Baby Caddy could be called ATS

[nadepalma]

I think that the article may have some of the details confused, but thought it was worth posting.

SOURCE: Motor Authority

Baby Caddy could be called ATS

Cadillac knows its future lies in small cars, especially if it wants to be considered a global player, but for now officials are being coy about what they have in store. What we do know is that Cadillac will be replacing the poor selling BLS range with a new model around 2010. This won’t be the new RWD baby Caddy that’s been hyped in recent months but will instead be a low cost model based on GM’s Epsilon II architecture, and could potentially be built in the U.S. or Mexico. Unlike the current Europe-only model, the next-gen version will be a global model according to GM product czar Bob Lutz.

Following the launch of the new BLS will be the Mexican-built BRX midsized crossover also due in 2010 as well as the replacement for the STS. One year later will see the launch of the larger SRX crossover and next-gen Escalade SUV. Officials are doubtful of a replacement for the XLR luxury sports convertible but the option hasn’t been ruled out.

The car on everybody’s lips, however, is the new Alpha-based Cadillac 1-series rival. Likely to be called the ‘ATS,’ the entry-level Cadillac is scheduled to arrive in late 2011 and will feature a RWD powertrain developed by Holden. The platform was first displayed in the Torana Concept (pictured) by the Aussie division back in 2004. Speaking with GoAuto, Bob Lutz described the car as being “about the size of a BMW 1 Series – maybe just a tiny bit bigger to enable larger wheels.” He was also quick to note that design work and engineering are still in the early stages as developers are waiting to see how the new CAFE standards pan out.

[nadepalma]

The idea of using EpsilonII for a BLS replacement in Europe and around the world is old news - or so we were told. The original plan was to introduce such a product but make it arrive on the market with AWD standard to differentiate it from others in the segment and lend more credibility to the next BLS being a "driver's" car.

But well over a year ago, we heard more concrete plan was to use the Alpha platform for this project. Has this been abandoned?

Using the Alpha platform directly for a 1-Series sized vehicle does't seem to jive with info we've read prior either. Alpha was always supposed to be a 3-Series/mid-sized platform. However, the next Kappa platform was supposed to use elements from Alpha in production form -- very much akin to how the 1-Series' platform uses some 3-Series' componentry.

Could this be what they mean? I don't understand why they put Alpha in play and develop it if they dont' intend to put it under the BLS replacement but only under 1-Series rival.

Would GM actually introduce a RWD ATS product (highly doubtful it will be sold in the US) and have a FWD based platform underpin it's 3-Series rival? Doesn't seem to make sense with Caddy's new credo.

I think this may be a bit twisted in the facts.

[rhvfd10]

I always thought BLS was a dumb name anyway. When I hear BLS I instantly think "Basic Life Support" not exactly car or Cadillac themed. lol

[poncho1982]

Hmm.......ATS.... Above Top Secret

Seriously, it sounds like a terrible name.

I miss names like Eldorado, Seville, Etc.

[jkr2106]

Well I hope for Caddy's sake a lot of the details have been confused
-ep-II for caddy?
-alpha 1-series sized?
Okay...sure

[emh]

An EpsilonII-based Cadillac will be as successful as the previous BLS and Jaguar X-Type (which is, not at all). Cadillac should either do a real RWD compact performance sedan or not bother at all and save the money.

[Koasterking]

Finally. Now, Caddillac needs to work on some serious flagship sedans for its line-up.

[VCDJ]

Let me see. I can get Mexican made BRX or German made GLK or American Made ML. OR American Made X5. Why would anybody in their right mind pay so much for Mexican caddy when they can get American and German MB and BMW?

[VCDJ]

And here we go again. SO we will have Camry (lexus ES) and Saturn (New Caddy) True lexury.

[95MonteCarlo]

If you replace that T with an S whada get???????????????????????

Seriously folks, I'm here all week...........

(Oh on a serious note I think its a good idea with a terrible name.)

[CADILLACSIXTEEN]

Originally Posted by ARTICLE

Officials are doubtful of a replacement for the XLR luxury sports convertible but the option hasn’t been ruled out.

That doesnt sound right at all...
Building the XLR just makes the Corvette more feasible, so I do not see how that could be a bad thing.

More importanly, why would Cadillac axe their hardtop convertible roadster when they are trying to be a global competitor. That makes no sense at all.

I highly doubt the XLR is getting the axe.

[RedVee8]

Surely an Alpha ATS would replace the BLS as a 3series competitor. Under that size RWD becomes less competitive with FWD as the packaging in the rear seat and boot area really bites. A smaller niche Coupe and Convertible would probably work but not a hatch & sedan.

[FenwickHockey65]

ATS=Alpha Touring Sedan. Makes sense to me. Think about it:
CTS=Catera Touring Sedan.
STS=Seville Touring Sedan.
DTS=DeVille Touring Sedan.
Never figured out what BLS stood for...

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

ATS=Alpha Touring Sedan. Makes sense to me. Think about it:
CTS=Catera Touring Sedan.
STS=Seville Touring Sedan.
DTS=DeVille Touring Sedan.
Never figured out what BLS stood for...

B-Series Luxury Saloon is what BLS is, or so I heard.

[t-rex]

Originally Posted by poncho1982

Hmm.......ATS.... Above Top Secret

Seriously, it sounds like a terrible name.

I miss names like Eldorado, Seville, Etc.

I'm not wild about the Alpha-numeric schemes either, poncho, but sorry, Eldorado, Seville, Biarritz, etc. are just too "Uncle Shmooey and Aunt Muriel retirin' down to Boca" for my taste.

Keep the 50s in the 50s. Some classic GM names, like Tempest, and Riviera, would work fine in today's market, but we need to avoid anything that conjures images of opera windows, polyester leisure suits, chrome windsplit moldings, column-shifts and disco balls.

If Caddy wants names instead of an alphabet soup, try some classy-sounding names like Shiraz, Evoq, Emeraude, Imaj, Senator, Mistral, or Vizon...

If GM only want to court Caddy's traditional customer base, the brand will be out of business in less than a decade...

(gotta admit though, I've always loved the Seville name...)