Cadillac unveils 1000 horsepower 'Sixteen' super luxury sedan


Detroit, Michigan - Cadillac unveiled its answer to the super luxury Maybach automobile in Detroit on Sunday evening.

"The Sixteen is a modern interpretation of everything that made Cadillac the standard of the world and can again," said Robert A. Lutz, GM vice chairman for product development and chairman of GM North America. "It's a reminder of a glorious past as well as a progressive statement.

Aimed at "today's generation of exceedingly well-heeled customers of discerning taste," the rear-wheel-drive Sixteen has a 32-valve V16 concept engine that displaces 13.6 litres and produces 1000 horsepower and 1000 lbs.-ft. of torque. The engine is mated to a four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. The engine features fuel-saving Displacement on Demand technology, debuting in 2004 on some 2005 GM models, which shuts down half of the cylinders during most driving conditions and automatically and seamlessly reactivates them for more demanding conditions, such as brisk acceleration or load hauling cylinders when the driver needs the engine's full power.

The extensive use of aluminum components and structure provide substantial weight advantages. The aluminum-steel chassis employs high-arm SLA suspension up front and independent semi-trailing arm suspension in the rear. Four-wheel steering enhances the Cadillac Sixteen's maneuverability. The front and rear brakes are six-piston calipers with 16-inch rotors.

The aluminum hood is long, giving the Cadillac Sixteen tremendous dash-to-axle dimension; the wheel arches were designed to accommodate the huge 24-inch polished aluminum wheels. The four-door hardtop incorporates an all-glass roof and is without B-pillars. Crisp-edged lines of the midnight silver aluminum body panels accentuate the Cadillac Sixteen's striking appearance.

The engine compartment features dual panels hinged about a center spine that runs the length of the expansive hood - the hood panels are power-operated.

The interior theme is evocative of the posh accommodations of 1930s-era Cadillacs, but with contemporary style. For instance, the dashboard features a center-mounted Bvlgari clock.

Seats are upholstered in hand-stitched, Tuscany leather, and the right rear seat features power adjustable slope to recline like a chaise lounge. Warm, hand-woven silk carpets the floor in a light cream colour that matches the leather upholstery. The dash, door panels, and front and rear consoles are trimmed with walnut burl veneer inlays.

Electronic amenities include a rear-seat DVD information system, Bose sound system, and the fifth-generation OnStar in-vehicle safety and security communication system.

"Cadillac's tradition is rich, but in the next several years it will be introducing vehicles as solid, dynamic and beautifully designed as anything it's ever done. And Sixteen is a harbinger of this new era," said Lutz.

 

 

GM seeks perfection in Sixteen


By Dave Guilford
Automotive News / January 06, 2003

As soon as Cadillac unveiled the Sixteen -- its striking, V-16, ultraluxury sedan -- the question circulated through the crowd at the Detroit Opera House: Will General Motors build it?

Vice Chairman Robert Lutz, the driving force behind the 1,000-hp concept car, gave a hint: "I think the car works," Lutz said. "Put it that way."

But Lutz said that the Sixteen would be complex to build. Engineering time to construct the car to the required quality levels would be significant, he said.

"If we did a car like this, it would have to be absolutely perfect," Lutz said at the Sunday night debut. "We couldn't ask the first customers to be the test drivers."

Lutz clarified one point: The complexity would be GM's challenge, not the drivers'. In what might be interpreted as a swipe at BMW's technologically complex 7 series, Lutz said: "We don't believe in making the driver's task more complex by having an electronic interface between the driver and the car."

GM CEO Rick Wagoner said assessing the business case for a high-end car can be different than that of a mainstream car. Ultimately a company has to trust its sense of the market and the vehicle.

For instance, GM's decision to build the Cadillac CTS was "not a rational call," Wagoner said.

"The car was not received well in clinics," he said. "The economics were a hope and a prayer."

Asked when GM might make a decision on the Sixteen, Wagoner said: "Probably not as quickly as the media would like."

Cadillac Marketing General Manager Mark LaNeve said the division needs something in the ultraluxury segment.

And another GM executive gave a compelling reason to do so: "It's what Bob wants."

 

A v16 1000hp, will be interesting to see if this thing goes into production and what the final specs will be

 

v16? 1000hp? is this thing ever gonna need to get past 1 or 2nd gear if it hits the roads? and that's all we need, some 65+ yr old driver behind the wheel of this bohemoth

i like the styling a little bit. especially the shaved door handles.

 

looks like a car for those who need to compensate for areas they lack in.

 

Straight GANGSTA! I love the design!!!

 

what if they made this a convertible?!?!

 

imagine chaingin the headers on that, it would be hard as hell

 

what if you were the mechanic that was told that the customer wanted a port and polish job?

 

I hate this car for 2 reasons
#1. i hate the looks of the car
#2. I hate when car makers think displacement the only way to get up HP numbers. it's been proven over and over by japanese car makers you don't have to build a HUGE motor to get HUGE numbers. Look at the S2000 240 HP out of 4 CYLINDER. normal american car makers say a 240 HP say that would be a small V-8.(like whats in the Mustang GT the 4.6 Liter). Grant it the torque on the mustang might be higher but as far as Liter to hp ratio of the S2000 is amazing. it's like 100 HP per Liter. I would have rather see caddy take a northstar engine and do a custom Twin Turbo set up with intercoolers than make this giant oilfield owner's dream.

 

This is an image car, relax folks.