Cadillac Chief Robert Ferguson Says ATS Coupe Is On; Europe Gets a Diesel

[patrickbec]

Cadillac Chief Robert Ferguson Says ATS Coupe Is On; Europe Gets a Diesel
Automobile
January 22, 2013
by Todd Lassa

The Robert Ferguson interview began with a question he had heard all day long. This was his last appointment during a Detroit show press preview day that began with the launch of the production Cadillac ELR at the Detroit auto show.

How did he get this job? Less diplomatically, the question might have been worded, “How in the hell did you go from being General Motors’ chief lobbyist in Washington to vice president for global Cadillac?”

“So, I was in Washington, D.C., the last three years. Our largest shareholder was based there…”

“Still is,” I interject.

Ferguson says he was interested in running Cadillac because, “I think it’s a cool job.” That job, he later reveals, though with great subtlety, includes adding a coupe to the ATS range. He won’t confirm bigger-than-CTS models. Cadillac is scheduled to unveil its Mark III CTS, on a longer-wheelbase version of the ATS’s Alpha rear-drive platform, at the New York International Auto Show this spring.

Ferguson didn’t quite hold back on the prospect of adding a coupe model to the ATS sedan. Cadillac showed an ATS coupe concept to journalists way back in 2009.

“Our initial plans for ATS that you describe are still our plans,” he says. “That’s a great car, and we need to have variations of it, and we will.”

Full article at link.

[ral1960]

"Cadillac is scheduled to unveil its Mark III CTS"

Now that's just insulting, using Lincoln terminology.

As usual, the idiot reporter does not say when the NY show is.

[posaune]

Did anyone really think they weren't going to make an ATS coupe?

[swagled]

Did anyone really think they weren't going to make an ATS coupe?

Well they probably sowed enough doubt that people speculated it might be dropped or delayed. Certainly no one was fooled into thinking the plans did not exist.

[JBsZ06]

NY auto show is usually good Friday ....I usually go Easter Sunday with my son. Great father son day and we look forward to seeing the new cts.


Easter Sunday, I believe is march 31st this year. Good Friday is the 29th.

[big swede]

They had to have an ATS coupe to compete with everyone else so I don't think this is surprising news to anyone but it is nice to see it confirmed.

There's some seriously stiff competition in the coupe segment of this class so GM better bring their A-game and if they do this could easily be my next car.

[ral1960]

I'd drop the coupe and just make a convertible. The back seats will be barely usable anyway.

[big swede]

I'd drop the coupe and just make a convertible. The back seats will be barely usable anyway.

No way, the competition will all have coupes and if you are doing a convertible then you already have all the two door hardware.

[roy219]

"Cadillac is scheduled to unveil its Mark III CTS"

Now that's just insulting, using Lincoln terminology.

As usual, the idiot reporter does not say when the NY show is.

Use of the word "Mark" (abbreviated Mk.) followed by a positive integer is shorthand for referencing a specific generation of an automobile. While it is most common in Europe, use of the term has apparently caught on elsewhere including the USA.

2013 NYIAS dates are March 27-28 for press and dealer previews; March 29 - April 7 for the public show.

[sfbreh]

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!!!!!!

I AM SO. EXCIIIIIIIITEEEEEED! I can't wait now. Escalade at LA. Called it.

[CaddyLac10]

Ideally, I'd like to see a coupe with a little more distinction than a two door ATS. I hope that Cadillac takes the approach of the 4 series and A5; a coupe built on the ATS's bones but with more distinctive style and design than the ATS. Cadillac should really consider how the position it because the trend is changing right now. A separate model would work better for pricing, positioning, and design flexibility. Get it right Cadillac!

[mgescuro]

I'd drop the coupe and just make a convertible. The back seats will be barely usable anyway.

No. Coupe is needed. Convertible is also needed, and if the coupe exists, the structure is already there.
IMHO, wagon is also needed.

[Z284ever]

This Ferguson fellow seems like an interesting character to me......

[ne_one]

I'd love to see that ATS coupe concept from 2009.

[sfbreh]

I'd love to see that ATS coupe concept from 2009.

Me too. I'd love even more to see a sexier version of it.