Test drive the Cadillac ATS 2.0 L

Test drive the Cadillac ATS 2.0 L

Cadillac makes another attempt to beat BMW with new sporty ATS. The car is better than ever, but where are the merchants?

I soon lost count of all the press conferences that Cadillac organized on the theme "We are now focusing on Europe and gives BMW and Mercedes a real game. Just look at our new ... "

Cadillac ATS

I remember Cadillac Seville display in Detroit, the summer of 1992, when they beat the drum for his new V8, "North Star". Then came the CTS, SRX wagon big and blocky sports car, the XLR if anyone remembers it. They would all compete with the best from Europe, and Cadillac-men pointed to the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes SL and BMW X5.

Cadillac ATS

It was established label. Press Managers used at these events open to modest to admit that their products had previously been held up, only to emphasize that now becomes the second buns. And it's not the cars it's wrong, it's the organization. 2003 GM thought that everything would be better if the Dutch company Kroymans had responsibility for all European imports of Cadillac and Corvette.

Cadillac ATS

But nothing has helped. The voluminous STS models, Saab copy Cadillac BLS, the super edgy SRX cabinets - all flopped heavily in Europe. And Kroymans went bankrupt 2010th. So forgive me if I take on a slightly skeptical about me when I listen to Europe Chief Wolfgang Schubert presentation of the new Cadillac ATS in Frankfurt. I can erkäna to previous models for Europe has not held up. But the all-new ATS is a huge boost for Cadillac, the car is the most dynamic Cadillac ever ...

Cadillac ATS

He does his job, I think, but I have to admit that he sounds convincing. Knorren saved for last.

- We understand that you developed the ATS directly against the BMW 3 Series. For the same reason, we have placed the press run to the south of Germany, home of the German premium manufacturers. We want you to feel at ATS on German motorways, says Wolfgang Schubert.

Out on the Autobahn, therefore, the devil's own ball. At the airport waiting for a bunch of ATS, some with manual transmission, some with automatic. We will be driving to Würzburg, a distance of detours measures 20 mil. The journey begins on the highway, and I choose a car with a manual transmission.

Cadillac ATS

First impressions can be lowered her chin to the chest. ATS goes to the train. The engine is far from thirsty jänkemaskiner with cylinder volumes tugs. Under the hood is an all-new two-liter turbo engine in the 276 horsepower. 138 horsepower per liter!

Maximum torque of 353 Nm is already at 1700 rpm, and 90 percent of the twisted is already at 1500 yards, thanks to the twin scroll turbo. It gives a nice driveability.

Engine-wise, the ATS will be able to compete with the BMW 328i, with a two-liter turbo of 245 hp. It can handle the job, in part. On the autobahn textiles ATS quickly up to 200 km / h, and it is stable and quiet. Top speed is 240 km / h, and it is probably the angular bodywork that makes 250 km / h does not become reality. Traffic Safety Director Claes Tingvall think understood that 240 or 250 km / h top speed is irrelevant, and that he may be right in.

Cadillac ATS

If it were not for the annoying fact that the BMW 328i is capable of 250 km / h. The sound that is heard when the throttle is just so much you want to hear if you have just bought a car with 276 horsepower. Undoubtedly, it is one of the sweetest two-liter engines I've driven. But despite direct injection and low weight pulls the car ohemult much soup. At a press run, there is nothing that concerns me significantly, and fuel economy is probably also no decisive factor for Cadillac buyers. But 0.86 liters per mil? BMW 328i checks in at 0.63 liters per mil, 27 per cent less. Cadillac ATS is demonstrably not quite "up to date" in terms of environmental and fuel consumption, perhaps a result of gross aces in Detroit.

After a while I run off the highway and continue on surging German highways. The grip is brilliant, distinctive steering and chassis wobble at all. They have done a great job in Detroit - never have Americans been so entertaining to drive.

The front seats are just right cuddly and can also be set up in every possible way. But then the engineers seem to have stopped caring. Rear seat legroom is one that leaves a lot to be desired, although headroom is decent. The luggage compartment is not very spacious at all considering that the car is 4.65 meters long. Cadillac ATS swallows 381 box liters.BMW 3 Series is a few inches shorter but loading 480 box liters.

Cadillac ATS

The dashboard is modern design - sleek most people would probably think. The infotainment system is the most modern cuts and because everything costs more than three dollars developing gets a name in the big country to the west called the "CUE" - Cadillac User Experience. It is the navigation, radio, telephone, voice control and much, much more that is managed via a touch screen just like an iPad. Smart? Well, the many setting possibilities requires a university course in CUE knowledge, especially as the screen changes its appearance when you move your hand in front of the screen.

The price is 339 000 SEK, a bit over the equivalent BMW 3 Series, but once you have added the optional equipment that differ cars for Cadillac says the ATS will be cheaper.

But some sellers will probably not be, it recognizes and even Wolfgang Schubert.

- We have a small dealer network and lack so far of diesel in the program, so any volume seller is not, says Wolfgang Schubert.

Cadillac ATS

 What then is your "selling point", why would you buy a Cadillac ATS?

- It's about "American luxury". We believe we will attract customers who want a car that is as good as a BMW or Mercedes-Benz, but you do not see on every street corner, summarizes Wolfgang Schubert.

If this applies to you, you should control the steps to one of Sweden's two Cadillac dealers sometime in the spring, when the ATS occupy the country.

Cadillac ATS