Cadillac announced the price for the new Cadillac ATS today. The ATS will be priced starting at $33,990. I can tell you that this price is less than I was expecting. After sitting in the ATS at the New York Auto show I can tell you this price will help Cadillac sell a lot of these cars. I still think that this car will come in a convertible and if it did I would buy one tomorrow. I would love to hear your comments! Below is the press release.

DETROIT – The all-new, rear-wheel-drive Cadillac ATS compact luxury sport sedan with a fuel-efficient 2.5L engine and next-generation six-speed transmission will be priced starting at $33,990, including destination charges. Highway fuel economy will be well over 30 mpg.

“The ATS enters a vehicle segment this year that’s one of the most competitive in the market, from both a price and performance standpoint,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac Marketing. “ATS will bring a distinctive presence and compelling value while offering quick, nimble, fun-to-drive dynamics that will appeal to the lifestyles of modern luxury buyers and challenge the segment’s status quo.”

A mid-level model with a lightweight and powerful 2.0L turbocharged engine costs $35,795 including destination and will offer automatic and manual transmissions, and rear- or all-wheel drive.

Topping the engine range is a 3.6L V-6 with a preliminary rating of 320 horsepower, costing $42,090 including destination with an automatic transmission and standard content that includes CUE, leather 8-way power seats with memory, adaptive start and more. All-wheel drive will be available.

A full breakdown of availability and pricing of packages and options will be available later.

ATS goes on sale this summer, but already the new sport sedan is positively impacting Lansing, Mich., where more than 410 new employees have been hired at Cadillac’s Lansing Grand River plant where the ATS will be assembled. A total of 600 new employees are expected to be part of Cadillac’s $190 million investment in the facility.

A dedicated engineering team has traveled the globe refining and advancing the ATS to meet customer demands. The addition of advanced materials has reduced curb weight to less than 3,400 pounds, more than 100 pounds less than an Audi A4 or Mercedes-Benz C250.

Time spent at premier race tracks around the globe, including Road America, Road Atlanta, Phoenix International Raceway and the Nürburgring in Germany has enhanced the ATS’ sporty ride and handling and engine tuning. The 3.6L model is expected to have a 0-60 mph acceleration time of well below six seconds.

Cadillac’s new CUE user interface, standard on most ATS models, offers the first automotive use of capacitive touch to create an intuitive, modern way for drivers to interact with the car. This technology, used for most smartphones and tablet computers, uses electrodes to sense the conductive properties of objects, such as a finger.

Over the last week or so we had a few members write in and tell me their Cadillac Story. I enjoy these and our members like when they can meet some other members. Here are a few of the stories.

Bill Wickemeier from Cincinnati Oh

What Cadillacs Do You Own? 05 CTS-V & 98 Eldorado

Ive been a member for 6 months or so,last may I bought a Cadillac CTS-V from a doctor in Chicago after I had done an extensive search! This is including a useless trip to Patterson N J for a car from a broker that turned out to be a glorified Junk yard! 3 weeks later I flew to Chicago and was picked up at O’Hare by the doc in a orange ZO6 Vette! He was a man of his word the V could not have been better! Inside & out perfect — 4 extra tires & wheels 4 extra Brembo brake rotors in the boxes! Full tank of gas! THAT’S THE TICKET!

IM happy can u tell, last Tuesday after 5 years of talking to one of my customers,she finally sold me her 98 Eldorado! Can’t even believe this car! Never been over 55 mph in its life 37k! All the service records and paper from new pearl white white top beige interior – chrome package -all options except sun roof!

Brand new Vouge gold stripes! OH and why did she sell it you say? Cuse when she came to sign the title over last week she was driving her new car a 2012 CTS 4 Coupe red w tan! Very cool for an 82 yr old young lady! THANK YOU GENIE !!

—

Oscar Walter from Pittsburgh, Pa

Oscar wrote in to tell us he owns a 1969 Fleetwood, a 1968 Convertible and a 2003 Deville

—-

Lance Roberts from Petaluma, California

What Cadillacs Do You Own? 1967 Eldorado, 1968 Eldorado, 1982 Cadillac Superior Hearse, 1992 Cadillac Superior 6 Door limo with 41,000 miles.

I have always admired Cadillac as my Grandparents bought matching white Coupe de Ville’s every year. His had black leather and hers black cloth. She always said the leather was too hot or too cold…but the cloth was just right.

