Yahoo Autos The Cadillac ATS Sedan Is Dead, But It’s Not That Simple
Cadillac has confirmed that production of the ATS sedan is coming to a close. Although this spells the end of the small rear-wheel-drive sedan as well as the ATS nameplate, it doesn’t mean Cadillac is abandoning the segment, or sedans in general.
“A plan was already in place to conclude the successful lifecycle of the ATS sedan in North America in 2018,” Cadillac spokesperson J. L. Lavina told C/D in an email. “ATS sedan production rate and inventory levels are being managed to ensure retail sales availability through the end of the year.”
The sedan might be dead in the water, but the ATS coupe still has a pulse. Because it is on a slightly different product life cycle, the coupe will be built and sold through 2019, the spokesperson said. The ATS nameplate has not been particularly successful for Cadillac, but the company does not point to slow sales as the reason for its discontinuation.
“Production of the ATS sedan is ending due to extensive plant upgrades, expansion, and retooling to prepare for the next generation of Cadillac sedans,” Lavina added. “Cadillac’s future sedan portfolio will consist of three sedans, positioned in different segments and clearly differentiated by size and price.”
This is why we say the ATS is dying, but not really. Cadillac plans to stick with its commitment to sports sedans but with a different approach. We believe the ATS will be reborn as a smaller sedan called the CT4, one that will move closer to the Audi A3 and the Mercedes-Benz CLA. The CTS, too, will move into a new role, slotting between the BMW 3-series and 5-series, and will don a new nameplate: CT5. The top-tier model is a car already in Caddy’s lineup, the CT6, which Lavina says “will continue as the brand’s prestige sedan. [It] will also play the lead role as a new technology platform for Cadillac, as evidenced by the debut of Super Cruise semi-autonomous technology in the 2018 CT6.”
2018 Cadillac CTS In Depth: Sporty Dynamism With a Few Rough Edges
2017 Cadillac ATS Sedan V-6 Tested: Shoulda Been a Contender
Cadillac ATS: Full News, Reviews, Specs, Photos, Pricing, and More
The 2019 CT6 shows that Cadillac plans to roll out design influence from the Escala concept across its lineup, including on an ATS successor. Apart from its styling, the future CT4 will likely see plenty of carryover from the current car, however. We believe the new model will again be built on GM’s Alpha platform; it should continue to be offered with rear- or all-wheel drive, and we expect it to offer a similar choice of powertrains, with a turbocharged four, a V-6, and a forced-induction V-6. But that replacement is still some way off. The CT5 probably will make its debut first, with the CT4 following after.
You Might Also Like
