Wellington, ON – Over the past two years, Cadillac has had a resurgence back into luxury relevancy. For years, they held on to their premium past, but now they're doing much more than talking the talk, they're producing high quality modernized road warriors.

Yes, they have a new president in Johan De Nysschen, but this change started well before him with the 2013 ATS. This four-door luxury sedan stood out for its cutting-edge good looks and refined performance. It received praise and honours by capturing the 2013 North American Car of the Year and AJAC's Best Luxury Car.

After a few years removed from its opening act, Cadillac wanted to add some variety to their smallest sedan, so for this year the ATS Coupe was born. It lines up well with its mostly-German competition that all have coupes or other variants to work with.

The Coupe might share the same wheelbase and hood as the sedan, but that's where it ends. The ATS Coupe is actually a little lower and wider than the sedan and you'll notice one subtle but striking change to the grille – the Cadillac logo no longer has its surrounding wreath.

It's all part of the process of making the Cadillac-brand more refined. They got away from being too edgy and smoothed out some corners to reflect the rest of the Cadillac roster and appeal to a wider base. Unique to the coupe, is a lowered roof that doesn't sacrificing headroom in the front. Go towards the back and you will also notice new doors, rear fenders and taillights.

Inside, the cabin has all the luxury bits you want, especially with the Morello Red interior trim with jet black accents that's worth every penny of the additional $1,400 and change it takes to add it on. Cadillac utilizes premium materials throughout that include handcrafted upholstery, wood trim, carbon fibre and stylized stitching that provide that perfect touch of class.

The ATS Coupe comes equipped with an abundance of technology including Driver Awareness and Driver Assist safety packages. Additionally, you receive OnStar that has 4G LTE built-in Wi-Fi that provides coverage when needed with a bonus of no American data roaming charges. Data plans can cost as low as $15/month, which could come to good use when travelling for long stretches.

Two engine options are available, but as Cadillac executives are quick to point out, none of them they consider to be base. The first option is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 272 hp and 295 lb.-ft. of toque (up from 260). Or you can opt for the 321 hp 3.6-litre V6 with 275 lb.-ft. of torque. All engine choices can be fitted with either a six-speed automatic and six-speed manual transmission, as well as a choice between rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.

The design and technology contribute to the overall excitement that surrounds the ATS Coupe, but it's the fun-to-drive performance that really keeps you talking about it. I first started in the 3.6-litre in all-wheel drive that was fitted with that aforementioned Morello Red interior. The drive was smooth and relaxing, precisely the feeling you want when driving a luxury sedan. I felt the power delivery was seamless as it worked its way up and down the gears without making much noise. The V6 might not be as quick on the get-go as the torquier 2.0T, but it still packs more than enough performance for a spirited ride. It's also a little thirstier with a fuel efficiency rating of 12.8L/100 km in the city and 8.4L/100 km on the highway, compared to 11.1 and 7.9 in the turbo. An interesting note is that the turbo takes premium fuel, while the 3.6 only needs regular, so they might just balance each other out when it comes to fuel costs.

Magnetic Ride Control and ZF electric power steering are exciting additions to the 3.6. Magnetic Ride Control is a big plus and adjusts to road surface changes. While, the ZF steering makes it easy to manoeuvre the ATS around with total confidence. Handling is precise and can be pushed without much correction needed.

Next up was the 2.0T in all-wheel drive. It was too bad that I couldn't get a rear-wheel drive, as I think that combination with the turbo engine would be a blast to swing around with. Regardless, this version seemed to accelerate quickly without much turbo lag. The 2.0T felt lightweight and weaved its way around some bends without much complication. It felt fun to drive, something you really need out of a luxury coupe. This non-premium didn't have the most exciting interior and didn't come with the Magnetic Ride Control, so more bumps were felt along the way, but still stayed balanced and composed throughout.

Cadillac has done a fine job in eliminating the notion that the brand is more suited to the older generation. The ATS sedan has spearheaded this charge and now the coupe variant will try to bring in an even younger crowd. The reasonable pricing will bring a new group of buyers to the Cadillac brand, as it all starts at $41,240 for the 2.0T in rear-wheel drive and tops out at $54,855 for the 3.6L V6 Premium. When compared to the BMW 428i, Mercedes-Benz CLA 250, and the Audi A5 – none of them can match the price, power and torque found in the ATS Coupe.

The key will come down to one's perception of Cadillac as a top-tier luxury brand. It always takes a bit more time to re-establish yourself, but once you actually go for a test drive, you will be amazed how far Cadillac has come and start to snicker at those others that are paying a premium just for that German logo on the hood.