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New Vehicle Cadillac ATS 2013

New Vehicle Cadillac ATS 2013

This time Cadillac isn't trying the bigger car/smaller price formula it used with the original CTS. Instead, the ATS is nearly identical in size to the latest 3 Series.

The 2013 ATS takes Cadillac’s Art & Science design language and reinterprets it for proportions relative to the vehicle’s compact design. The compact model sits at 182.8 inches/4643mm long, 55.9 inches/1421 mm tall, and 71.1 inches/1805 mm wide. Its wheelbase measures 109.3 inches/2775 mm, with a 59.5 inches/1512 mm track in the front and a 60.9 inches/1548 mm track in the rear. The ATS was built using a new rear-wheel drive platform with a total weight of only 3400 lbs and a 51/49 weight distribution. Cadillac managed to keep the weight as low as possible by using an aluminum hood, magnesium engine mount brackets, and lightweight, natural-fiber door trim panels.

After being rumored for quite some time, the new Cadillac ATS compact sedan has officially been unveiled at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. The car was built to challenge some of the world’s best premium cars like the BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes C-Class. It will go on sale in Summer 2012.

No matter how far under the 3,400-pound threshold Cadillac gets, the ATS will be well-equipped to outrun the 3 Series, provided you choose the right engine. Customers will have the possibility to choose between three engines: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 200 HP, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 270 HP, and a 3.6-liter V6 with 318 HP. All three engines can be combined with either a six-speed manual transmission or an automatic transmission, as well as an optional all-wheel drive system.

Old Vehicle Chevrolet

New Vehicle Mercedes ML 2012

DESIGN

Though similar in external size to the outgoing second generation M-Class - it’s marginally longer and wider and slightly lower - the gen-three vehicle is noticeably more spacious inside than before. Even better, it has a light and airy feel that makes it appear larger again. Again, the dash area follows the latest Mercedes’ style, with large, easy-to-read speedo and tacho directly in front of the driver and a good-sized multifunction central display screen sitting high to minimise driver distraction.

A new range of control stalks gradually being introduced throughout the Mercedes range are a feature of the new M-Class. To our fingers they don’t have the same solid feel as the long-standing older units, but we will probably become used to them with practice. Another change that will be noticed by longtime drivers of M-Class, is the replacement of the somewhat awkward foot-operated parking brake with a finger operated unit near the bottom right of the steering wheel. That is, in the same position occupied by the release lever for many years - a sensible move.

VALUE

The complete 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class is priced between $81,400 and $177,900. Pricing of the all-new Mercedes-Benz M-Class is impressive, with drops of several thousand dollars compared with the outgoing model, and that despite the new M-Class having significantly more equipment than its predecessors.

TECHNOLOGY

A full range of connectivity is offered in the new Mercedes SUV, with Bluetooth streaming, USB and even an SD card. A total of 40 Gb is used in the complex information and entertainment system that, among other things, provides Suna traffic management. Around 10 Gb is available for storage of music and similar files. At this stage only two engines are being imported to Australia due to high demand in other countries stretching the factory’s production output. These are both turbo-diesel units; a four-cylinder 2.1-litre producing up to 150 kilowatts of power and a stunning 500 Newton metres of torque; and a 3.0-litre V6 with an even more impressive 190 kW and 620 Nm.

Fuel consumption figures of 6.4 and 7.3 litres per hundred kilometres, respectively, are quoted for the two diesel engines described below. Driven carefully on country trips the ML 250 could cover 1500 kilometres between fills. These new-design diesels, working with a stop-start system, seven-speed automatic, low rolling resistance tyres, clever body aerodynamics and numerous smaller changes have pulled the fuel consumption down by an average of 25 per cent across the new model range.

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