April 21, 2015 at 11:48 am by Joe Lorio | Cadillac has come a long, long way from the overstuffed luxury barges of its (sales) heyday. And no current Cadillac illustrates that fact better than the light, lithe ATS coupe. Cadillac offers its two-door take on the ATS in several different permutations, however, so allow us to help lead you through the morass of choice as we create the anti-DeVille. Cadillac ATS 2.0 RWD Premium coupe (base price: $48,090) One of the more awesome things about the ATS, and an indication of how seriously Cadillac is courting enthusiast buyers, is the fact that it offers a manual transmission—not just in the base version but in all four trim levels. We definitely wanted the six-speed stick in our anti-DeVille. That ruled out the optional, 321-hp 3.6-liter V-6, however, and held us to the 2.0-liter turbo four, which makes 272 horsepower. This is not a bad thing, though. “Smart buyers will get the 2.0T,” we said after our initial drive of the ATS coupe.

That’s because, with 295 lb-ft of torque (20 more than you get in the V-6), the four-cylinder is an energetic performer that pairs nicely with the manual transmission. Our instrumented test of this powertrain showed it hustling to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds (only 0.3-second behind the V-6). Marine Vinyl Flooring WholesalersOf course, its fuel economy also trumps the V-6’s (19/30 mpg versus 18/28 mpg)—oh, and it’s some $3000 cheaper.Poodle Puppies For Sale Alberta Besides the turbo four, the manual transmission also relegates us to rear-wheel drive rather than AWD. Campers For Rent Fort MyersSo budget for winter tires. The harder part of this build was choosing the trim level, and of the four choices, we were pulled toward the two extremes.

The attraction of the standard version, beyond its $38,990 base price, was that it allows one to avoid Cadillac’s frustrating CUE touch-screen infotainment interface. We might have gone that route, if we hadn’t really wanted Magnetic Ride Control, which shows the excellent ATS chassis to its best advantage, taking the edge off the standard suspension setup’s sometimes brittle ride quality while preserving its sharp reflexes. Unfortunately, Cadillac reserves Magnetic Ride for the top-spec Premium only (strangely not even offering it on the penultimate Performance version), and even then only with rear-wheel drive. Thus, we went with the Premium, at a base price of $48,090. At least that $9100 jump versus the standard car buys lots of other goodies. Among them: a limited-slip differential, navigation, heated seats and steering wheel, wireless device charging, a head-up display (an underrated feature), a 12-speaker Bose audio system, “performance” seats with memory, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, and HID headlights with automatic high-beams.

Black microfiber suede shift knob ($200) Black microfiber suede steering wheel ($395) Morello Red and Jet Black semi-aniline leather ($1295) Our anti-DeVille was flirting with the $50K mark, but we were determined to keep it under that. So we only had room for a couple more additions. A black, sueded microfiber steering wheel ($395) and shift knob ($200)—which must be purchased together—are two relatively inexpensive indulgences that we’ll enjoy every day. Finally, we went with two-tone Morello Red and Jet Black semi-aniline leather ($1295), which brightens up the dark interior and pairs nicely with our preferred Phantom Gray Metallic ($0) exterior and standard silver 18-inch wheels ($0). First Drive: 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe Instrumented Test: 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe 2.0T Manual Cadillac ATS Research: Prices, Photos, Specs, Reviews, and More For $49,780, we’ve created what we believe is a true enthusiast’s ATS. It’s the ultimate anti-DeVille—at least until the ATS-V comes along.

#123,022 in Automotive (See top 100) #9 in Automotive > Wheels & Tires > Tires > Passenger Car > Winter 20.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) With roots in the performance racing circuit, the ATS-V Coupe is built to rule the left lane as easily as it rules the track. With a range of refined interior features and sporty exterior lines, you’ll find the edge of your seat never looked or felt so good. INTRODUCING THE 2017 ATS-V COUPE CARBON BLACK PACKAGEWe're Taking A Cadillac ATS-V From Austin To Indianapolis, What Should We Do?5/25/16 4:31pmThe biggest weekend in American racing is almost upon us, and as usual, Jalopnik is sending a crack squad of miscreants and weirdos to cover the race. One of them is photographer and contributor Kurt Bradley, whose smoke-filled photos have often graced our internet pages.Cadillac ATS And ATS-V: The Ultimate Buyer's Guide11/02/15 7:45amThe Cadillac ATS is damn fine car even if it doesn’t have a BMW badge on its hood.

