NEW YORK AUTO SHOW: STUD or DUD? Is The Cadillac ATS' Design SLICK and SEXY or DULL And LACKING PERSONALITY?

I'm going out on a limb here and expect to get flamed but I honestly think the ATS translates better as a coupe than the current BMW 4-Series did in its translation from sedan to coupe, and I'm BMW fan normally.

-00J

Completely agree with you and completely disagree with the others. This car is a very nice piece. The execution is very well done and the car flat out performs. I think the A5 is just fantastic looking, but its platform is ancient. This is possibly the best coupe out there. The 4Series, well I do like the size, its nearly the proportions of the original 6 Series Coupe, but doesn't have nearly the style. The E Class Coupe rides the very old C Class platform which although built like a tank, is seriously dated and heavy. Again, this is possibly the best of the bunch and looks American, it won't get lost next to the others. Nice job Cadillac. BobM I usually agree with you, especially about GM, the Bailout, etc... but not here. If you drive this car, you'll buy this car. Have you sat in one or driven it? Its worth a look...

I agree, the proportions are much better. It has a very dignified upscale look to it.

I agree also -- it's a nice looking and drives better (based on the sedan) as good as or better than anything else in the segment

Couldn't agree more. This is a cleanly-styled and distinctive coupe.

Back is ok. Front? Looks like a chick car.

And most likely drives like one as well.

Front looks nicely aggressive and the body panels are nicely contoured. That rear quarter window is too large and too upright and it basically gives it the impression that Cadillac just removed two doors, and called it a day. Maybe it'll translate differently in person, but it just doesn't look like a sporty offering the same way the 4Series, A5/S5, or C or E coupes do.

I find it really boring. It looks OK in photos, but in the flesh it's really lifeless. That goes for the CTS as well -- it's a very photogenic car but in real life it looks bland. Especially when surrounded by all the other new vehicles the way it is at an auto show.

The handling and performance I expect is world-class. Corvette racing engineering has really trickled down to Cadillac and Camaro etc. and turned these cars into great driver cars. But on the outside, Caddy has actually taken a step back in my opinion from the muscular look of the previous-gen CTS.

But of course that's just my opinion.

Interesting to hear the mix of opinions in here.

After seeing the car in real life in Detroit and today in New York I can't get into it. SO boring.

Then again, I do like the new 4-Series styling WITH the M Sport package AND I also like the new Lexus RC 350 with F Sport.

Compare the ATS V-Sport and/or the ATS-V when they come out with the 4 Series M-Sport and the RC350 F-Sport... Apples & Apples...

Honestly, I'm surprised at how many folks are liking this car (though equally as many disliking it) all over the web. There are certainly staunch Cadillac/American supporters out there and that's good to see.

But I still can't get over how boring this car looks. It reminds me of the way carmakers made coupes back in the 80's and 90's: remove two doors, good to go. I was hoping that the impression would be different in person, but several on here have mentioned that it's no better in the real. I was really looking forward to this car since the driving dynamics of the ATS are so impressive, but I wasn't a fan of the current styling, and the current CTS coupe is so phenomenally styled.

At the same time, coupes in this segment tend to be underwhelming these days. The 4 Series looks very ordinary on the road, though it has a nice, wide, aggressive stance. The C Class coupe needs a new update. The A5/S5 though still beautiful look dated and I dislike the current headlight design. The RC looks like a fancy FRS/BRZ. And the Q60 is the most dated of all and based on the Q50, I'm not holding out much hope for its replacement.

i really like the front and in general really wanted to like this car but this just doesnt do it for me. this looks like a boring old mans coupe. audi a5/s5, rc 350 lexus, 4 series ANY day over this. hopefully the V version looks much better than this.

A Transformer inspired logo, chick-car-ish front, and a "compact" coupe from Cadillac....

Is that even Cadillac still? It should be more like Buick. Because most likely drives like one anyway.

High praise for the ATS's chassis dynamics is near universal in the automotive press. While styling is subjective, the verdict is in on how the ATS drives -- better than any of its competitors. The ATS gives ground to its competitors in other areas, but not in how it drives.

I really like this new ATS Coupe. To me eye, it eliminates the slight frumpiness apparent in the styling of the ATS sedan, especially around the C pillar and rear deck. I also like Cadillac's restrained approach in styling the lower front grill opening -- glad that they resisted the "popeye mouth" look so apparent in the 4 series and the new C Class with their exaggerated lower front grill openings.

They should (MUST!) put the twin-turbo v6 in it, as a V-Sport version, and also offer a convertible.

If it was offered in convertible form, in crazy and wild V trim (with the supercharged corvette v8 if it fit) they could charge $100,000 for it.

Its a pretty sweet ride and the ATS platform is really GM's best handling platform.

So this is the "new" Eldorado?