I give major props to Cadillac as the way they are marketing this car is simply brilliant. On top of that the ATS itself looks seriously promising as Cadillac seems to be really going after the heart of the market with a nice balance of style, performance, luxury, economy and technology. This is a GLOBAL WORTHY PRODUCT! Meanwhile at Acura we get a Civic in a (very nice yet overpriced) Dolce & Gabbana suit.
Marketing wise, I wander which Acura product does Honda thinks competes with the ATS?
I posted this before and I will post it again, kudos for Cadillac and GM for putting their engineering might behind the car and truly delivering a drivers car that can compete with the BMW 3.
The great thing about this car is its platform, its called Alpha. Its strong and relatively light and will underpin the upcoming CTS, Camaro and the Australian RWD sedans.
Personally, I'm not surprised many here like it, but I really think that's the last thing that would make any luxury buyer pay attention or visit a dealer...
If anything, looks like an add designed to please Civic Si buyers, pretty much blunt and straight. Specially mind blogging to me (for a luxury car advert) were the faces of the drivers and over-exaggerated anime/manga like expressiveness.
Otherwise, beautiful landscapes and roads, lucky bastards if they really got to drive at will as the marketing campaign wants you to believe. The car, first time I've seen it but sure hope the engineering under the skin is world-class, because looks wise it's one of the most plain boring sedans I've seen in a while (all makers and all countries considered).
danielgr wrote: Personally, I'm not surprised many here like it, but I really think that's the last thing that would make any luxury buyer pay attention or visit a dealer...
If anything, looks like an add designed to please Civic Si buyers, pretty much blunt and straight. Specially mind blogging to me (for a luxury car advert) were the faces of the drivers and over-exaggerated anime/manga like expressiveness.
Otherwise, beautiful landscapes and roads, lucky bastards if they really got to drive at will as the marketing campaign wants you to believe. The car, first time I've seen it but sure hope the engineering under the skin is world-class, because looks wise it's one of the most plain boring sedans I've seen in a while (all makers and all countries considered).
Daniel, I think you need to better understand where Cadillac was say....10 years ago and understand the type of luxury cars they used to produce as the CTS and ATS are 1000% totally different in every aspect of development, engineering, performance or whatever.
With the ATS Cadillac benchmarked the E46 BMW 3 Series in terms of weight and tactile performance. As you know the E46 was and still is regarded as the best all around 3 Series to date in terms of the driving experience and tactile performance. The base ATS weighs under 3400lbs!
What's not to like here? It's light, RWD, will offer 3 engines here in the U.S. market a base 2.4 w/ 200ish HP, a 270HP turbo 4 and a 315HP V6. Then about a year from the ATS's release an ATS-V will arrive with a twin turbo DI V6 making over 420HP!
If Acura would produce this type of car we'd be jumping for joy and I as well as many others here would be snatching up one. I'm definitely going to drive the 2.0T model with the Sport package and 6MT when it goes on sale as it can be had for well under $40k. Thats a direct stab in the throat of its RWD German and Japanese rivals. With that said, what would you pick, an Acura ILX Hybrid Tech, or a ATS 2.0T with the Sport package and a 6MT For similar money?
CivicB18 wrote: Daniel, I think you need to better understand where Cadillac was say....10 years ago . . . .
Case in point: the Cadillac Catera.
I'm definitely going to drive the 2.0T model with the Sport package and 6MT when it goes on sale as it can be had for well under $40k. Thats a direct stab in the throat of its RWD German and Japanese rivals
Woah, that's a bit of a violent metaphor. How about toning it down to "a punch in the gut"? :-)
With that said, what would you pick, an Acura ILX Hybrid Tech, or a ATS 2.0T with the Sport package and a 6MT For similar money?
Assuming the prices turn out like that, that's certainly a sobering comparison, innit?
I thought the ad spent a bit too much time on the nameless personalities and the surrounding scenery and culture. I would have liked to have seen some longer, more extended shots of the car and driving instead of the rapidfire back and forth cuts.
That said, I think it does show that Caddy is very dedicated to producing a true sports sedan to go after the 3-series - just as BMW seems to be losing the plot a bit in terms of dynamics (especially steering).
The CTS (and especially the CTS-V) was the first car in ages that showed that Caddy could still compete at a high level. The problem was that the CTS was too much of a tweener - bigger, heavier and less efficient than a 3, but smaller, more cramped and less luxurious than a 5 or E-class. A solid car, but one that tried to be too much (I still love the CTS-V though). It had relatively nimble handling, but felt too heavy and thick.
