Currently reading: Detroit motor show 2012: no diesel for Cadillac ATS

The BMW 3 series-rivalling Cadillac ATS will launch in Europe without a diesel engine.

General Motors will initially launch its new Cadillac ATS saloon in Europe without a diesel engine.

Speaking at the ATS's reveal on the eve of the Detroit motor show, Cadillac's marketing chief Don Butler confirmed to Autocar a diesel ATS would be launched before the 3-series rival received a mid-life facelift "within four years", but added a European launch would not wait for the diesel to be readied.

Read more about the Cadillac ATS

Butler believes that the new turbocharged 270bhp four-cylinder engine that GM will launch in the ATS is a worthy alternative to diesel in the meantime. "I can see an ATS with that engine on the Autobahn being a very strong performer," he said.

Butler refused to confirm whether or not the diesel engine would be sourced from within GM or if it would be a new Cadillac-specific engine.

The ATS's all-new rear-drive platform has been conceived right from the outset with right-hand drive in mind, Butler confirmed.

"If we want to be taken seriously as a global luxury brand then we need to compete on all worldwide stages," said Butler. "Out volume will never be massively high in Europe, but we need to have a complete presence."

Cadillac's previous 3-series 'contender' was the Cadillac BTS, a reskinned Saab 9-3 that was never competitive. Butler said GM had learned from past failings.

"We have learned that if you want to succeed, you have to design everything to win. You can't just take something you already have and force feed it."

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Mark Tisshaw

mark-tisshaw-autocar
Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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fhp11 9 January 2012

Re: Detroit show: No diesel for Cadillac ATS

To be fair,

I would rather them launch without Diesel and then launch a bit later with a Good diesel than just rush a diesel ready for it.

At the end of the day, Infiniti Launched with just Petrols only recently adding a diesel and they are slowly grabing share.

It will at least give them time to sort out a dealer network.

Maxycat 9 January 2012

Re: Detroit show: No diesel for Cadillac ATS

BriMarsh wrote:
Autocar wrote:
General Motors will initially launch its new Cadillac ATS saloon in Europe without a diesel engine.
How refreshing! A range of cars untainted by accountant's choice eco-specials, makes me like them even more.
As I have already said we are all entitled to our own choices but I would choose diesel over petrol for the driving experience on virtually all cars.

BriMarsh 9 January 2012

Re: Detroit show: No diesel for Cadillac ATS

Autocar wrote:
General Motors will initially launch its new Cadillac ATS saloon in Europe without a diesel engine.
How refreshing! A range of cars untainted by accountant's choice eco-specials, makes me like them even more. And having guaranteed massive depreciation, I look forward to considering one of these in 2018.