Why didn't Cadillac Sixteen (2003 concept car) get green lighted? | FerrariChat

Why didn't Cadillac Sixteen (2003 concept car) get green lighted?

Discussion in 'Special Projects & Concept Cars' started by bitzman, Sep 8, 2019.

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  1. bitzman

    bitzman F1 Rookie
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    I woulda thunk that it would put it head and shoulders above any Lincoln. Or was the possibility of an inline sixteen just too much to imagine in mass production? I only found one design rendering, is there more on the net? Was this Bob Lutz' baby? Was it a running car? In your opinion (let us know if you are a former designer) is it too late to revive it? I think Cadillac needs something to liven itself up.
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  2. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

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    It is a V16 and not inline 16. There is at least 1 running version.

    It's a beautiful sedan. That, the Cien, and Elmiraj are some of my all time favorite car designs.
     
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  3. Tenney

    Tenney F1 Rookie
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    Cadillac haven't had a Cadillac in their line-up in a while (ie a car to rival anyone else's luxury flagship) - which the Sixteen, Cien and Elmiraj would be. Maybe make 'em electric - silent running and all the torque of 500 ci, and then some - and maybe revive the equity in Fleetwood, Sedan DeVille, and so forth ...
     
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  4. amenasce

    amenasce Three Time F1 World Champ
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    They had some beautiful concepts. That and the convertible one would have been amazing, but im not sure there was a market for the price point it would have come in at (esp back then..).

    I love the current Cadillacs. Saw the big one in Vegas, and it looked so much better than anything Cadillac built in the past 40 years.
     
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  5. crinoid

    crinoid F1 Veteran
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    I’ll give you sixteen reasons why.

    I also like the current Cadillac’s. I rented the CT6 to drive out to Palm Springs in and it was fantastic.
     
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  6. jm2

    jm2 F1 World Champ
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    Just picked up my new daily driver, '20 CT6. So far so good.
     
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  7. crinoid

    crinoid F1 Veteran
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    Cool! Looking forward to hearing about your experience with it.
     
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  8. jm2

    jm2 F1 World Champ
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  9. crinoid

    crinoid F1 Veteran
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  10. GHG

    GHG Formula 3

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    The CTS-V Wagons are some of my favorite cars from the past decade. And you can still get them with three pedals!

    They've definitely made some beautiful concepts over the years. I saw this Ciel Convertible several years ago and the road presence was unbelievable.


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  11. energy88

    energy88 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    That's what a Cadillac should be! Like in the 1950s when Caddies of all varieties turned heads. Can you say "King of the road?"
     
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  12. NYC Fred

    NYC Fred F1 Veteran
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    I, too would have loved to see Cadillac back in the V-16 business. However, when we're concerned about even NA V-12s surviving? Not in the cards.
    Midwest gentlemen selling his V-16 Caddy collection. Did someone say "presence"?

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    https://journal.classiccars.com/2019/11/10/seven-iconic-v-16-cadillacs-rms-sothebys/

    ((The cars come from noted collector John D. Groendyke of Enid, Oklahoma, who is well-known in the classic car hobby for owning some of the finest American and European cars from the classic era, including 17 significant examples of the top-rung Cadillacs powered by V16 engines.))
     
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  13. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
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    I'm dreaming of a new and very elegant Coupé de Ville*


    *only two doors please!
     
  14. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

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    I love those photos. It shows who's boss. They need to make those available for sale asap.
     
  15. Mule

    Mule F1 Rookie
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    They produced thousands of them in multiple colors. I actually own 4 of them.
     

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  16. Jaguar36

    Jaguar36 Formula Junior

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    Cadillac/GM just isn't setup to do a low volume car like this. Their dealers would not be able to provide the level of service that someone buying a $500k car would be looking for. They don't have the manufacturing skill to produce a car with the level of fit and finish that it would require. They have too much overhead on engineering, testing and certification for a low volume car to be profitable.

    Obviously they could develop that capability but it would be too costly to ever be profitable and so they choose to invest their money elsewhere, just using these concepts to generate buzz and help drive the sales of their regular cars.
     
  17. BJK

    BJK F1 Rookie

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    Under msrp I hope? Cadillac (and most others) are desperate to move sedans in today's SUV dominate culture.
     
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  18. jm2

    jm2 F1 World Champ
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    I get a discount ;)
     
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  19. bitzman

    bitzman F1 Rookie
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    I think the comments about American cars being too expensive are out the window as the CT5 Cadillac Blackwing for 2022 is going to be over $100,000 for the top for the line. And wasn't there some 2019 Corvette that was over 100K? That's not too much when Ferrari has some new model that's over 500K. So just over 100K is not unreal anymore.

    But about the Ciel. They never showed it with a convertible top in the up position--I am afraid if they tried to stretch an existing top they would have the problem Bentley did when they had a Mercedes top (by Pininfarina) fitted on the Azure series I and the top breaks often--too long a distance for that design to reach, So I can't take the Ciel as a plausible design until they can show me a top that works. I think I could make a '76 Eldo convertible look something like that, sorta/kinda (I expect some heat on that) . Go to You Tube and there's a video of two couples toddling around Monterey in the Ciel.

    Google Cadillac Ciel Concept Promo Video

    PS in the design drawing they didn't use the side vent but seems like rest of design is close to the rendering. Also in the design renderings the windshield is cut so low it reminds me of of the two seater Phantom drawing that supposedly came from Rolls. That design I like because nothing radiates "Captain of industry"more than a big car with a tiny cockpit.
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  20. jm2

    jm2 F1 World Champ
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    Stay tuned.
     
  21. energy88

    energy88 Two Time F1 World Champ
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  22. lambchop

    lambchop Karting

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    That dark grey rendering is stop-me-in-my-tracks fabulous. Give me that, all electric whisper quiet and 400-500 miles of range. Yummy.

    Side note, was at a hip outdoor live work play spot and they multiple Tesla only chargers and spots. I think the boat being missed is, unless I've misunderstood, GM, Ford, Rivian, etc. are not plug compatible. Big mistake in my mind,
     
  23. k wright

    k wright Formula 3
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    The perfectly stunning Ciel does not have a top.
     
  24. technom3

    technom3 F1 World Champ
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    My guess/rumor mill is that cadillac will get the EV version. Which makes sense since cadillac is going 100% EV
     

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