My first Cadillac was a 1973 Eldorado convertible in colonial yellow, with gold leather followed by a 1974 in Cranberry Firemist. I have owned all years of the 70′s Eldorado convt. Except 1972. When I was 7 years old my parents friends came over to show us their new 1967 Eldorado.I bought that same car from their family 18 years later and still own it.

I recently added a 1968 Eldorado that I am selling on eBay. It looks great but deserves a complete restoration. For 26 years we have been the neighborhood haunt on Halloween so last November I bought a 1982 hearse to add to the decor. This year will be the first year with the hearse in the front lawn cemetery.

Last week I added a 6 door Brougham Superior 6 door limo. It is immaculate and has just 41,400 original miles. A great funeral home find. I am a lifetime member of Cadillac Club International since 1980.

Favorites I have owned…58 and 59 Sedan de Ville, 63 Coupe de Ville, 80 Fleetwood Brougham coupe and on and on…how can I not like a classic Cadillac!

—

I often get asked how do I become a member of the Cadillac Country Club. Our club has no dues and the only requirement is signing up for the email newsletter. If you really want to be a good member and make my day you can also join the forum and make a few post. You can also follow along on social media.

Another thing that makes my day is when people leave comments on these post. As of late I have been getting a lot of email replies when I send a newsletter. I would much rather you leave a comment so others can see it and not just me.

Dan from Pennsylvania sent in some pictures of his beautiful 2005 Cadillac XLR. The color is Silver Platinum Nickel, I love the way it shines in the sun. Dan sent these pictures in a few weeks ago during the NY Auto Show but I didn’t get a chance to share them until now. Dan just got her back from the shop as the water pump decided it had enough and just quit. Welcome to our Cadillac Club Dan.

I have to say I am a big fan of the Cadillac XLR. I think it is just as sexy with the top up as it is with the top down. Thanks Dan for sending in the pictures, she sure is a beauty.

Now that the NY Auto show is over I can get back to posting about our members. As you can imagine I have lots of news from members that have come in over the last few weeks.

This Cadillac was sent in by Poppa De Grande from Northern California. He has a 77 Seville 88 Fleetwood and 84 drop EL Dog

When I was a kid my parents wold always buy the to ford the LTD and never would get a Caddi. I ask why and I was told that if I wanted a Caddi that I would have to by one myself when I got older, lol I did just that many times over lol.

I fell in love with cadillacs when this guy parked his car in front of my house as a kid and left his lights on (or so I thought) He said ” Dont worry about young blood its a little man in there and he runs back and forth and blows the candles out and then my light go off! Lol

My 1st Cadi was a 1964 Sedan De Ville. I saw the car when I was going to school one day just sitting in the driveway. I knocked on the door and the guy said he would sell it to me for 500.00 bucks The car was clean in and out and great running. When I got it home I got a couple bottles of cheap champange and sprayed down lol.

I have had at least 20 of my Fave car And if I had only half of them I would be a money rich man! I have been BLESSED to have had from the classic caddis to the brand new north star when the 1st came out. (Still my fave engine of all time) I could go on and on however I will be around to share more later I wanted to share my pics of what we have named Apple. We as in my 9 year old daughter which has already told me that this is her car when she is old enough to drive lol! More pics to come.
—
Welcome to the club! Can’t wait to see more pictures of your Cadillacs.

I know it has been a while since I have posted but there is one more Cadillac I have to show you from the 2012 NY Auto show. This 2013 Cadillac SRX was really cool. It has the new Cue system in it as I am sure all Cadillacs will have going forward. Standing next to the SRX is Rosemary who was very helpful in providing me with all the details about the SRX. I was able to get a close up view on media day which was cool.

Here are some details from the press release:

The 2013 SRX’s enhanced technology also contributes to safety, with Cadillac’s new Driver Awareness and Driver Assist technology packages. Their features include Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Cadillac’s Safety Alert Seat technology, Automatic Front and Rear Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control and more, using radar and other technologies to help avoid collisions.

Interior and exterior design updates further distinguish the 2013 SRX, while active noise cancellation technology helps provide a quieter driving experience. It goes on sale this fall.

“The 2013 SRX illustrates the Cadillac philosophy of never leaving well enough alone,” said Don Butler, vice president of marketing for Cadillac. “The enhancements for the SRX – including CUE – are examples of how we’re developing advanced technologies and pushing them consistently through the Cadillac portfolio. They are also some of the key elements of the all-new XTS luxury sedan and ATS compact sedan, which will expand the Cadillac portfolio this summer.”