Now, with the ATS, the CTS can move up a notch to compete in the middle class. Certainly the ATS _looks_ like a baby CTS (whether that's good or not) so they're keeping a brand identity, and if they managed to improve the dynamics a notch from the CTS they'll have a winner.
Now, whether the ATS-V will be good enough to dissuade me from picking up a used CTS-V.....guess I'll have to wait and see. They better hurry up.
notyper wrote: The problem was that the CTS was too much of a tweener - bigger, heavier and less efficient than a 3, but smaller, more cramped and less luxurious than a 5 or E-class. A solid car, but one that tried to be too much (I still love the CTS-V though). It had relatively nimble handling, but felt too heavy and thick.
Now, with the ATS, the CTS can move up a notch to compete in the middle class.
I find it interesting that both Cadillac and Acura have given up on "tweeners" and adopted the German-premium sizing model.
I think its kind of the same sort of conundrum you run across in any competitive environment be it sports, combat, or business/marketing :)
If you don't try and match up to your competition in the most general sense, you're going to have mismatches. Now, if you're only selling one car each, then you play to your strengths and see what the market wants best. But if you are bracketed by the competition, then they always have a way to get an advantage over you. You want a lighter, nimbler, more efficient car? Get the 3. You want luxury, more rear seat room, more features? Get the 5. Cars like the CTS, or the TL, get stretched too thin and lose.
Sometimes, you have an exceptional model (3rd gen TL for example) that is so good it can overcome that bracketing, but in general, the ability to nail that sweet spot in the middle, to perfectly "right size" something when everyone is throwing so much money and tech around, has to be really difficult.
I'm a big football fan, so I like to think in terms of player matchups on the field. Theoretically, the guys that play the linebacker spot on defense are some of the most well rounded athletes. They're big (I'll bet the avg backer in the league these days is over 250 lbs), immensely strong, and still pretty damn quick. But if your defense was made up of just linebackers, they'd get pancaked on the line by 350 lbs OLs and OTs and the receivers would blow by them on deep patterns every time. As well rounded as they are, in direct matchups with the bigger or faster players on offense, they're going to have problems, which is why you have DBs and DT/DEs. It's all about matchups.
I'm a big football fan, so I like to think in terms of player matchups on the field. Theoretically, the guys that play the linebacker spot on defense are some of the most well rounded athletes. They're big (I'll bet the avg backer in the league these days is over 250 lbs), immensely strong, and still pretty damn quick. But if your defense was made up of just linebackers, they'd get pancaked on the line by 350 lbs OLs and OTs and the receivers would blow by them on deep patterns every time. As well rounded as they are, in direct matchups with the bigger or faster players on offense, they're going to have problems, which is why you have DBs and DT/DEs. It's all about matchups.
The 2013 Cadillac ATS will be available in Standard, Luxury, Performance and Premium trims. The 2.5-liter is only available on Standard and Luxury trims; the 2.0-liter turbo four is available in in all trim packages. The 3.6-liter V-6 is available in Luxury, Performance and Premium trims.
Standard, Luxury and Performance models come with a FE2 sport suspension setup, while Premium rear-wheel-drive models have an available FE3 sport suspension, performance cooling system, limited slip differential and magnetic ride control with real-time damping. Brembo-brand performance brakes are an option across the board.
Base ATS models come standard with 17-inch wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, an air filtration system, Bluetooth streaming audio, ambient interior lighting, OnStar with a one-year Directions and Connections subscription, perimeter security system, halogen headlamps with flash-to-pass, push-button start and dual-zone automatic climate control.
At a bit over $33k base, I wonder what a smart, young Gen Y would pick. An ATS or an ILX?
Cadillac isn't messing around with this model, and I think it will be a success.
Caddilac made the Cimarron and Catera, so that means they can't built a terrific small sports sedan? Honda built the Del Sol, and then managed the S2000.
Specs and looks make the ATS look TERRIFIC. I drive a BMW 3 Series and the problem with BMW is the PRICE!!! A lot of room to undercut BMW on price. Acura's flaw is they build large FWD. Should have gone RWD a long time ago. Terrific SH-AWD, but FWD to me is for people that just want to go from A to B in comfort. Fine, be Buick if you want, but RWD is where Acura needs to be.
GoFaster wrote: Caddilac made the Cimarron and Catera, so that means they can't built a terrific small sports sedan? Honda built the Del Sol, and then managed the S2000.
There's a misunderstanding on your part. I'm agreeing that Cadillac has come a long, long way from where they used to be, as exemplified by the Cimarron and the Catera.
