Cadillac teases all-new compact sedan

Premium US brand releases a shadowy image of its all-new Mercedes C-Class/BMW 3 Series/Audi A4 challenger

Cadillac has revealed the first teaser image of its all-new compact sedan, which will take the fight to the Euro compact prestige brigade when it launches in the States in mid-2012.

Known for now as the ATS (a moniker that’s tipped to carry over to the production version), the new entrant is built on an all-new Alpha platform, rather than the existing Sigma architecture that underpins the CTS.

The accompanying rendering doesn’t give away too much, but the ATS seemingly embodies a fresh take on Cadillac’s so-called “Art and Science” styling philosophy. From what we can make out, it stays true to the design language of the larger CTS and SLS, but is perhaps a little more edgy and sporting in execution.

This isn’t Cadillac’s first attempt at a small car, as it previously gave us the Swedish-built BLS (an acronym some wags suggested stood for “Bob Lutz Special”), which borrowed much of its hardware from the Saab 9-3. Needless to say, it wasn’t hugely successful, which suggests the exalted US brand is taking its second attempt more seriously.

GM North America president Mark Reuss says the rear-drive (and all-wheel drive) ATS is “being developed to be a driver’s car” and its architecture will remain unique to the Cadillac brand.

“We have extensively and exhaustively studied the competitive segment, and we have benchmarked the best. And when this car comes out, that will be readily apparent,” Reuss added.

The engine line-up is expected to comprise a mix of four-cylinder and V6 units, some of these boosted by turbocharging. The range-topper will be the ATS-V, which rumours suggest will receive a 280kW twin-turbo V6.

Further down the track, the ATS sedan will be supplemented by coupe and convertible derivatives – the latter reportedly with a cloth roof rather than a folding hardtop.

The ATS will be built at Lansing Grand River – the same Michigan assembly plant that builds the CTS sedan, coupe and wagon – which has received an injection of $190m and 600 jobs for the new model. 

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...