Why Doesn’t The Cadillac ATS Have A Flat-Bottom Steering Wheel Like The 2016 Camaro?
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This article is part of the GM Authority Mailbag series, where the GM Authority Crew features and replies to your questions, comments, and observations.
The following comes to us from Frank in Memphis:
Love my 2013 Cadillac ATS Sedan but I have to say that having sat in the 2016 Camaro, Caddy needs to step up its game with its interiors. Here’s one example that’s important for me: why does the Camaro have a flat-bottom steering wheel while the ATS doesn’t?
This particular circumstance makes it seem like the ATS is inferior to the Camaro. Color me crazy, but how can a Cadillac be inferior to a Chevy? Do the guys and gals at Cadillac not even care to offer a flat-bottom wheel as an accessory? Doesn’t seem like it, since it’s not on the 2016 Cadillac parts and accessories catalog. Or is it that the people in charge of Chevy and/or the Camaro better at what they do than those at Cadillac?
Flat-bottom steering wheel on 2016 Chevrolet Camaro
As a Cadillac owner, I feeling annoyed that my car is outclassed on the features list by a car that’s not only less expensive, but also hails from a lesser brand (Chevy guys, I mean no offense).
So do you guys know if Cadillac has plans to sell a flat-bottom wheel for the ATS, even as a part that I can buy?
Keep up the great Cadillac and GM coverage, your site is a daily read for me.
Hey Frank,
Thanks for your letter and for being a loyal reader.
We feel your frustration and agree that Cadillac should offer a flat-bottom wheel on the ATS family, along with the CTS and upcoming CT6. We imagine that making the wheel available the Caddies won’t be a huge challenge given that the ATS and CTS share the excellent Alpha platform with the 2016 Camaro.
When we think about it objectively, we realize that not only would a (optional) flat-bottom wheel appease driving enthusiasts such as yourself (and the GMA staff as well,), but it would also allow Cadillac to give BMW a nice middle finger, since the BMW 3/4 Series (not even the M3/M4) offer a flat-bottom wheel.
As you note, a flat-bottom wheel is not part of the accessories lineup for 2016, which is unfortunate. So we hope that this, along with a few other ATS annoyances, will change for the 2017 model year. Keeping our fingers crossed.
Chris
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That Camaro steering wheel is unique to the vehicle just as the 2010-11 Camaro one was before GM gave it the corporate steering wheel. The ATS one looks like a version of GM’s corporate wheel. What’s the deal with having a flat bottom? It looks nice but beyond that, is there supposed to be some functional benefit?
Flat bottom is supposed to give you more leg room. Whether it does or not I don’t know.
Not everyone loves or cares for a flat bottom wheel. Make it an option on the ATSV but not on the standard car. It really is not something many notice or even care about.
Sure, not everyone loves, cares, or notices a flat-bottom wheel. But that does not mean “no one” — as there is still an audience for a flat-bottom wheel, and this letter is proof positive.
The point is twofold:
1. Cadillac is cutting corners by not — at the very least — OFFERING a flat-bottom wheel on the ATS range, V or otherwise. Customers obviously care about this feature, hence a reason to offer it.
2. Cadillac has made a big deal about the performance/dynamic attributes of the ATS and CTS. It has invested tons of money into making sure the cars drive better than their respective rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. But when it comes to actual touchpoints (steering wheel), it decides to cut corners and not offer what is obviously the most sporty steering wheel in a road-going/production car — a flat-bottom wheel.
3. Cadillac is the challenger brand. It MUST not only match but also be better than BMW and Mercedes-Benz to succeed. How does not offering a feature make Cadillac better?
In the end, there is no excuse for this or for things like the lack of an auto-dimming passenger-side mirror on Cadillac vehicles. None whatsoever.
Chris you have to take some things into account here.
For your number #1 I do agree Cadillac does need its own wheel. Now if it is flat on the bottom, sides or on top it does not matter. Hell if they want to make it triangle if there is enough demand so be it. The key part is the spoke and 95% plus people are just fine with round. The flat bottom for the most part is just a styling thing taken from some race cars that do not offer tilt wheel.
To cover your number #2 “Question”. Does a flat wheel make the car faster? No! in this car is it more a styling point yes. Will anyone pass up a Cadillac because there is no flat spot on the wheel? Unlikely.
As for number #3 the fact is Cadillac is behind in some areas but on the converse they are ahead in other areas especially the suspension and driving dynamics. So for ever short point at Cadillac we can find similar issue with the other cars too. Not saying there is room for Cadillac to improve but none of these cars are perfect.
