Breaking: Upcoming Cadillac Convertible Canceled
One Alpha product bites the dust.
www.GMInsideNews.com
September 27, 2011
By: Nick Saporito
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Recently news and spy shots regarding Cadillac’s ATS program have trickled out every week, even from GM themselves. Despite the fanfare around the program, GMI has learned of some negative news regarding Cadillac’s small car program. The originally planned convertible variant has been canceled.
Back in October GMI confirmed that three variants of the ATS program were under development. Both coupe and convertible models were planned to accompany the sedan, however both would launch several months after the sedan launches in 2012. A wagon variant of the ATS program was also slated very early on in development, but was canceled before the program was finalized. All variants were to be built on GM’s upcoming rear-wheel drive Alpha platform to combat the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes Benz C-Class.
According to sources familiar with Alpha development, GM has elected to cancel development of the ATS convertible. The source, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, stated that volume projections for the car were not high enough to justify the needed capital investment to build it. As of today the coupe variant is still in development.
The Alpha platform will make its debut next year with the launch of Cadillac’s new sedan (still codenamed ATS), which should arrive in dealerships in the summer. The car is expected to utilize a new variant of GM’s 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder and 3.6-liter V-6 for power, both mated to six-speed transmissions. Cadillac's destined for export markets will also have the addition of GM's new 2.5-liter four-cylinder. All-wheel drive will be optional on all models.
Expect the Alpha coupe to arrive much later as an early 2015 model. High performance V-Series editions of both the sedan and coupe are also expected, though the V-Series engine selection may not be final yet. Production of all ATS variants will take place at GM's Lansing Grand River assembly plant in Lansing, Michigan.
One Alpha product bites the dust.
www.GMInsideNews.com
September 27, 2011
By: Nick Saporito
Recently news and spy shots regarding Cadillac’s ATS program have trickled out every week, even from GM themselves. Despite the fanfare around the program, GMI has learned of some negative news regarding Cadillac’s small car program. The originally planned convertible variant has been canceled.
Back in October GMI confirmed that three variants of the ATS program were under development. Both coupe and convertible models were planned to accompany the sedan, however both would launch several months after the sedan launches in 2012. A wagon variant of the ATS program was also slated very early on in development, but was canceled before the program was finalized. All variants were to be built on GM’s upcoming rear-wheel drive Alpha platform to combat the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes Benz C-Class.
According to sources familiar with Alpha development, GM has elected to cancel development of the ATS convertible. The source, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, stated that volume projections for the car were not high enough to justify the needed capital investment to build it. As of today the coupe variant is still in development.
The Alpha platform will make its debut next year with the launch of Cadillac’s new sedan (still codenamed ATS), which should arrive in dealerships in the summer. The car is expected to utilize a new variant of GM’s 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder and 3.6-liter V-6 for power, both mated to six-speed transmissions. Cadillac's destined for export markets will also have the addition of GM's new 2.5-liter four-cylinder. All-wheel drive will be optional on all models.
Expect the Alpha coupe to arrive much later as an early 2015 model. High performance V-Series editions of both the sedan and coupe are also expected, though the V-Series engine selection may not be final yet. Production of all ATS variants will take place at GM's Lansing Grand River assembly plant in Lansing, Michigan.
