For all of the Cadillac ATS‘ weak spots, it possesses one saving grace: it’s really good to drive. The chassis tuning and responsiveness makes it nimble and a fun companion in daily driving scenarios. Then, Alfa Romeo showed up with the Giulia and a similar proposition with a similarly striking exterior design.
Fiat-Chrysler Authority reported on Friday the ATS may be in for one-two punch after new information showed a potential 350-horsepower variant is in the works. FCA’s OEM service site now lists data for a Giulia equipped with the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine found in the Ti, but rated at 350 hp. Granted, the site is for global cars, which means North America may never even see such a car.
Right now, the Giulia offers a 280-hp Ti model and the bonkers Quadrifoglio model with 505 hp. A 350-hp car could split the difference. FCA responded to the information by saying there were “no plans for any other engines for Giulia in North America for 2018 model year.” Note, the comment said nothing about 2019 and the near future.
Cadillac is due to overhaul its sedan lineup in the near future as well with three sedans placed further apart in size and packaging. The ATS, or whatever it’s called when it debuts, will have stiff competition to face, even as sedan sales decline.
Comments
Like I’ve been saying for years now. Cadillac needs three total engines in NA.
2.0T 300HP
3.00TT 400Hp
4.2TT 500Hp
I know which of the two I would trust to stay running for the duration.
I just leased an Alfa Giulia last month. I didn’t get the all out Quadrifoglio model, just the base sport model. It priced out about $100/ month less than the ATS and this is just a 24 month lease. It can’t be less reliable than the ATS, Cadillac is dead last in reliability, worse even than Fiat.
As a current owner of a 2016 ATS Premium Performance RWD, with the Magnetic Ride Control, and all the available options including Adaptive Cruise Control: This the best driving car I’ve ever owned. For the past two years of ownership it has been flawless. I’m looking forward to the next generation of Cadillac sedans. For me, and the other ‘3 or 4’ people left in the U.S. that still prefer a car vs. a SUV/CUV, there continues to be a market, though small at the moment.
Really Author?.
The ATS/CTS are lame ducks due to be replaced in roughly a year and we get stories like this praising Italian/Dodge junk?. I love to see the ATS/CTS replacements get that great 3.0tt for mid-engine options and have Buick/Chevy have a version of those cars as well.
“For all of the Cadillac ATS‘ weak spots, it possesses one saving grace: it’s really good to drive. The chassis tuning and responsiveness makes it nimble and a fun companion in daily driving scenarios.”
FUN TO DRIVE is subjective, and can’t be attributed to specific cars for every driver, every driving situation. The professional auto writers like to affix the word “fun” to any tight-turning vehicle, even if it is hard riding and cramped. I can’t imagine this being true for the majority of drivers in “daily driving scenarios”, i.e. commutes to work and around town.
Most people do not live on winding mountain roads, they deal mostly with straight streets and gently curving highways. What is often “fun” for daily drivers is a relaxed, comfortable “cruise”, not a jarring NASCAR-like experience. Or a “fun” drive for some can be a nice smooth convertible, with open top on a beautiful day – currently Cadillac offers no convertibles. Yes there are exceptions, but for those who can afford a luxury car, “fun” is relaxation after a jarring day’s work, not more jarring to relive their Hot Wheels/NASCAR-fan youth.
My point being, everyone has their own preferences, but there’s nothing automatically “fun” about driving an ATS for all drivers in all situations. There are many ways to view driving “fun” (another being in a reliable car, as breaking down is not “fun”), not just the definition handed to us by the professional auto writers. It should not be a mystery that this type of car has never sold well for Cadillac.
Yes Drew, Rockauto have you new Nortstar engine in stock. Have one installed in your DTS and roll on for the next 75,000 miles.
Guestt, I have no need for a new engine, and that’s got nothing to do with this topic anyway. Ever hear of sticking to the topic? My point was, to a lot of people there’s more “fun” to be had in a roomy comfortable road cruiser than in a cramped hard-riding little compact.
Yet the professional auto writers think they can define “fun” for everyone in terms of car dynamics. Sorry but they can’t. The writer here claims that the ATS is “fun”; maybe that’s true for him and those who like driving like maniacs, but not true for the majority of the public – and that’s reflected in the weak sales of the ATS.
And they fact that they don’t understand the public is part of Cadillac’s problem. Cadillac has gone from building cars that the public wants, to cars that the public doesn’t want, and the professional auto-writers are cheering them on, telling them to go even further in the low-selling “sport” direction, instead of being Cadillac.
Yes Drew, Rockauto have you new Northstar engine in stock. Have one installed in your DTS and roll on for the next 75,000 miles.