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"How did we get that light weight?" Masch asks . . . then answers that it is essentially achieved through the implementation of a combination of materials and engineering. As in: • Steel. They used mild steel for the outer panels, because that allowed them to achieve, Masch says, the "crisp lines and drama on the surfaces of the car." (More about the design in a moment.) They used high-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) steel and bake- hardenable steels in areas where they needed durability. And they used advanced high-strength, ultra-high strength, and press-hardened steels in areas where occupant safety and crash-energy management are required. • Aluminum. "We used a lot of aluminum, especially in the front of the car," Masch says, speaking mainly of the suspension (which is a MacPherson-type with dual lower ball joints, twin-tube struts, and a direct-acting stabilizer bar; aluminum is used for such components as the knuckles and suspension arms). An aluminum transmission cross member is used. (And speaking of the suspension, in the back, which is an independent fve-link design, Masch says that in order to help balance the weight, ferrous materials, such as thin-gauged steel sections, are used.) • Magnesium. The engine mount brackets. Following on what was achieved with the ATS Sedan and CTS Sedan, Masch says that there is extensive use of structural adhesives for the CTS Coupe. In all, 116 meters (or 380.6 ft). "It helps provide a solid feel," Masch says of using the bonding on the fanges along with spot welds. He notes that compared to the CTS Coupe, there is 42% greater static torsional stifness and a 28% improvement in dynamic modes, as well. While the materials deployment and suspension setup—as well as the standard ZF belt-driven, rack-mounted, electric steering gear and optional Magnetic Ride Control—are all about improving the ride and handling, there is also the issue of how the car looks. Brian Smith, Cadillac exterior design manager, who worked on both the 2013 ATS Sedan and the 2014 CTS Sedan, says, "We got to start with a sedan with great rear-wheel-drive proportions p Because the ATS ofers 4G LTE capability, there is the good likelihood that there will be an increased need for charging, so the car also has Powermat wireless recharging. On the bottom of the center stack there is a door that opens. Inside there is a rubber mat. The phone—assuming that it has the capability—is placed on the mat where it is electromagnetically charged. AD&P; > October 2014 > FEATURE > On the 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe > Gary S. Vasilash > gsv@autofeldguide.com 40