Since its redesign in 2009, the SRX has established a strong visual signature for Cadillac in the luxury crossover segment. The 2013 SRX refines that appearance with a new design for the front upper and lower grilles that conveys greater depth and the brand’s attention to detail. The front fender vents are new and incorporate LED light pipes.

Three new exterior colors are offered: Evolution Green Metallic, Glacier Blue Metallic and Silver Coast Metallic. Also new is the SRX’s range of 20-inch wheel designs, including new chrome and polished aluminum wheels for the Performance and Premium Collections – the top two option packages.

The SRX is offered in FWD and Advanced AWD models, each powered by a 3.6L Direct Injection V-6 that was added for 2012. It is rated an SAE-certified 308 horsepower (230 kW) and 265 lb.-ft. of torque (358 Nm).

—

I may make another post or two about the show but for now we are going back to normal. I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by both the new Cadillacs and our club members. You guys rock! No one complained about the amount of coverage from the show and all the emails. We also picked up a bunch of new readers. Kind of mixing new Cadillac fans with our older Cadillac fans is refreshing. It is good to see Cadillac gaining new fans.

Coming to the streets in early summer the 2013 Cadillac XTS is sure to be a popular seller. I spoke to a lot of people that will be trading in their DTS and STS for this car. I talked to a guy yesterday that was amazed that the starting price was only $44,995. He looked at his wife and she gave the ok for him to buy one. I think he wanted to take his check book out right there on the spot. This same thing happened over 10 times as I stood near the XTS.

In this video you will hear Lorraine explain the XTS and all it’s features.

Lorraine may look familiar to you as she is the host of “What’s my Car Worth?” on the Velocity Channel. If you are on Facebook go like her page.

On Friday I took a short video as they spoke about all the features of the new Cadillac ATS. I can’t wait to see this car on the street. It certainly got a buzz at the Auto Show. The video is a little shaky at the beginning but ends up ok. I think next year I am gonna hire a camera man to shoot videos for the site.

I can really see this model with the 3.6 L engine all-wheel drive being the hit of the summer.

Feel free to share this video using the social media buttons below.

With all the talk the last few days about the new Cadillac ATS I thought I would share this graphic with you. I am a big Mets fan so anything that combines baseball and Cadillac is cool by me. I saw this and just had to share it.

Experience no-hassle car buying at CarsDirect.com

This has been a fun week at the New York Auto Show. I hope you are enjoying the coverage as much as I am enjoying bringing it to you. This week has been a nice break from posting about classic Cadillacs like our site usually has. Today I want to bring you some pictures from my favorite car at the show the 2013 Cadillac ATS. You can see the specs for the ATS on our page from the other day that has the silver ATS pictures on it. Today I want to bring you the red one.

Cadillac has not announced the 2013 Cadillac ATS price yet but I am sure it will be any day now since they just released the price of the Cadillac XTS during the show. I can totally see this car flying off the Cadillac Dealers lots. It is slightly smaller than the CTS and I like that. When I first glanced at this car from far away I was wondering what it was even though I kind of knew it already since it was in the middle of the Cadillac display. The 3.6 liter engine will have plenty of power and I am sure this thing just cuts through the wind and will provide the smooth ride that the CTS is known for.

While I was there everyone that stopped by asked the nice Cadillac rep when it was coming out with a V8. I don’t see it happening but if Cadillac was to make this a V model and a convertible I would run to the dealer and buy one. It would make a perfect affordable replacement for the XLR or the Allante. Of course that is just my observation.

I hope you are enjoying the pictures of the new Cadillacs at the New York International Auto Show this week. This is the 3rd post so far and I am trying to keep each one on a particular model. Today the star of the show is the Cadillac ATS. They had two models for the press and dealers to see and this one is the ATS 2.0T as in 2.0 liter engine with turbo.

I really think that Cadillac hit a home run with this car. Years ago I was thinking that the CTS was too small to be a Cadillac but after seeing this car in person my thoughts have changed. They also had a shiny red ATS with a 3.6 liter engine but that post is for tomorrow. You can see it behind this car. I want to focus on the silver ATS first.

Here is a rear view of the car. If you notice the reverse light is under the bumper in between the exhaust pipes. Since this is an actual prototype I have no idea if they will add more reverse lights than this but I hope they do.

Pictures are nice but you know I couldn’t just have pictures. I needed to do a video of this car also. It was much harder to walk around a car and talk at the same time than it looks. Guess I am out of practice.

Here is the original press release with all the specs.

