Cadillac Announces ATS Diesel
At an unveiling at Detroit’s College for Creative Studies, Cadillac unveiled the 2013 ATS sedan,
and confirmed that a diesel version will be offered, although timing for that was not announced.
The ATS is built on a new, rear-wheel-drive platform and is eight inches shorter than the Cadillac CTS. It continues the automaker’s Art & Science design language with a mixture of angular lines and flat surfaces. It has 50/50 weight distribution and uses GM’s Magnetic Ride Control.
Cadillac sees the ATS as a competitor for the BMW 3er Series and the Audi A4. At the launch, Mark Reuss, GM’s North American President, said that the new sedan will be “the most mass-efficient car in the segment.”
Three engines will be offered for 2013. The base engine is a 2.5-liter I-4, developing 200 hp and 188 pound-feet of torque. Optional are a turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 and turbocharged 3.6-liter V-6. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual or automatic. Both rear- and all-wheel-drive will be available.
Cadillac was the first U.S. automaker to offer a diesel back in the late 70s but the 5.7-liter V-8 engines suffered from poor reliability and tarnished the reputation of diesels for generations to come.
