Quote:
Originally Posted by Rock36
IMHO Cadillac has an image problem not a performace problem, and this has been true for years. Performance numbers alone aren't going to steal many BMW customers, and the message I'm concerned Cadillac is broadcasting is, "BMW makes such an awesome car that we have to try to out 3 series a 3 series". This implicit focus on how good the BMW 3 series is a double-edge sword for Cadillac. It seems to also tell BMW owners and prospective BMW owners that they already have the car to beat, which is not true at all in my opinion.
Maybe I'm reading way too much into this, but that is the impression I get with all the ATS vs. 3-series talk. Again, I want to know what is compelling about this car vs. the segment not just the 3-series.
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You're talking as if Cadillac put the whole thing together & decided that the only other car that should be present is the 3 series. Motor Trend did the comparo and wanted to see how the new ATS stacked up against the car that they felt was the best in segment (according to a recent multi-car comparison test they conducted before they had access to the ATS). If you've got a problem with the 3 series being protrayed in the video as the car to beat, your beef is with Motor Trend -not Cadillac.
GM did not focus solely on the 3 series when they did their benchmarking for the ATS. They bought 2 of every competitor & used those cars to determine where to set their targets for each aspect of the car (ride, handling, body stiffness, erogonomics, seating comfort, materials, fit and finish, etc). This is a standard practice at any major company, not unique to the ATS, GM, or even the auto industry. But the point is, GM brass didn't just grab a previous generation 3 series and say 'build us a better one of those'.