections)
- (UHX) Lane Keep Assist lane centering functionality added to (Y65) Driver Awareness and (Y66) Driver Assist Packages (Not available on Standard model)
- (AX7) Automatic Safety Belt Tightening (Performance and Premium Collections)
- (N38) Power tilt and telescoping steering column (Premium Collection)
Changes
- Interior color (H0Y) Jet Black with Jet Black accents is now (H1Y) — code change only
- Interior color (H2E) Morello Red leather seating surfaces with Jet Black accents is now (HHP) Morello Red with Jet Black accents, includes semi-aniline leather seats and microfiber suede accents on seats, instrument panel and doors (available at extra charge)
- Lane Departure Warning RPO Code changes from (UFL) to no RPO Code
- Side Blind Zone Alert RPO Code changes from (UFT) to (UKC)
- (ATH) EZ-Key Keyless Access Passive Entry made standard on the Standard model
- Two times press trunk release button functionality added to Cadillac key fob
- Handset voice recognition icon removed from the CUE screen in lieu of utilizing press-and-hold on the voice recognition button on the steering wheel to link to the phone handset (e.g., Siri)
- (Y65) Driver Awareness Package now contains (UHX) Lane Keep Assist
- (Y66) Driver Assist Package now contains (AX7) Automatic Safety Belt Tightening and Lane Change Alert
- (LTG) 2.0L Turbo engine increases from 260 lb.-ft. of torque to 295 lb.-ft. of torque
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The torque here will be a major improvement.
My 2.0 is limited to 315 Ft LBS up from 260 and it made a heck of a difference.
The Solstice with the same upgrade from GM is closer to 340 FT LBS so I expect we will see this number continue to climb.
The increase in tq on the 2.0 is welcomed, as it make this engine even more competitive. I thing they should discontinue the base 2.5, it’s just too weak for a luxury performance car. I would also replace the normal aspirated 3.6 with a turbo charged 6. Like it or not, it’s hard to ignore the benefits of forced induction. The tq and tune ability of these turbo motors are a dream for enthusiasts, and with the heavy hitters (BMW 335i, MB new C400/450, and Audi’s S4) all have these torquey forced induction power trains, GM needs to do this to get their fair share of the pie. The days of normally aspirated engines in sports cars are numbered
The 2.5 liter engine is adequate for most people but this engine should be updated with a turbo at least 210 hp/220 bl. torque with an 8 Speed auto.
The 3.6 naturally aspirated engine is plenty fast but it needs to be updated with a twin turbo V6 at least 330 hp/340 bl. torque with an 8 Speed Auto. That car should do 0-60 in 4.5-4.8 seconds, 2.5 turbo engine 0-60 in 6.5-6.9 seconds and the middle child, 2.0 turbo model 0-60 in 5.4-5.6 seconds with an 8 Speed auto.
And give the 3.6 twin-turbo engine model a V-Sport package as standard or as an option on the Performance and Premium Collections.
The Premium models already have Magnetic Ride Control suspension on the Premuim models to make it more sportier than the standard suspension on the base, Luxury and Performance Collections. A V-Sport package on the upper engine model will match handling very closely to the V-series without V series performance and prices.
I think the 2.0T should be the base engine. In fact, the 3.6L naturally-aspirated V6 should get replaced with the 3.6L TT V6 in both the ATS and CTS.
Do you know if a dealership can make the first edition 2.0T in the 2013 ATS that had 260 ft/lbs have the 295 ft/lbs? Is it just an increase to the blow off valve or is it a computer management mapping change?
Thanks
Too bad that the CD is not available anymore because I generally listen to burned CDs all the time. I hope that MP3 player hooked up to CUE has a universal plugin integration. But other than that, these changes are welcome.
Now we need for 2016 that Vsport, V series and an 8 Speed automatic transmission, then this line-up will be complete.
Would love to have a convertible as well.
I too have used burned MP3 on my six disc changer in my older Chevy. But with my new GMC all I use is Bluetooth and I have thousands of songs to play.
At this point most phones can provide you with weeks of songs and never hear the same one twice.
Also with my Bluetooth I can set up my Dish Network to play the audio of my Dish TV on my car and the video on the phone. No wires needed.
These improvements will definitely make for a more solid competitor in the compact luxury segment. I still think GM should bring some new engines into their U.S. lineup to better compete. The ATS should get:
1.6t I4 with 225HP and 240FT-LBS (eAssist Hybrid available)
2.0t I4 with 290HP and 315FT-LBS
2.5tdi I4 with 190HP and 305FT-LBS
5.3L V8 with 365HP and 400FT-LBS
3.6tt V6 with 470HP and 490FT-LBS
8-Speed Automatic with Magnesium Paddles
6-Speed Manual with SynchroRev
They will never offer a V8 and a turbo 6, with the V8 having less power. The chance of a V8 is zero
CD’s were passe years ago. +1 to Cadillac deleting CD players. Nobody wants to have inferior audio technology in their cars, unlike Lexus with their SC’s dubious distinction of being the last car available with a cassette player…in 2010.
If you’ve got all your music files on flash, on your phone, or in a cloud, you’ve got nothing to worry about with the demise of CD’s.
