So now that I’ve had a chance to sleep on it, what do I think of the Cadillac ATS? The styling still doesn’t seem to make a strong enough statement to force the car into the public’s awareness. Certainly good enough, but people aren’t going to see one and wonder, “What’s that car?!”

So the ATS is going to have to break through in some other way. So, as I decided yesterday, the car’s–and Cadillac’s–fate hinges on how well it actually handles. After sitting in the new 3-Series this morning, I can definitely state that I like the driving position in the Cadillac much better. The instrument panels seems much taller and more massive in the BMW. (Beyond this, the BMW’s interior, though upgraded over the E90, seems sterile compared to the Cadillac’s.) If the ATS also steers and handles as good as or even better than the BMW–and early reports suggest that the new 3 gives up ground n this area–then the ATS could eke out some comparison test wins.

Do this, and enthusiasts will start talking the car up. Can such word-of-mouth sell a significant number of cars? Perhaps we’re about to find out.