Cadillac drives the ATS around the world’s toughest roads: Motoramic Dash

This is the Motoramic Dash, a daily roundup of the most interesting news in the automotive world

I can't talk about driving the 2013 Cadillac ATS for a few more days, but I can say that Cadillac's idea of taking the ATS around some of the world's most challenging roads -- from Monaco to a cliffside tunnel in China built by hand -- gives an accurate reflection of Cadillac's global ambitions for the car.
Part of a series of internet videos and TV ads that will herald the ATS -- which will put Cadillac head-to-head against the BMW 3-Series -- the films feature driving stints in Patagonia, Morocco, Monaco and the aforementioned Guoliang Tunnel, where cameras had to be mounted on remote drone helicopters to capture the footage. Cadillac even chose the driver carefully: Derek Hill, son of Phil Hill, the only American to win a Formula 1 championship. The first ads will appear during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, but I'll have our review next Monday.

Other stories around the automotive world this morning:

Nürburgring files for bankruptcy: The ATS was developed in part by taking laps at Germany's Nürburgring course, and one Cadillac exec gave me this explanation for why so many of the world's automakers test their new vehicles there: "You could recreate the Nürburgring by going to a track here and a track there, or you can just do it all in one shot." The course's operator was declared bankrupt today by German officials after a years-long struggle to develop a theme park and other attractions only created some 300 million euros in debt. The roller coaster may get taken down, but the road course itself is simply too valuable to disappear. (GP Update)

Romney ad hits Obama over loans to Fisker: Mitt Romney has been consistent in his criticism of the Obama administration for loaning Fisker and Tesla hundreds of millions of dollars -- loans dwarfed by the money from the same program lent to Ford and Nissan. (Detroit News)

Ford pushes for pay cuts in Canada: When I lived in Detroit, the best deal at any local watering hole was "par at the bar" -- taking Canadian currency at the same price as U.S. dollars. Today, the drinks would cost slightly more in loonies, and automakers like Ford that built plants in Canada for lower costs now pay more than they do anywhere else around the world. (Bloomberg)

Cardboard and hydrogen car snags design awards: If Ikea ever does get into the automotive business, it's vehicle will look something like this. (Autopia)