You finally must consider that the ATS and CTS will be made over in the neat future with many changes. Cadillac will change many things to Cadillac only items from Engines to Steering wheels. The people in charge are seeing to details like this as they move these models to the CT numbers. While GM can invest a lot of money and time into a new wheel they can just get the new wheel ready for the ATS and intro it in the new car update we will see in the near future.
GM has been guilty of the wheel thing for years. Where were you when I either got a ZR1 wheel in my HHR SS or the ZR1 owner got his HHR SS wheel in his ZR1. GM intro’d the new model and we got a new wheel, seats and many other things.
My point is you need to give them more than a year to make changes and when they come you will get many.
While I agree on the need for a new wheel I can give you 50 other things that need fixed even before that.
Big Picture brother, Big Picture.
I can tell you that the steering wheel in my G8 GXP is noticeably different from the V6 and GT versions. It looks great and offsets it from the other versions and is amazingly ergonomic. I can position my hand(s) in any position and feel comfortable. The flat bottom aids in this. As far as leg room, this for me only aids getting in and out of the car.
Cadillac used to be the standard of the world. Cadillac is fairly new to this high-performance thing. And still has a lot to learn from Chevrolet. Chevrolet the high performance standard of the planet.
Only the Camaro, Corvette and SS are performance models while the rest of the line up are appliances. Now them being high performance standard of the planet is debatable and matter of opinion.
If you haven’t seen, Cadillac is squarely in the performance-luxury space. There is nothing “appliancy” about an ATS, CTS, or the upcoming CT6.
He was talking about Chevy, not Cadillac.
I agree that the steering wheel in the ATS is just a Cadillac Corporate wheel. On the standard car I can see using it , but when you start getting into the V-Series and Sport the flat bottom wheel should atleast be an option .
Just because the Camaro now shares platforms with the CTS and ATS does not mean that Cadillac needs to offer flat bottom steering wheels as standard equipment since they are not sports cars, just pure dumb logic from the reader. The interior in the ATS is classic Cadillac and absolutely beautiful where the difference between the two is different and most all of the technology will still apply to ATS over the Camaro.
However on the V-Sport and V-Series, offer it as an option.
“Just because the Camaro now shares platforms with the CTS and ATS does not mean that Cadillac needs to offer flat bottom steering wheels as standard equipment since they are not sports cars, just pure dumb logic from the reader.”
Correct. The primary reason that Cadillac needs to offer a flat-bottom wheel on the ATS and CTS is that customers (like Frank) want it. The secondary reason is that competitors offers it.
To me, the comparison to the Camaro is obvious in that a “lesser” and less expensive vehicle is getting a feature that should have been on the Caddy in the first place, from the onset.
“To me, the comparison to the Camaro is obvious in that a “lesser” and less expensive vehicle is getting a feature that should have been on the Caddy in the first place, from the onset.”
To me, there is no comparison while the Camaro is a sports car while the ATS is a luxury performance car on the shared platform. Cadillac started becoming serious as a performance brand few years ago with the ATS, XTS somewhat with Brembo brakes, and etc.
There will be exciting times for Cadillac in the next coming years especially on the successor models to ATS and CTS.
I own a 2013 ATS 3.6 AWD…Nicest steering wheel you could possibly ask for…flat on the bottom is ugly to me
Hence why it should be an option. Folks like Frank will buy one, you won’t. Both of you will be happy.
You need to stop being Frank. LOL! Sorry..,,,,
Chris on the list of things in great need the wheel is on it but not at the top of the list. Why invest into this car for a wheel for a year when it will be replace in two? Anyone really interested in this car is not going to skip it for a small styling feature like a flat bottom wheel.
Does the wheel make it go faster? No. Turn faster no. It is just a styling trend and who knows we may be to butterfly wheels before it I all said and done as they have already investigated electric steering.
I think they are better off spending the time and money on updates to these cars and engines and add the new wheel to it in 2018.
You do know that they can not just take the Camaro wheel and put it in just on a whim. They have to run it through all their test and approvals that make sure all will work in the car for safety and all other parameters. Even though we know it will pass them they still have to run these test and rework the air bag for this car.
This is not your normal go out and buy a MOMO and bolt it on deal. If it were only that simple. Years ago yes but in this legal Environment it has to be checked out before it could ever go production.
When the CT5 name goes on you will get a new wheel. It may be the CT6 wheel by then.