2012 Cadillac ATS Photos, engines & full specs

After it ditched the front-wheel driven BLS, Cadillac returned to the premium compact segment with the ATS, a sporty sedan aimed at BMW's 3 Series, and to the C-Class from Mercedes-Benz.

While the BLS was based on a front-wheel drive platform, the ATS came with a rear-wheel drive setup, and that brought it in the same league with most premium European and Japanese automakers. In addition, the new design language made the compact sedan more attractive to younger customers.

The angular shapes of the car were penned by Bob Boniface, the same person who made the Chevrolet Volt concept car and the Chrysler 300C. For the ATS, he made the swept-back headlights extended over the front fenders and the angular look of the upper and lower grilles of the car. From its profile, the ATS sported a cab-rearward design and a short rear deck.

Inside, Cadillac installed a luxurious, leather-wrapped cabin fitted with bolstered front seats and a rear bench that was rather suitable for two. The transmission tunnel that crossed the car from the engine to the rear axle made the middle-seated rear passenger feel uncomfortable. But the driver could enjoy not only the new design language but also the high-tech features installed in the car, such as the touchscreen infotainment system placed atop the center stack and the wide instrument cluster filled with four dials and an LCD for the onboard computer.

Cadillac offered the ATS with a choice of three engines ranging from 205 hp to 327 hp, which put it on par with BMW and Mercedes-Benz. In addition, it made the car with either rear- or all-wheel drive.