The Cadillac codenamed ATS, which will be launched in the summer of 2012, will give the brand a rear-wheel drive luxury sports car to compete head-to-head with the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-class and Audi A4 in the luxury market’s largest segment. GM released its first sketch of the car.

GM previously announced a $190 million investment to build the compact luxury sports sedan at its Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan that will result in 600 new or retained jobs. Lansing Grand River already makes the mid-size CTS family of cars honored by Car and Driver, AUTOMOBILE Magazine, Motor Authority, Edmunds Inside Line and Popular Mechanics.

“The Cadillac Renaissance that started with the CTS is still going strong,” Reuss said. “The XTS continues Cadillac’s heritage as the leader in large luxury cars while the car we’ve codenamed ATS starts a new chapter for Cadillac in the luxury market’s C-segment. We’re confident it will attract luxury car buyers who previously would not have considered Cadillac.”