McCarthy Auto World

2016 Cadillac ATS Coupe “Black Chrome”

Cadillac’s ATS and CTS sedans are in a sales slump, and they have been for quite a while now. Driving dynamics surely aren’t to blame—we’ve gone on record saying that the ATS handles better than the BMW 3-series, and the CTS Vsport is a three-time 10Best Cars winner—but maybe a little extra visual flair will help reverse the trend?

That’s the idea behind a new Black Chrome package offered on the CTS sedan and the ATS sedan and coupe. Like the nearly identical ATS Midnight Edition before it, the Black Chrome option is a cosmetic upgrade only; all performance upgrades are wisely left to the experts at Cadillac’s V division. The ATS gets the more comprehensive treatment, with black accents for the upper and lower grilles, the side-window moldings, and the rear fascia along with darkened 18-inch wheels, while the CTS makes do with darkened wheels and black chrome accents for the grille.

Costing $595 for the ATS coupe and $795 for the ATS sedan, the Black Chrome package is offered only with black, gray, red, or white exterior paint. It’s also limited to 2.0T and 3.6-liter cars in either the Luxury Collection or Performance Collection. The package costs a bit more for the CTS, at $1095 for Premium and Performance trims and $1295 for the Luxury trim, and the bigger sedan offers the package only for black, gray, and white cars. Like in the ATS, the CTS offers the Black Chrome package for 2.0T and 3.6-liter cars, so CTS Vsport buyers will have to pass.

This certainly isn’t the first time Cadillac has tried this strategy to increase interest in the ATS and CTS. The ATS also added a Crimson Sport special edition last year, while the high-performance ATS-V and CTS-V offered Crystal White Frost versions as exclusive, limited-run models.

Starring: Cadillac CT6