Rumorpile: Cadillac Ponders An ATS-based Roadster

This could be what happened to the apparently canceled ATS Convertible

...and there's your business case for the Chevy 130.

and...

Very interesting...well, we know GM is going to want use the Alpha platform for more than 1 model. I wonder if there is a business case for a Buick Alpha. It's nice to imagine a future where GM invests in more RWD models and not just an endless flow of FWD models...

Done right this would be a big boost to GM as they could have this across the family with each family member getting their own unique looking car.

Very interesting...well, we know GM is going to want use the Alpha platform for more than 1 model. I wonder if there is a business case for a Buick Alpha. It's nice to imagine a future where GM invests in more RWD models and not just an endless flow of FWD models...

No need to imagine. The next two platforms coming out are RWD.

Very interesting...well, we know GM is going to want use the Alpha platform for more than 1 model. I wonder if there is a business case for a Buick Alpha. It's nice to imagine a future where GM invests in more RWD models and not just an endless flow of FWD models...

No need to imagine. The next two platforms coming out are RWD.

I'll believe it when I see new RWD models on dealers' lots.. Great news if it happens...

uhm... the ATS will be out in Summer?

uhm... the ATS will be out in Summer?

Yes, but I meant further models...

Cadillac needs a convertible. An ATS convertible would probably sell better than a roadster, but a roadster would probably look cooler.

uhm... the ATS will be out in Summer?

Yes, but I meant further models...

Camaro, a Buick (Riviera on Alpha), Buick (something big on Omega), the Cadillac ZTS (as we are calling it around these parts) on Omega, the 130R is still in the realm of possibility.

I say yet again:

I have to say, the ATS just grows on me more and more.... and I liked it to start with.

What took so long for this story to show up here?

They pointed out when this came out that this is where the ATS Convertible went. I really thing that this car will do more for GM and Cadillac vs the Convertible. The fact they got it away from the Corvette is the best part. It will have it's own area vs just being seen as a over priced Corvette.

I saw the Covertible sales limited at best so the Roadster is not going to hurt that in my eyes. I can only imagine the weight on this one. 3300 on a sedan a smaller roadster should come in under that.

I have to say, the ATS just grows on me more and more.... and I liked it to start with.

For me it is all about what else Alpha can do.

What I like is that we already know the Alpha will be a sedan, coupe, wagon and now a possible roadster. It makes one wonder what else could they do with it. A small unibody SUV kind of like the GMC they showed on the Zeta based Denali Show car. How about a El Camino for Camino? Who knows where this will go. GM has changed things as they go and may cook up new ideas on top of the ideas we have already not seen. This is only the begining for this car so a lot could happen in the coming years.

We also know Cadillac and Chevy will be sharing so it only goes to reason Buick would have a posible interest.

The extra money they had to develope this car will pay off in the long run for any divsion that uses this car. Cadillac did six different suspension before they settled on what they will use for the ATS. I would expect with that much work they would have learned a lot that could be used in many different kinds of models.

It will be exciting to see what comes of all this.

PCS did say that the Alpha was going to be the Epsilon II of RWD. Only... it looks like it is even more flexible size wise.

PCS did say that the Alpha was going to be the Epsilon II of RWD. Only... it looks like it is even more flexible size wise.

I want to see just how flexible it is.

PCS did say that the Alpha was going to be the Epsilon II of RWD. Only... it looks like it is even more flexible size wise.

Hopefully..Epsilon II so far has only 2 wheelbase variations..107.x and 111.x, both pretty short.

PCS did say that the Alpha was going to be the Epsilon II of RWD. Only... it looks like it is even more flexible size wise.

Hopefully..Epsilon II so far has only 2 wheelbase variations..107.x and 111.x, both pretty short.

Not just wheelbase variations, but also body styles. Epsilon has been a sedan, coupe, wagon, 5-door hatch, soft top convertible and hard top convertible and been sold in every division except GMC. I think that widespread use is what PCS was referring to.

We all assume that Alpha has been package-protected for a V8, but with its light weight, I am starting to wonder.

If it can fit the DOHC 3.6, it can fit the LS-series.

and there is no way Chevy will build a Camaro that doesn't have a V8 available.... not yet.... not with Ford and Hyundai upping the V8 war in their sport ccupes.

Could there be a Camaro with a turbo 4? Sure, and I think there should be one made.

Also remember, Alpha is where the next CTS goes. So that means it needs to be able to handle being built into a CTS-V

I've thought about all of that.

What I'm thinking is that we will see a major exchange of the hard parts for something beefier along with some augmented structure for any V8 cars - thus the magic weight loss may disappear.

Needless to say, I'm quite curious about all of that.

I need to see just how Alpha's structure goes together. I suspect that it resembles Zeta with the capability to exchange subframes etc.

It absolutely has the ability to exchange sub-frames.

To extrapolate a bit more, maybe what I'm talking about is one of Alpha's secrets (and Omega's too?).

In the past, a car that was to have an optional V8 was built to that spec which rendered it stronger and heavier than it needed to be for a lesser drivetrain. Perhaps Alpha is not like that at all, but built in different configurations with each accomodating a different drivetrain to maximize weight reduction for the smaller, lighter, engines and drivelines. If that is so, a V8 Alpha bodyshell and structure could be very different from one destined for a 4-banger.

This might be a very good answer for overall efficiency, and perhaps even cost - though I could see that aspect go the other way as well.

I've thought about all of that.

What I'm thinking is that we will see a major exchange of the hard parts for something beefier along with some augmented structure for any V8 cars - thus the magic weight loss may disappear.

Needless to say, I'm quite curious about all of that.

I need to see just how Alpha's structure goes together. I suspect that it resembles Zeta with the capability to exchange subframes etc.

I do not think structurally there will be too much to add for the diference between the V6 and LS V8. The weight difference between an LS3 engine and 3.6 DI is about 25-30 lbs, not enough to justify strengthening of materials to bolster the engine. As an engineer, I would design for the V8 anyways and GM has designed the Alpha for the same.