[McRat]

Originally Posted by SEVEN-OH JOE

First of all, the Base ATS started @ 33-and-change, with a 2.5 n/a 4-cylinder and, with the latest safety mandates, now weighs about 3400. Someone over there is trying to compare apples with oranges. There is NO ATS that weighs nearly 4000, so the car has NOT gained "500 lb". There ARE CTS AWDs that weigh nearly that, but they're loaded AND larger than the ATS. And also larger than the Camaro will be.

One basic end objective for Alpha, for ALL models, is to be Class-competitive in areas such as vehicle dynamics, structural integrity, NVH, and safety. And WE wouldn't want it any other way.

As for "change compromises something", that would depend on the specifics of the changes involved. The greatest compromises have to do with CO$T$, where "changes" are discretionary. Not just @ GM, but with any commodity from any manufacturer. Perhaps Pagani, excluded.

Please keep in mind, the design and features of vehicles today are heavily predicated by government edict, as well as the changing landscape of customer expectations. The days of wind-up windows and push-down locks are over. Every feature that customers expect/demand, and that government demands, adds weight. And compromises, to some degree, "performance potential" and "real-world mileage expectations". But, build vehicles without what's "demanded" and you'll be out of business in a New York minute.

^This^

The ATS is not really heavy by today's standards.

Take those 2016 Camaro spyshots and a ruler, and compare it the picture below, using wheel dia as a reference. If those spyshots were a Camaro, it's going to be about the same envelope dims as the ATS. However... those "camaro" spyshots might have actually been an ATS-V in disguise.

The ATS coupe is 3411 lb curb weight. That is with Cadillac NVH and luxury. A Camaro can be lighter.

The upcoming ATS-V with the existing 420HP/430TQ V6 will be a dragstrip competitor to the next Camaro SS. It's going to be a lot quicker than the 2015 SS.