There is a lot riding on the success of the Cadillac ATS, GM’s new BMW 3-series fighter that has been trained and toned in “ze German Fatherland.” With an optional 2.0 liter turbo, six-speed manual transmission, and a super sporty suspension, the Cadillac ATS is already set up for success…and GM may already be considering a host of variant models to ride on the ATS’s Alpha platform.
The Detroit Bureau reports that in addition to a couple version of the ATS, Cadillac is also considering both high-powered V-variants and perhaps even a droptop model as well.
The ATS will first hit showrooms as a sedan, though like its older and larger cousin the CTS, the ATS could soon be had sans two doors. A coupe version of the ATS would surely attract plenty of buyers, and to be honest, we had already assumed such a vehicle was under development. Same with a V-Series ATS; Cadillac would be foolish NOT to offer a hot rod version of its hot little sedan.
But the rumor mill is also reporting that a convertible version of the ATS might also be in the works…and we’re not so sure if that is a good idea. Granted, we’d have to see what a production model looks like, but Cadillac has not had much success with droptops since the 1970’s. The last convertible Cadillac, the Corvette-based XLR, sold in such low volume that it was dropped after just a few years.
However, a coupe version of the ATS, and maybe even a wagon, would slot in nicely with Cadillac’s lineup. Who knows…maybe they’ll even find a way to shoehorn an LSx-V8 under the hood…