Cadillac today introduced the 2013 ATS, an all-new compact luxury sports sedan intended to challenge the world’s best premium cars. Developed on an all-new, lightweight vehicle architecture, Cadillac’s entry into the world’s most significant luxury car segment goes on sale this summer.

The rear-drive ATS brings Cadillac’s blend of technologically driven performance, elegance and design to a new audience of spirited drivers. Its sophisticated driving experience is enhanced with Cadillac CUE, a comprehensive, in-vehicle user experience that merges intuitive design with industry-first controls and commands for information and media data.

“Designed with quick, nimble and fun-to-drive dynamics, ATS expands Cadillac’s portfolio into a crucial global segment,” said Don Butler, vice president of marketing for Cadillac. “For a new group of luxury consumers, this is a car that will fit their lifestyle and challenge the segment’s status quo.”

The Cadillac ATS is a new expression of Cadillac’s Art & Science execution philosophy, built on a foundation of driving dynamics and mass efficiency. It is the most agile and lightweight Cadillac, with one of the lowest curb weights in the segment – less than 3,400 pounds (1,542 kg).

Germany’s famed Nürburgring served as one of the key testing grounds, along with additional roads, racetracks and laboratories around the globe, ATS engineers balanced performance with Cadillac’s trademark refinement. Contributing components and features include:

• Nearly 50/50 weight balance
• Cadillac’s first five-link independent rear suspension using lightweight, high-strength steel and efficient straight link designs
• A multi-link double-pivot MacPherson-strut front suspension with direct-acting stabilizer bar
• Driver-adjustable FE3 sport suspension with Magnetic Ride Control real-time damping
• Underbody aerodynamic shields
• Premium (belt driven) electric variable-effort steering gear from ZF Steering Systems
• Four-channel ABS with available Brembo performance brakes
• Available all-wheel drive

“More than just another new entry, the ATS aims to change the status quo of the European-dominated segment,” said Butler. “That is why our approach in all elements of its development is so extensive and focused.”

A broad lineup of engines – including two four-cylinders and a V-6 for North America – delivers strong power to the ATS and capitalizes on the car’s lightweight structure to complement its performance with efficiency. The optional engines include an all-new 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder rated at 270 horsepower (201 kW) and Cadillac’s award-winning 3.6L V-6, estimated at 320 horsepower (238 kW).

At 135hp/L, the new 2.0T is one of the most power-dense engines in the industry, topping engines from European competitors. ATS will offer both manual and automatic transmission options, along with rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive configurations.

The ATS will deliver peak highway fuel economy of more than 30 mpg.

A spirit of lightness and balance

Making the ATS one of the segment’s lightest cars was a fundamental criterion for and the guiding principle during its development, but it was done in a nuanced manner that ensures a refined driving experience.

“Low weight gives the ATS a more nimble and controllable feel, while also optimizing the performance and efficiency of the powertrains,” said David Masch, ATS chief engineer. “But we were careful to manage the weight while maintaining Cadillac’s signature levels of refinement.”

Optimizing the ATS’s mass was the result of a four-pronged philosophy that included strict adherence to original architectural goals, measured load management throughout the vehicle, benchmarking components to see if lighter solutions were available and an overall culture that “weighed” the mass of every component in the car against all aspects of its development.

An aluminum hood, magnesium engine mount brackets and even lightweight, natural-fiber door trim panels contribute to the ATS’s low overall mass – and reflect the systematic approach of evaluating every gram that went into the car. But some weight was deemed not only beneficial, but essential to the ATS’s driving experience. An example is the cast iron differential: Engineers found they could improve fuel economy with a cast iron differential rather than a lighter aluminum version.

And while the rear suspension is mostly steel, the focus on load management and straight links enabled significant weight savings without using alternate materials. This helps offset the weight of the engine and transmission at the front of the vehicle, helping the ATS deliver its near-perfect 50/50 weight balance, while also contributing to lower noise and vibration. A similar approach was taken on the wheels, where extra structural aluminum was strategically added to further reduce vibration.

“We approached development by counting all the grams in the ATS,” said Masch. “We minimized them where we could and put them to the best use where they were needed.”

Tailored design weaves in signature style and refinement

The 2013 Cadillac ATS interprets Cadillac’s Art & Science design language in a new proportion, tailoring the signature styling and refinement cues for the most compact Cadillac while upholding – and advancing – the exemplary attention to detail and technological elements for which the brand is known.

A long, 109.3-inch (2,775 mm) wheelbase and wide front/rear tracks are the cornerstones of the ATS’s firmly planted stance, which is enhanced by short overhangs and taut sheet metal that appears to wrap tightly around the tires. Seventeen-inch wheels are standard and 18-inch wheels are available.

