I could get the "Rx Infusion," billed as the "Cadillac treatment" in the spa's brochure. This most extensive of personal spoilings on the menu includes vigorous exfoliation, invigorating skin-cell renewal, surface and corrective cleansing. Pampering? It all sounds rather painful, actually.
An afternoon in a 2013 Cadillac ATS is certainly an appealing alternative.
The nearby über-chic shops of Yorkville beckon. Parking in the narrow streets won't be an issue. Even though Cadillac has packed a boatload of amenities into the all-new luxury sedan, it's still a small car. The compact-luxury segment is right now the industry's most significant, and Cadillac says it wants to challenge the world's best premium cars with the ATS.
If the competition believes the propaganda, the Mercedes C-class, Audi A4 and the BMW 3-series should be on the lookout. The ATS is agile with a brand-new-for-Cadillac rear-drive architecture, which just happens to be one of the most lightweight in its segment.
Instead of the spa, I opt for a drive in the rolling hills and river valleys northeast of Toronto. Rooster Fries at the Leaskdale crossroads offers up tasty fish and chips. Just down the road, the Cadillac ATS fits right in at friend Anne Hall's Bay Belle Stables, where a visit with a handful of horses is more restorative than any spa treatment.
With little traffic on the country roads, it's time to try out the ATS's sophisticated safety features, such as Lane Departure Warning, Side Blind Zone and Forward Collision alerts. The driver's seat gives a warm rumble when a painted line is crossed without activation of the turn signal, or if the vehicle is approaching an obstacle at high speed.
Key testing for the development of the ATS was done at the famed Nürburgring racetrack in Germany, which is partly why Cadillac thinks the ATS has the chops to go up against the BMW 3-series. For all practical use, the race track might seem a bit extreme, but it's part of the PR game. Or is it?
The 50/50 front/rear weight distribution and strong power mean that the transition from spa to track should be a cinch, right? So why not give it a try.
Next stop: strapped into the passenger seat about to tear up the historic Mosport, which has been renamed Canadian Tire Motorsport Park due to the company's sponsorship of the facility. Mosport is a four-kilometre, 10-turn track - a Former Formula One circuit - to which we'll add a rear-wheel-drive ATS with the top-of-the-line 321-horsepower V-6.
Wisely, there's an initiation process. If anyone knows what the ATS power-train can do, it's driver Dave Mikels. Powertrain Integration Engineer for the ATS, previously part of the development team for CTS-V, Mikels probably has more track time in an ATS than any other human. Today, he is visiting from Detroit, Michigan, and having a blast, judging by the grin sneaking out from under his helmet.
This version of the ATS is equipped with Cadillac's sport suspension that includes Magnetic Ride Control, which automatically adjusts the ride control depending on the use. Driving down the freeway, it's smooth and quiet. Crank the wheel and everything tightens up to keep you in control. There's also a limited-slip rear differential, summer performance tires and better engine cooling.
The V-6 is one of three variations of powertrains offered in the ATS. There's also the four-cylinder 202-horsepower 2.5-litre and the fun and torquey 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 272 horsepower. You'll find it in vehicles such as the Buick Regal GS. The turbocharged engine can be had with a six-speed manual transmission.
However, four laps of the sharp and vigorous track with Dave behind the wheel of the ATS turns out to be anything but a spa treatment. Getting tossed mercilessly around like this might not be everyone's cup of stress relief, but to really see what the ATS, switched into competitive mode, can do in terms of braking, accelerating and handling of those 10 corners, each of which has seen its fair share of destruction, dismay and unadulterated delight, is a high like no other.
Then it's my turn. I've never covered four kilometres so quickly or with such force. In competitive mode, under hard braking conditions, the transmission automatically gears down most responsively on downhill runs with a nice growl in the corners.
The Mosport track is one of the fastest, most challenging places in all of North America. The uphill back straightaway, named after Mario Andretti, is deliciously long at more than a kilometre. The reading on my digital speedometer, pushing 200 km/h, still flashes in my dreams several nights later.
But it's not the speed on this straightaway that produces the biggest thrill. Feeling what those Brembo-brand brakes do in the hairpin corners, the hunkering-down of the sport suspension on the wicked descents and climbs and the blind turns are what make the experience. I just want more of the all-day track treatment, and so does the ATS. To heck with spa day.
Sure, ATS buyers can put their cars on the track, but is there a practical use on real roads, would you ever fly face-first into a corner at 120 km/h, brake like there's no tomorrow and whip the steering wheel? Well, if a transport truck was jackknifed across the road, then yes, as a matter of fact, there is a practical use.
But for days of pure driving enjoyment, the ATS is a perma-spa.
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