????本月初，凱迪拉克（Cadillac）的入門級ATS轎車在今年的底特律車展這個盛會上首度亮相。十年來，通用汽車（GM）一直在努力復興其豪車品牌，這款車可謂其長期奮斗的終極“亮劍”。此次，通用向市場推出了全系列車型，旨在與奧迪（Audi）、寶馬（BMW）和梅賽德斯-奔馳（Mercedes-Benz）展開全面的較量。

????今年夏季，ATS將在密歇根州蘭辛市的生產線下線。屆時它將成為凱迪拉克家族中最輕最小的一個成員。它的誕生，意在爭奪奧迪A4、寶馬3系和奔馳C級的購買者，通用汽車要用這款車鎖定初次購買豪華車，同時也包括一部分追求更佳燃油經濟性的車迷。凱迪拉克營銷主管唐?巴特勒說：“我們稱第一類用戶群體為‘上升一族’（move ups），買這款車是他們第一次有機會展示自己的社會地位。第二個群體年齡稍長，我們稱之為‘成就一族’（made its）。”

????幾個月來，在熱情的車迷中，在各個汽車博客上，有關這款新車的討論早已沸沸揚揚。國際經濟顧問公司IHS環球透視（IHS Global Insight）的分析師亞倫?布萊格曼稱：“ATS看起來能夠成功。在寶馬3系及奔馳C級車的競爭車型里，它的勝算最大。而且，它自重輕，外觀酷?！?/p>

????不過，這一級別的車型競爭正進入白熱化。而巴特勒和其他通用汽車高管則堅持認為，ATS將完勝德系豪華車。這款后輪驅動的四門轎車搭載三款引擎。搭載柴油機的版本將隨后推出。它還配備了凱迪拉克全新的CUE遠程車載通訊系統，該系統帶有一塊觸摸式顯示屏，能夠控制車上的各項功能和娛樂設備。它的設計初衷就是模仿蘋果公司（Apple）的產品或谷歌公司（Google）安卓（Android）設備的各項特性。

????對通用汽車來說，最棘手的事在于，如何進一步提升凱迪拉克的品牌，以便與德系車的超凡魅力和高檔感覺相抗衡。寶馬今年正在推出新一代的3系，它有望繼續受到追捧，并在入門級豪華車陣營維持競爭壓力。奔馳去年對C級車做了小幅改款。奧迪也不遑多讓，正攜其各系車型在美國市場大舉發動營銷攻勢。

????2011年，凱迪拉克的銷售業績遠遠落在德系豪華車之后，總銷量為152,389臺，比前一年增長3.4%。而美國豪華車市場的銷售領軍品牌寶馬總銷量則高達305,780臺，比前一年增長了14.5%。寶馬的銷售額中約有1/3是靠3系或更低級別的車實現的，而凱迪拉克過去在這一級別中恰恰沒有相應的產品。

????Cadillac's debut of the entry-level ATS sedan at a Detroit gala on Sunday night is the final component in a decade-long attempt to revive General Motors' luxury brand. The Detroit auto maker is bringing to market a full range of models that it hopes will broadly compete with Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

????The ATS will be the lightest and smallest Cadillac when it comes off the assembly line this summer in Lansing, Michigan. It's meant to intercept buyers of the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C Class. GM (GM) is aiming the vehicle at customers shopping for their first luxury vehicle as well as those seeking better fuel economy. "The first group we call the 'move ups,' and it's their first chance to make a statement," said Don Butler, head of Cadillac marketing. "The second group, a slightly older demographic, is the 'made its.'"

????Buzz around the new model's introduction has been building among auto enthusiasts and car blogs for months. Aaron Bragman, an analyst for IHS Global Insight, said "ATS looks to be the business. It's the closest anyone's come to competing with 3-Series and C Class. It's light weight, it looks good."

????Competition in the space is white hot, however. Butler and other GM executives insisted that ATS will best German luxury models in comparison. The four-door, rear-wheel-drive sedan comes with a choice of three engines. A diesel model will be available later. The car also features Cadillac's new CUE telematics system with an interactive screen for controlling vehicle functions and entertainment, designed to emulate the features of an Apple (AAPL) or Google (GOOG) Android device.

????The trickiest bit for GM will be to further position the Cadillac brand to compete with German automotive charisma and snob appeal. BMW this year is introducing a new generation of its 3-Series, which is likely to continue its popularity and maintain competitive pressure in the entry-level segment. Mercedes gave its C Class a facelift last year and Audi has been pushing ahead in the U.S. market with aggressive marketing of its models as well.

????Cadillac lagged far behind the top German luxury makers in 2011, with total sales of 152,389 vehicles last year, up 3.4% from a year earlier. BMW, the luxury sales leader in the U.S., sold 305,780 vehicles for the year up 14.5%. About a third of BMW's sales were 3-Series or smaller, segments in which Cadillac had no products.