What do you need to know before you buy a Cadillac ATS? Don’t worry, we’ll tell you everything right here in the Ultimate Buyer’s Guide.The Cadillac ATS Coupe Doesn't Need To Be Ashamed Of What It Is11/17/14 3:58pmForget dumb alphanumerics. That's what we should be calling the ATS Coupe. This Is The New Cadillac ATS-V Race Car And It Looks Badass11/14/14 11:40am Cadillac just unveiled their newest race car on Twitter. It's the ATS-V-R, or maybe the ATS-VR, or possibly the ATSVR. Whatever, it looks badass.Cadillac Showed Dealers Plans For Convertible, New Small Sedan10/28/14 12:38pmCadillac has big plans that go beyond just a strange new naming system. They're also planning an onslaught of new models, including a range-topping flagship and a smaller crossover. Interestingly, a new convertible and sub-ATS sedan may be in the cards too.The 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe Is A Nice New Car For Young Old Money8/02/14 3:00pmIf you have what's known as Old Money, meaning Really Very Ancient Old Money, you tend to live in New England and your great-great-great-grandparent has their own Wikipedia page and you drive a Range Rover.

But if your money is slightly more youthful, you'll want the 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe.How To Do A Sub-Cadillac ATS Sedan The Right Way8/01/14 10:00amCadillac's chief global marketing officer Uwe Ellinghaus stopped by yesterday to hang out with the Jalopnik commentariat and talk about how the luxury brand wants to take the fight to its German rivals. Before he split, I had one question for him. The 2016 Cadillac ATS-V Will Literally Fly Around The Track7/28/14 5:22pmNo, seriously. Look at the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V get some sick air off a jump at the Nurburgring.The 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe Will Cost $38,9905/15/14 10:22amCome on, you know you want the Cadillac ATS Coupe over the sedan. The four-door's backseat isn't even that big anyway. Just be ready to pay more for better looks and fewer doors. The Next Generation Cadillac V-Series Cars Are Coming In 20155/12/14 10:50amThe latest Cadillac CTS is phenomenal. The Cadillac ATS is the best small sport sedan America has ever produced. That's all well and good, but there's always room for more — more power, more handling, more noise, more more.

And more is coming in 2015.4/28/14 3:56pmCadillac in China is going to be making an extended-wheelbase ATS reports CarNewsChina. Would you want it in the US?What It Will Take For Cadillac To Make An ATS Wagon1/24/14 5:35pmThe Cadillac ATS is probably the best small sport sedan America has ever made. That's why I, like most Jalops, would love to see it get the chance to become the best small sport wagon America has ever made. Here's what has to happen first. Cadillac Is Considering An ATS Sport Wagon, Someone Bribe Them1/20/14 9:30amThis is The Morning Shift, our one-stop daily roundup of all the auto news that's actually important — all in one place at 9:30 AM. Or, you could spend all day waiting for other sites to parse it out to you one story at a time. Isn't your time more important? Cadillac ATS-V Could Get A 425-HP Twin Turbo V6, Seven-Speed Manual1/16/14 5:30pmYou kids like the Cadillac ATS? Yeah, I do too. That's why I'm pumped for the V version. GM wouldn't confirm it during the Detroit Auto Show, but it's in the cards, and know we have some possible details about its power and transmission.

Cadillac ATS-V Could Use A 500 HP Turbo V6 Shared With... Alfa Romeo?11/12/13 10:20amSince the Cadillac ATS is one of the best luxury sport sedans on the market, I'm confident that its upcoming hotted-up ATS-V version will be a real world-beater. That car's specs remain a mystery, but a new rumor says it could have an engine used by an unlikely bunch — Alfa Romeo. The Cadillac ATS Makes You 'Pretend The Cimarron Never Happened'8/01/13 5:49pm Originally, I was going to post a MotorWeek video about the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. But I couldn't figure out anything to say about that car, even in a snarky tone, so how about we do an American luxury sedan that people actually like? Why I Drive Into Blizzards For Fun2/26/13 12:00pmWhy am I pointing the wrong way on a freeway, in the middle of Snowstorm Nemo, in a car with no heat, no defroster, no snow tires, and no four-wheel drive? Why am I laughing? Because sometimes the worst drives are the best.Get Your Frowny Faces Ready — The Cadillac CTS Wagon May Be On The Way Out12/01/12 10:00am Ever lusted after Cadillac's 556-horsepower, stick-shift-having CTS-V wagon?