Ace of Base: 2017 Cadillac ATS Coupe

Several months ago, I wrote on these digital pages we would never see a base-model pony car in this series, and I’m sticking to that edict. After all, two-door muscle cars shunting their power to the rear wheels should have a V8 under the hood, just as nature and Carroll Shelby intended.

The thing is, though, I freely admit this view is rapidly becoming more antiquated than a digital dashboard from the ‘80s. Four-cylinder mills now routinely crank out nearly 300 horsepower, a full 75 more than the Fox-body V8 Mustangs of my youth. Bolted to a well-fleshed-out chassis, the driving rewards are often vast.

What to do, then? Good thing the General had the foresight to make a two-door Cadillac on the same platform as the Camaro.

The ATS coupe now forgoes the 2.5-liter four-pot, instead using a 2.0-liter turbo four making 272 horsepower and 295 lb-ft as its opening bid. Sound familiar? It should. The same engine is offered in the Chevrolet Camaro. A twin-scroll turbocharger generates up to 20 pounds of boost while dual overhead cams and direct injection keep things quick and modern. Initial research has left me thinking this is the first four-banger in a Caddy since the ‘80s but I promised myself I wouldn’t use the word Cimarron in this post.

A six-speed manual transmission is available on rear-drive models, but you’ll probably have to special order one as an eight-speed automatic is standard equipment (if you know of any stick-shift ATS coupes in inventory on your local GM lot, let us know in the comments). Brembo branded stoppers are found on all four corners of the ATS coupe, hiding out behind a set of 18-inch alloy rims wrapped with run-flat rubber. Bonus: Cadillac tosses in a mechanical limited-slip rear differential when buyers spec the no-cost manual transmission.

Jet Black “leatherette” is found strewn around the interior along with dual zone climate control and seats which adjust in half a dozen directions. I do wish GM had chosen a gauge font other than the one found in a 1995 Pontiac Sunfire. Any exuberant color is an extra cost option, so Ace of Base shoppers should stick to Black Raven or Radiant Silver. I think it looks best in black.

At 3,400 pounds, this base Caddy is said to hit 60mph from a standstill in about 5.7 seconds, powering on to 1,320 ft in a shade over 14 seconds. These figures are within a shout of BMW’s 330i and quicker than a Mercedes C300 Sport.

Just like its big-brother CTS, an 8-inch touchscreen dominates the centre console, fitted with Bluetooth, CarPlay, and *ahem* CUE. A Bose branded 12-speaker audio system is along for the ride in this base model. USB ports and seat belts are nearly equal in number. In a fit of head-scratching option configuration, it seems buyers can spec a red V-Sport engine cover without springing for, y’know, the actual V-Sport package. Stickering at $37,595 before destination, the cost of an ATS coupe can nevertheless climb quickly if one starts checking option boxes with reckless abandon.

Of course, the savvy Ace of Base shopper will restrain themselves and drive off with this base model… at least until they spy the Camaro 1LS across the showroom floor for ten grand less, equipped with the same engine and resting on the same platform. If only I didn’t think a pony car needs a V8 between its front fenders…

Not every base model has aced it. The ones which have? They help make the automotive landscape a lot better. Any others you can think of, B&B? Let us know in the comments. Naturally, feel free to eviscerate our selections.

The model above is shown in American dollars with American options — destination, apple pie, & bald eagles not included. As always, your dealer may sell for less.