Cadillac vs. Germany

The new compact luxury sedan from Cadillac, the "ATS", which was unveiled at the just-concluded Detroit Auto Show and is expected to go on sale in North America in late 2012, will also be introduced to Japan. According to General Motors Japan, the Japanese launch is scheduled for winter or later.



With its near-perfect 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution, efficiently controlled noise and vibration, superior handling, and an advanced infotainment system appealing to younger users, the "ATS" was honed at places like the Nürburgring to go head-to-head with German rivals such as the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Audi A4. How will it be received in Japan, where German cars are highly popular?