These are nice changes, however there are more I would like to see added
1. Since Opel just released a pair of I3 engines, the base 2.5 I4 should be dropped in favor of a smaller lighter and more effecient 1.2T I3
2. The 3.6L V6 makes plenty of hp, but not a lot of torque, it think it should get a bump to 350 ft/lbs since it now makes less torque than the 2.0T
3. The back seats have been kind of cramped according to a lot of reviews, I think GM should tweak the seat cushioning like they did on the ’14 Malibu
4. The 8-speed should be the only automatic tranny offered by now
5. The trunk should get a bump in space
6. Stop/start should be available to make the fuel economy more competitive with the 3 series
7. Diesels, GM hasn’t released a single diesel for any of the cars currently in the lineup. The 2.0T from the cruze should be a good fit for the ats
With these new power figures on the 2.0 turbo, the v6 needs an update. Hp is fine, maybe bump it to 330. But to have the 2.0 making more torque than the 3.6 is a huge mistake. Is anyone at GM thinking about this? The 3.6 needs to get over the 300lbft mark, I’m thinking 330lbft. Also the new 8 speed auto from the zo6 should be standard on all rear/AWD Cadillacs, it’s long over due.
Turbo or supercharging is the only way to get the V6 with that kind of torque.
@hafeez_h & David: I don’t think the LFX 3.6 could possibly make any more torque than 285FT-LBS. The LV3 4.3 can’t even put out 330-350FT-LBS despite its larger displacement and OHV design. The idea of a Stop/Start system in the ATS is a bad one considering the Malibu’s isn’t living up to expectations (and for what, to save 1mpg?). I think that if all Small Ecotec and High Feature engines had VVT, SIDI, and IVVL and GM brought out their new 7-Speed Dual Clutch and 8-Speed Automatic, fuel economy really wouldn’t be an issue for awhile. The most power you could potentially squeeze out of a 1.2t I3 would be around 150HP and 165FT-LBS, not nearly enough to replace the 2.5i (but enough to replace current vehicles utilizing the horrid 1.4t which should achieve 180HP and 195FT-LBS at the least). I say don’t even offer the V6 anymore. A 1.6t and 2.0t would do great at replacing the current engines with more responsiveness and better efficiency. Eco eAssist and Diesel models would also help stabilize the ATS in the market (and in some cases, raise the bar). The V-Sport 5.3 and V 3.6tt should also help out a bit. Last of all, there should definitely be a convertible and a wagon coming soon!
The LFX has room to grow both horsepower and torque numbers with simple tunes and minor hardware modifications that can be done en masse. But all that might come at the expense of fuel economy. The same goes for the LV3 and other GM engines. They’re all a lot more capable with appropriate tuning… but MPG suffers quite a bit.
Regarding Stop-Start: the 3-Series has it on the best-selling 328i (2.0L turbo). It works fine, but can be turned off at each key cycle. Don’t let the comments you see from a few “loud mouths” regarding the Malibu’s Stop-Start system turn you into thinking that the system is flawed. It works very well and most buyers are very satisfied with it.
Regarding ditching the V6: that ain’t gonna fly. They have to combat such powerhouses as the S4, 335i, and the new C350/450 — all of which use a 3.0-liter V6 with some form of forced induction. A good move would be to make a comparable 3.0L V6 and supercharge it to the sky (like Audi has done), and underrate the power… then let the ATS with that motor run circles around everyone else (also like Audi has done with the S4).
Also, there is a lot more opportunity for the Vsport name than to be associated with a single engine.
While you are right about having room to play with by tuning, you couldn’t get an extra 70FT-LBS without forced induction. I have tested the Malibu with the Stop/Start system and all I can say is what a huge waste of time and money. Sure it can be smooth, but it does tend to be very touchy. Just think of the repair bills when it breaks down when the warranty runs out! I honestly do not see a need for Stop/Start systems if they are only improving city fuel economy by 1mpg. GM could bring their 2.8t V6 back to The US. If GM were to get 330HP and 350FT-LBS out of it, it would dominate for sure.
Actually, an extra 70 lb.-ft. is within reach even on a natural breather like the LFX. It’s just a matter of fuel economy and running refinement at that point.
Stop-Start is something that you will see added pretty much to all non-performance cars in the U.S. over the next 10 years. That’s already the case in Europe and it will end up trickling down to America as well.
Finally: the 2.8L TT V6 is a dinosaur and not a competitive engine for so many reasons. The more appropriate solution would be to turbo or supercharge the 3.0L V6 LF1.
I am not a fan of the start stop but most companies will give their right nut for 1 MPG with no loss of power anymore.
I am not sure if the EPA will continue to count the MPG on cars with stop start and the defeat button. As of now they are but knowing them they may come down on this at some point.
I wish they would do something to improve the instrument cluster which, in my opinion, looks cheap. It would be nice, for example, if a high-end configurable cluster were optional as on the CTS & XTS.
Completely agreed. The gauges on the ATS are its worst quality, in my opinion.
The base 2.5L 4-cylinder engine would probably sell better if it didn’t come with that ridiculously ugly exhaust pipe sticking out from under the bumper 3/8ths the way in from the bumper. Give that thing a proper twin-tip exhaust on the left or right, or just bend the tip downward and have it “hidden”. Right now, it’s like a big zit on a model’s face.
Yes, indeed:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2013/01/cadillac-ats-single-offset-exhaust-looks-awkward-should-be-changed/
Anyone know how GM got the extra torque. Is it just a different tune or were there sensor replacements involved? My dealer wouldnt mind flashing mine to the 2015 so long as hardware hasnt changed.