Bold vertical lighting elements – including new LED front signature lighting detail – as well as illuminating door handles and active grille shutters lend technologically advanced style and function to the ATS. The grille shutters close at certain highway speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag and enhance fuel economy.

A driver-focused interior with integrated technology and crafted materials complements the exterior elements and supports the ATS’s driving experience. Everything from the placement of the pedals to the position of the shifter is designed for effortless and intuitive performance driving. Available performance seats have power-adjustable bolsters to optimize lateral support during high-load cornering.

Contributing to the interior’s intuitive feel is an instrument panel that wraps into the doors and a center stack in the mid-instrument panel that flows into the center console. LED lighting for the bold gauge cluster enables clear, at-a-glance viewing in all lighting conditions, while ambient lighting accents functional elements of the console and doors.

Real wood, plated metal plating and carbon fiber trim and Cadillac’s cut-and-sew instrument panel, console and doors enhance the emotional connection to the ATS. Choices of many interior color themes, each with unique accent trim material, cover a wide range of flavors – from light, open and warm to black and serious, to bold, technical and sporty.

CUE and ATS technologies

The ATS is offered with Cadillac CUE, a comprehensive, in-vehicle experience that merges intuitive design with auto industry-first controls and commands for information and entertainment data. It is designed to be unique for each consumer, from the “simple user” to the fully connected “super user.”

CUE, which stands for Cadillac User Experience, pairs entertainment and information data from up to 10 Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices, USBs, SD cards and MP3 players with a vehicle infotainment system that reduces complexity through customized information, voice commands and fewer buttons and larger icons. For example, most of today’s luxury cars have around 20 buttons controlling the radio and entertainment functions. CUE has only four.

The heart of CUE is the eight-inch LCD multi-touch sensitive screen, seamlessly integrated into the top of the central instrument panel and a motorized fully capacitive faceplate at the bottom concealing a 1.8L storage area. The vibrant LCD screen displays CUE’s home page, which resembles a smart phone’s screen by using large, easy-to-target icons to execute commands. Capacitive technology refers to using electrodes to sense the conductive properties of objects, such as a finger.

In addition to CUE, the ATS is offered with other technologies, including:

• Bluetooth phone connectivity with voice recognition
• USB, auxiliary and SD memory card ports
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio with three-month trial subscription
• Keyless access and keyless push-button start
• Reconfigurable 5.7-inch instrument panel cluster display
• Full-color reconfigurable heads-up display.

The ATS is offered as a well-equipped standard model and in Luxury, Performance and Premium Collections. A Bose® Cabin Surround audio system is offered on the standard model, as well as Luxury and Performance Collections. It is standard with the Premium Collection. A navigation system is also available with Luxury and Performance Collections and standard with the Premium Collection.

‘Control and alert’ safety strategy

Safety in the ATS is based on Cadillac’s “control and alert” strategy that employs advanced technologies – including radar, cameras and ultrasonic sensors – to help prevent crashes.

The safety features bolster driver vision and awareness of road hazards, and intervenes to help the driver avert potential crashes. In some cases, Cadillac’s advanced crash-avoidance systems will act without the driver, such as automatic braking, which will activate based on information indicating potential hazards.

Among the most sophisticated of the features is Front and Rear Automatic Brakes. This relies on short-range radar technology and ultrasonic sensors to help the driver prevent front and rear low-speed collisions via a progression of alerts that extend to complete braking, if necessary.

Optional advanced safety features include:

• Full Speed Range Adaptive Cruise Control
• Intelligent Brake Assist
• Forward Collision Alert
• Brake Pre-Fill Automatic Collision Preparation
• Lane Departure Warning
• Side Blind Zone Alert
• Rear Vision Camera With Dynamic Guidelines
• Adaptive Forward Lighting
• Hill Hold/Start Assist (Standard, manual transmission)

The advanced technology safety features complement the ATS’s roster of other safety features, including eight standard air bags (10 with optional features), safety belt pretensioners and load limiters, StabiliTrak electronic stability control system with traction control and four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel ABS.

ATS also features OnStar standard for one year. It can use GPS and cellular phone technology to automatically call for help in the event of a crash. OnStar service also includes myCadillac and OnStar myLink mobile apps, which offer vehicle information, controls and OnStar services via the customer’s iPhone or Android smart phone.

See more coverage from the NY Auto show here with our post on the Cadillac XTS, and Cadillac announces XTS Price.