Cadillac has received fabulous reviews for its ATS line, so naturally they opted to do what any good business would do: they expanded on what was already a good thing.

At the Detroit Auto Show, Cadillac unveiled its first ever compact luxury coupe, the 2015 ATS coupe. They proved with the sedan that they could run with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi, so they decided to try with two doors, as well.

The early returns look good: the ATS coupe is equipped with two powertrains and, as surprising as it sounds, the smaller engine actually looks more impressive. That’s the base 2.0 turbocharged 4-banger that manages 272 hp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque, despite being the lightest car in its class. Go up a notch and you’ll gain hp – and weight – but lose a little torque; the optional 3.6-liter V-6 has 321 hp and 275 lb.-ft. of torque.

Both engines are impressive, though the 4-cylinder appears to be the driving enthusiasts friend, as it not only has more torque, but is offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox (both come standard with a 6-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, though the V-6 does not offer the manual).

The safety features of the ATS coupe are impressive, but that should come as no surprise, given the ratings of the sedan. And, of course, the luxury is there, as Cadillac has placed a strong emphasis on that area in recent years. The ATS coupe is offered with a 12-speaker surround sound system, and also has a text-to-voice system for optimum cell phone use and safety. Most impressive from the inside, however, is the OnStar 4G LTE connectivity, which features a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. We may have just flipped the calendar to 2014, but this is truly a car for 2015 and beyond.

The weak point of the ATS may be its style. The exterior is not bad – not by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, there’s nothing not to like. It’s just extremely simple, even though it is reworked and different than the sedan model. But hey, for the market that the ATS coupe is trying to reach, simple is not a bad thing; not a bad thing at all.

And so it’s with their first ever foray into the compact luxury coupe line that Cadillac continues its evolution. They are showing their willingness to change by also announcing an evolution of the company crest, which has now removed its crown, and become flatter, wider, and more aggressive.

Changing a cars crest may seem like a little deal, but it set a precedent: the new crest is a lot more modern, hip, aggressive, and fun . . . and if the ATS coupe is any indication, the cars are too.

Photo Credit: Cadillac