The Last Cadillac ATS-V: Pricier, Mildly Sportier, Two Doors Only

If you’ve ever wanted to own a hot Cadillac with a manual transmission, best get in line with those other three guys. The 2019 Cadillac ATS, which ditches its familiar four-door format for a coupe-only proposition, is both the last ATS and the last stick-shift Caddy. Soon, it, the CTS, and XTS will bite the dust as Cadillac makes room for two new sedans — vehicles scheduled to arrive in a market fully obsessed with crossovers and SUVs.

Good luck with that.

While the ATS coupe carries over seemingly unchanged for 2019, the blistering ATS-V variant sees two significant additions. One has to do with appearance; the other, price.

According to CarsDirect, buyers wanting to get behind the wheel of the 464 hp, 454 lb-ft ATS-V coupe should expect to dig deeper for the final model year. Extra kit means the model’s price tacks on an extra $4,000, retailing for $68,790 after delivery.

That additional content arrives in the form of the Carbon Fiber Package, which leaps from the options list to the standard equipment file for 2019. The package brings carbon fiber hood vents, front splitter and rear diffuser, a different rear spoiler, and composite side sills to the twin-turbo V6 coupe. While a six-speed manual comes standard, an eight-speed auto exists as a $2,000 option.

In the regular ATS coupe, buyers of the turbocharged 2.0-liter entry-level model have the option of rowing their own, or handing over the shifting duties to the eight-speed automatic. Moving up to the naturally aspirated 3.6-liter means an eight-speed only.

Given that there’s no horsepower difference between the 2018 and 2019 models, buyers who are immune to carbon fiber’s charms might consider picking up the previous year’s model for big savings. CarsDirect points out that 2018 ATS-V models carry a nationwide $1,000 incentive ($2,000 on the West Coast), plus a $2,000 dealer “Flex Cash” incentive. Tack onto that a $2,000 loyalty bonus if you’re a current GM lessee.

As the ATS prepares to shuffle off this mortal coil, its checkered past looms large. Sliding sales, sky-high incentives, and sagging residual values gave the vehicle something of a black eye — one of many headaches Cadillac experienced during a tumultuous time in the brand’s history. Interestingly, GM’s second-quarter sales report shows the model’s sales up 7.5 percent over the first half of the year.

[Image: General Motors]