Thursday, September 19, 2019

Cadillac Sixteen Concept from 2003

Cadillac famously built cars with 16 cylinder motors from the 1930 through 1940 model years.  Since then, the largest engines in Cadillacs have been V-8s.

Harking back to V-16 glory days, in 2003 Cadillac revealed a concept car called the Cadillac Sixteen.  It had a 16 cylinder motor derived from a production V-8, its horsepower claimed as 1,000.

An early 1930s Cadillac V-16 posed with the 2003 V-16 concept car.

Several years ago I noted it here, mentioning:

"The Sixteen is one Cadillac concept that I would have loved to have seen enter production.  I actually viewed it at a Pebble Beach Concours d'Élégance and was not bothered at all by its flamboyance and exaggerated proportions (that long hood is fabulous!).  I never could have afforded one, but dream cars are dream fodder, aren't they?"

In retrospect, if Cadillac launched a production version of the Sixteen (with 500 fewer horsepower), in one stroke that might well have energized the brand's image as a luxury car.  Now, more than 15 years later, Cadillac's image still suffers in comparison to, say, Bentley and top-of-the-line Mercedes, BMWs, and Lexuses.  Even Lincoln might be gaining on Cadillac.

But back in 2003 General Motors was well on the road to its eventual bankruptcy.  Funds for such a super-Cadillac were almost surely lacking.  And projected monetary return from its potential sales along with possibly increased short-run Cadillac sales in general might not have convinced GM bean-counters.

Gallery

The Sixteen has classic long-hood, short front overhang proportions.

Rear overhang is also short; the trunk might be a little too small for a production version.

A production job would have slightly smaller wheels plus a trifle taller greenhouse.

The vertical headlight ensembles previews the current Caddy front running light theme.

Photo of the rear I took in July when the car was on display in Tacoma.

Interior.  A current production version would of course sport a computer screen.

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