Cadillac ATS Coupé: A new standard

Cadillacs have always been the ride of choice for those daring enough to break away from convention; those who expressly sought to stand out from the crowd that flocked to BMW, Mercedes or Audi showrooms.

Cadillacs have also been the ride of choice for those who preferred to just ‘ride’ a car; those who flinched at the very thought of a steering wheel in their hands. With good reason, too. As distinctive and progressive as Cadillacs were in their styling, none of their models could hold as much as a candle stub to their German rivals when it came to handling and dynamics. That is until the CTS came along and changed perceptions, and the smaller ATS saloon cemented the transformation with its remarkable agility and love of curves.

So when GM Middle East introduced the new ATS Coupé as a car that was “lighter, more agile and more engaging than its competitors” and promised “a sporty and sophisticated driving experience rivalling the world’s best”, none of us in the media briefing room were laughing. In fact, we were raring to have a go in what we expected to be a great driver’s car.

And the ATS Coupé didn’t disappoint. Boasting magnetic ride control suspension, Brembo brakes up front, electronic steering assistance, and a limited slip differential, the ATS Coupé soon proved itself to be highly capable of carving corners. Although the steering feels a bit vague around a series of roundabouts on my way from the hotel in Ras Al Khaimah, flicking it to Sport mode sees the wheel weighting up delightfully as we start climbing Jebel Jais, one of the best mountain roads in the country.

Apparently the engineers at GM have reduced power assist to the ATS’s steering, which has had a positive bearing on the wheel’s feel and feedback, as I soon find out when the Coupé gobbles up curve after curve. However, it still seems to be some distance from the accuracy and crispness of a 4 Series, although a drive that lasts just a couple of hours is not the ideal scenario to evaluate such a car’s capabilities.

The driver-adjustable sports suspension with MacPherson struts and a stabiliser bar up front and an independent five-link set-up at the back is impressively rigid in the Sport setting, and the 50:50 weight balance and reassuring levels of grip add to the overall experience behind the ATS Coupé’s wheel. And when you’re in the mood to just enjoy a serene ride, turn the suspension setting back to Normal, and the magnetic dampers will afford you a softer, more traditionally Cadillac kind of ride, although there’s noticeably more body roll in this setting.

While many other markets get two engine options, including a superb 272bhp 2.0-litre turbo, Cadillac continues to short-change our market by bringing only the 3.6-litre V6 here. The six-cylinder is the more powerful engine of the two, but the turbo four-pot with its abundant low-end torque is infinitely more fun to flog, as I found out after sampling both engines back-to-back in the new CTS last year.

Having said that, I also noticed that the V6 felt more refined and responsive in the ATS Coupé than it was in the CTS or even the ATS saloon. Mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox, its power delivery is smooth, with a muted yet crisp exhaust note to boot. Negotiating the steep upper section of Jebel Jais, the six-speed auto impressed with its ability to hold a gear through the powerband and squeeze the most out of the old V6.

While the ATS Coupé carries the mantle of breaking long-held stereotypes admirably well, it disappoints in certain other areas. Ironically, one of these is an area where Cadillac has traditionally excelled; distinguishing itself from the rest with butch styling.

The ATS Coupé perhaps has the least striking looks among the latest cars to wear the laurel wreath. In fact, it doesn’t even wear a laurel wreath. The ATS Coupé is the first production Cadillac to wear the redesigned crest, which is now wider and flatter, and has eschewed the classical circlet that had surrounded it for so long.

While the 2015 ATS Coupé rides on the same 2,776mm wheelbase as the saloon, Cadillac claims all sheet metal – except the bonnet – is new. If that’s the case, then the Coupé is an opportunity lost as it doesn’t look any more stimulating than an ATS saloon with two fewer doors. Those who were expecting to see a distinctly wedgy design will be disillusioned but can look for some solace in the fact that a few Cadillac trademarks have been left intact, like the vertical lights front and back, and that the Coupé has a more aggressive stance and a more swooping profile than the saloon thanks to a 20.3mm wider track and a lower roofline than the saloon’s. The overall height of the two-door is lower than the four-door’s by almost 30mm.

Inside, the front seats with adjustable bolsters are super supportive and easy to get comfortable in, and the wide power adjustment options make finding the perfect driving position a breeze. Add to this the satisfyingly chunky steering wheel, and you’re soon ready to harness all the performance this car has to offer and put it to good use. The same can’t be said, though, about the rear seats, which are best reserved for kids and those who don’t figure high in your relationship list.

Fit and finish might not be the best in class, but the ATS’s cabin feels more welcoming and swish than those of its German rivals. Cadillac also offers various trim options in the ATS, which include wood and metal for a plush ambience or carbon fibre and Alcantara for a sportier feel.

Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system is carried over with little change, but while the touch-sensitive buttons with haptic feedback give the centre console a cleaner look, their responses are still a bit iffy. A clever new addition is a charging mat tucked away behind the CUE screen, which can wirelessly charge any compatible phone.

With the ATS Coupé, not only has Cadillac taken the fight closer to its established German rivals in this fiercely contested class, but has also managed to trump all but the BMW 4 Series in dynamic ability and driving fun. And despite its non-controversial styling relative to other Cadillacs, it still stands out from the pack.

Although prices start at an optimistic Dh194,000, what you get is definitely worth the money – yet another brilliant addition to the new portfolio of Cadillacs that appeals to those who love having fun behind the wheel rather than to poseurs and well-heeled pensioners.