In January of this year, Yusuf A. Alghanim & Sons Automotive, unleashed the All-New 2013 Cadillac ATS on an eagerly awaiting Kuwaiti audience. If you are a fan of Cadillac then you already know the class, horsepower, and style that they have been bringing to the streets for over 110 years. The little known fact that Cadillac itself was named after the founder of Detroit, that city long synonymous with car culture, only further proves their legendary status. If you are not familiar with them, now would be a good time for a test drive. No, seriously -now! The primary differences in recent years all center around progressive advancements in innovation, technology, and cutting edge design. That, and of course, as always—power under the hood.

So let’s talk muscle: the 2013 ATS is available with two different engine options that deliver real power and capitalize on the car’s lightweight structure (thus complementing its performance with efficiency). You’ve got the standard 2.5L, 4 cylinder (which generates 202 horsepower-not too shabby already!) or Cadillac’s award winning 3.6L, V-6 generating 321 horsepower. For me, this is an easy decision. Still, if we are going to go fast, we must be safe!

Alas – the new models come with a range of advanced safety features, all based on Cadillac’s “control and alert” strategy that employs advanced technologies including radar, cameras and ultrasonic sensors to help prevent crashes. Among the most sophisticated of the features is Front and Rear Automatic Brakes. This feature relies on short-range radar technology and ultrasonic sensors to help the driver prevent front and rear low-speed collisions via a progression of alerts that if necessary, extend to complete braking. I guess with a car that is about as stylish as a jet—it makes sense that we would have radar!

The ATS with the 2.5L engine and automatic transmission has an official base curb weight of 1503 kg – making it the lightest vehicle in its competitor segment. The all-new compact luxury sport sedan translates that mass efficiency into nimble, quick performance. The 1,570 kg rear-wheel-drive ATS achieves 0-60 mph (0-96 kph) acceleration in 5.4 seconds – among the fastest in its segment compared to mainstream competitor variants – when equipped with a 3.6L V-6 and six-speed automatic transmission.

The 2013 ATS is also offered with Cadillac User Experience (or CUE, as they call it), which pairs entertainment and information data from up to 10 Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices, USBs, SD cards and MP3 players, with a vehicle infotainment system that reduces complexity through customized information, voice commands and fewer buttons and larger icons. The vibrant LCD screen displays CUE’s home page, which resembles a smart phone’s screen, by using large, easy-to-target icons to execute commands. These days, the way technology is trending, the best gadgets and toys are only as good as their ability to play well together; the Cadillac CUE system enables them to do just that.

Also notable here is that the ATS uses an acoustically laminated windshield and side windows that are lighter than standard tempered glass. In doing so they provide better wind and powertrain noise reduction for a quiet interior. Acoustically laminated glass also offers almost double the amount of ultraviolet ray protection. The ATS contains three microphones inside the cabin that carefully monitor, and then adjust, interior sounds to create a proper environment within the cabin. Active sound control technology proactively monitors the ATS’s cabin for unwanted noise and works to eliminate it. Alternately, passive sound-deadening in the form of covers, foams and other materials built into the vehicle absorb, block and eliminate vibrations, wind noise, and noise from passing cars. If you are paying attention, that’s basically like your car saying “shhhhhhhhhhh!” like a librarian, when the world gets too loud. Awesome!

So far, the 2013 is already making a big splash in the industry. It recently won the ‘2013 North American Car of the Year Award’ and the ‘Esquire Car of the Year’ award, and was crowned the 2013 “Best of the Year” Drivers’ Choice award by PBS’ MotorWeek, the longest-running automotive program on television. In addition, the word at Alghainim & Sons is that their customer service for Cadillac owners has quickly become the new benchmark for General Motors showrooms throughout the Middle East. If you like the idea of driving a legend in the form of a distinctive luxury sports sedans, visit Yusuf A. Alghanim & Sons’ showroom in Safat Alghanim to test-drive the All-New 2013 Cadillac ATS.

For more information or a test drive visit their showroom at Safat Alghanim. You can find them online at www.alghanim.com or reach them by phone 2475 4400. You can also follow them on Facebook www.facebook.com/AlghanimAutomotive; or on Twitter or Instagram @AlghanimAuto.