The New Cadillac ATS Coupe: Impressive handling locked in conservative design

Cadillac is venturing head on into the hotly-contested compact coupe segment in the region with its ATS Coupe, launched last week at Ras Al-Khaima.
Following the sedan lines of exterior design, with wider track lines, the ATS Coupe takes on the likes of BMW 4 Series, the Mercedes Benz C Class Coupe and the Audi A5.
While some might be skeptical about such a challenge, the car actually impresses in more than one aspect.
It is top quality is clearly its dynamic handling.
Cadillac designers, however, played it safe with the ATS Coupe producing a rather conservative exterior design that perhaps shares too much with the sedan.
The design follows bold and clean lines that actually suit demand the region.
However if the company aims to amplify the ATS Coupe dynamic ambitions and challenge the Germans, a head-turning design may be a risk worth taking.
Going beyond the conservative body, interior design quality is by far very special with quality stitched leather, well designed seats and clear dashboard.
Yet, no matter how good or mediocre design is in a coupe, it is always down to handling and performance — and in this department ATS Coupe excels.
It has a 3.6, V6 engine providing 321 BHP which offers the driver a surge of power; it is mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox that transmits power to the rear wheels. Cadillac claims a sprint to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds.
The ATS Coupe is superior on safety featuring a class-exclusive safety alert seat, which alerts drivers through pulses to a variety of potential hazards.
The vehicle also sounds forward collision alerts to warn of being too close to the vehicle in front, a lane-keeping assist system which subtly engages the electric power steering system to keep the ATS within its lane. Wipers can be set to sense rain automatically. The driver can also make use of a rear-cross traffic alert and side blind spot alert. Automatic belt-tightening is standard.
The adaptive cruise control uses forward-facing radar and camera to automatically set speed suitable to road conditions and maintain a selected safe distance from the vehicle ahead.
One of the nice touches in the ATS Coupe is the illuminating door handles, which cast a warm glow at night — a useful feature in dark side roads. The ATS Coupe is the first Cadillac to carry the newly designed crest.