I will state it again, when Honda decides (we all hope) to make another specialized anniversary RWD platform it should be a RWD sedan. They will sell multiple more units than they did with the S2000. Something in the vein of the old BMW 2002.
I predict this the ATS will not outsell the 3 but will do some major damage sales wise.
Isn't anyone curious why the base ATS is between $33k and $34k while the ILX 2.4 stickers at $29,200? I haven't found full specs on the ATS yet but other than RWD you get a 1-year subscription to OnStar for that $4000. The up-market versions of the ATS look really nice but the base model looks overpriced.
Grace141 wrote: Isn't anyone curious why the base ATS is between $33k and $34k while the ILX 2.4 stickers at $29,200? I haven't found full specs on the ATS yet but other than RWD you get a 1-year subscription to OnStar for that $4000. The up-market versions of the ATS look really nice but the base model looks overpriced.
it would be interesting as well to see the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times on the ATS 2.5 manual (if that trim exists, of course) vs the ILX 2.4...
Grace141 wrote: Isn't anyone curious why the base ATS is between $33k and $34k while the ILX 2.4 stickers at $29,200? I haven't found full specs on the ATS yet but other than RWD you get a 1-year subscription to OnStar for that $4000. The up-market versions of the ATS look really nice but the base model looks overpriced.
Since many buyers will opt for the automatic these days, someone wanting a similarly powered ILX to the entry-level ATS will be SOL, since the 2.4 only comes with a stick.
I agree, very nice advert. And with DanielGR, the car doesn't look that nice in the video. Not familiar with Cadillac too.
Anyway, while it is nice, but I can't help think that ad is more suitable for Land Rover instead, with all the National Geographic-like adventure stuff going on. Monaco is a nice track to drive but who can actually drive there? Besides Monaco, and besides nobody can actually take their road car to places by plane, the other places might as well be advertisement for Land Cruiser / Land Rover, at least you can go across desert and offroad, and some actually people do bring their SUVs to countries, but I have never seen people bring their sport luxury sedan to places...
FiSH-Chan wrote: I agree, very nice advert. And with DanielGR, the car doesn't look that nice in the video. Not familiar with Cadillac too.
Anyway, while it is nice, but I can't help think that ad is more suitable for Land Rover instead, with all the National Geographic-like adventure stuff going on. Monaco is a nice track to drive but who can actually drive there? Besides Monaco, and besides nobody can actually take their road car to places by plane, the other places might as well be advertisement for Land Cruiser / Land Rover, at least you can go across desert and offroad, and some actually people do bring their SUVs to countries, but I have never seen people bring their sport luxury sedan to places...
I have to disagree. Historically, Cadillacs were known to be "American luxury" cars. Basically huge, overpowered boats with LazyBoy recliner seats and column shifters. Of course as we all know, that image has changed drastically.
This type of marketing helps give Cadillac a more global image and sheds that traditional "American luxury" image. Cadillac is saying "here is our American sports luxury sedan, on your roads, in your country, on your race tracks and we are not backing down."
CivicB18 wrote: This type of marketing helps give Cadillac a more global image and sheds that traditional "American luxury" image. Cadillac is saying "here is our American sports luxury sedan, on your roads, in your country, on your race tracks and we are not backing down."
Well, okay.... but I immediately thought of Land Cruiser / Land / Range Rover a few seconds into the ad lol.
FiSH-Chan wrote: I agree, very nice advert. And with DanielGR, the car doesn't look that nice in the video. Not familiar with Cadillac too.
Anyway, while it is nice, but I can't help think that ad is more suitable for Land Rover instead, with all the National Geographic-like adventure stuff going on. Monaco is a nice track to drive but who can actually drive there? Besides Monaco, and besides nobody can actually take their road car to places by plane, the other places might as well be advertisement for Land Cruiser / Land Rover, at least you can go across desert and offroad, and some actually people do bring their SUVs to countries, but I have never seen people bring their sport luxury sedan to places...
In terms of Americans, you're correct about no ATS owner ever shipping their car around the globe to drive those wonderful roads. Call it the Walter Mitty scenario - we drive to work every day imagining we're tackling that Grand Hotel corner at Monaco. My daily drive is so mundane the best I can hope for is to hit a few curve apexes now and then. Many well-to-do Americans don't even drive to vacation destinations but rather choose to fly to save time so the big question is usually what rental cars are available.
I think the weird thing about advertising is this ad aimed at young American guys who automatically think BMW when they see videos of those amazing roads around the globe will probably sell a lot of base and mid-range ATS's to middle-aged women in the US. Has anyone here not noticed a lot of the CTS's on the roads are driven by middle-aged women? I doubt Cadillac will complain.
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