This week was a pretty big week for Cadillac with the first Cadillac ATS coming off the assembly line. Below is the press release and some pictures and videos.
DETROIT – The first 2013 Cadillac ATS compact luxury sport sedan intended for public sale was built today at the Lansing Grand River assembly plant in Michigan, culminating a massive design and development project.
Arriving in U.S. dealerships in August, ATS is Cadillac’s all-new entry into the most significant global luxury segment, featuring a new rear wheel drive-based architecture targeting nimble, quick and fun driving performance.
Cadillac’s Lansing Grand River plant, also the production site for the CTS Sedan, Wagon and Coupe and V-Series performance models of each, underwent a $190 million upgrade for ATS production. A second shift was added, creating or retaining 600 jobs.
In total, the award-winning plant that opened in 2001 now has 1,643 salaried and hourly employees.
“The new Cadillac ATS represents an investment in Lansing and our workforce,” said Tony Francavilla, Lansing regional plant manager. “A successful launch needs a great process and a great product, but at the heart of it all are the people, and the care they put into each and every vehicle.”
The ATS expands Cadillac into the highest volume category in the luxury automotive industry. Following the initial start of production in Lansing, distribution to U.S. dealerships will begin in August. Exports to international markets will begin later this year.
“This is a car with a big mission, and it’s been comprehensively prepared for that mission,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac Marketing. “The new-from-the-ground-up ATS creates a new entryway into the Cadillac brand for luxury car drivers, and a compelling new challenger to the status quo among the top luxury sport sedans.”
The all-new ATS was custom-built using a new lightweight vehicle architecture featuring advanced materials and techniques to ensure precise driving dynamics. ATS includes a host of exclusive advanced-tech features, including Magnetic Ride Control, the Safety Alert Seat, and CUE, a new in-car user experience for connectivity and control using industry-first capacitive touch and natural voice recognition systems.
The ATS hits the airwaves during the television broadcast of the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Olympics on Friday.
I enjoyed the video. I love the looks of this model, ATS, does it come in a coupe or even a ragtop yet? It is a sharp Cadillac, but its for the new generation like the likes of Justin Bieber and his generation of buyers. For me, If I was to get a Cadillac, it would have to be a ’69 Cadillac de Ville ragtop, a bright red one with a White top and white seats and red piping interior and a full contental kit on the back.That’s a Caddy at least to me.
If any of you Cadillac owners or Cadillac collectors want a T-shirt with your Cadillac or laSalle on it, please let me know.My email or my cell.Thanks,
Dave Beveridge
Dave’s Cadillac Art,
carslovei@hotmail.ca
289-938-5155
There is no rag top yet but I have heard that they are thinking about it. I hope they build one for sure.
AWESOME car. I have seen most of the videos about it. Very nice.
The two adventurers in the video perfectly represent the market segment Cadillac seeks…excellent marketing…..
I am not sure I agree. As someone who is probably going to get an ATS I think they went a little overboard shooting these videos. I couldn’t care less about these guys and only care about the car. I don’t care to see the car in these exotic places that I will never drive on. Am I crazy lol