The Cadillac ATS Coupe could well be the most sensible GT ever; here’s why

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Okay, the Cadillac ATS coupe is more of a luxury coupe actually, but there’s more than just a hint of a GT car in it. And who’d have ever thought that the ATS sedan, minus two doors gives you something as outrageously sexy to look at as this.

The ATS Coupe is a mix of smooth-flowing lines, well-contoured panels with the right amount of angular elements giving it a properly modern appeal. The roofline has a nice flow to it with a rear that looks the business; the squat stance only adding to the overall design, enhancing visual appeal. Up front, the windblown crest sits prominent on the signature grille – and the sharp headlamps would really flatter anybody who looks into their rear-view mirror.

Under the beast’s bonnet sits a 321bhp, 3.6-litre V6 that can be synced to all four wheels as an option, while the 4-cylinder 2.0-litre turbo motor can be had with a 6-speed manual ‘box. Every sheetmetal panel on the car has been changed, except for the bonnet.

Performance is strong, with good linear power delivery – and thanks to the lovely exhaust note, you do feel like you’re seated in something sporty. The 6-speed auto’box is tuned to the likes of those who love stick-free shifting. It’s ZF electric steering offers good control around the bends, but the base suspension results in a relatively firm ride; however, opting for the magnetic shocks should have that sorted. Braking on the other hand is effective, with good bite at your disposal.

On the inside, the Cadillac endows a futuristic layout with the front seats offering the same amount of room and comfort as the sedan; a few bits included that could’ve seen better quality. Features include wireless charging for your smartphone, and 4G LTE Connectivity that mimics your smartphone’s display. For occupants at the rear, the front seats flip forward. Reasonable legroom is available for short people, but for six-footers and their long limbs, headroom becomes a bane.

The ATS coupe has been priced competitively, with additional options like lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, radar cruise control and a vibrating driver’s seats that keeps the driver informed of the response from these driver-assist systems. So if you’re looking for something engineered in Yankee land, but are willing to pay German car money, then the Cadillac ATS is nearly as close a leap to buying its performance sibling – the ATS-V. Almost.