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| 2002-03-04 | ||
March 2002
Geneva. Perfected design, innovative technology, luxurious comfort and all-out sportiness – all these fascinating facets of the automobile are on display at the stand of American premium brand Cadillac at the 72nd Geneva Motor Show (March 7 – 17, 2002). The CTS sedan, which will be available to the European customers later this year, and the Cien supercar study give a glimpse of the future of automotive design. The undisputed star among the newcomers and exhibition models in Hall 2 of the Palexpo is a supercar study put together by Cadillac engineers and designers and named "Cien" – a reference to the brand's 100th birthday this year ("Cien" being the Spanish word for the "hundred"). After premiering in Detroit, the sportscar is making its debut European appearance in Geneva. The aerodynamic design is breathtaking; crisp edges and geometric lines provide an engaging contrast to the tinted blue windows and headlamps. The body and chassis of the Cien are made of carbon fiber, and video cameras replace the side and rearview mirrors. The mid-engine sportscar also breaks new ground in engine design; behind the passengers is the all-new 750 hp Northstar XV12 concept engine with direct fuel injection, variable intake, cylinder deactivation under low-load conditions and variable valve control. An eye-catcher: new Le Mans racecar Northstar LMP 02 Cadillac is giving motorsports fans the rare opportunity to take a really close look at the new racecar in their own time at the Geneva Motor Show. The silver-colored second generation race car boasts an all-new streamlined carbon fiber body and further technical innovations such as the 6-speed sequential gearbox or an all-new pedal box to protect the driver's feet. The Northstar LMP 02 is powered by the latest generation of the dependable twin turbo-charged 4.0-liter V8 engine with over 600 hp. The 2002 calendar includes five races in the American Le Mans Series (AMLS), starting on March 16 in Sebring, Florida, and entry in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. Cadillac CTS to hit the big screen The chance to star alongside actor Keanu Reeves in a Hollywood movie – for many people a dream, but for the new Cadillac CTS it is reality. The sporty and sumptuously fitted sedan will be immortalized on celluloid in the fantasy thriller The Matrix Reloaded. Together with the Cadillac Escalade EXT, it will be appearing in one of the longest, most complex car chases in cinematic history. "Just as the first Matrix film was a breakthrough in terms of cinematic technology, the CTS and EXT set new standards in their segments with their unmistakable design and innovative technical features," says Mark LaNeve, Cadillac general manager, of the parallels. The Cadillac CTS is the brand's first model in the luxury mid-size sedan segment. The Matrix Reloaded will start at US cinemas in the summer of 2003. By then, the first Cadillac CTS models will already be out and about over here; sales in Europe are scheduled to start later this year. The CTS is the first production vehicle to incorporate the new, unmistakable design philosophy and form vocabulary of Cadillac. The bold, accented contours and chiseled form define the exterior of the sedan, with the short overhangs and rising shoulder line reinforcing the dynamic appearance. Further characteristic design elements include the vertical headlamps and tail lamps swept around the corners of the body. The power sources for the rear-wheel-drive model based on General Motors' new Sigma architecture are two modern V6 engines with 2.6 and 3.2-liter capacities and outputs of 136 kW/185 hp and 160 kW/218 hp respectively at 6000 rpm. The CTS is the first Cadillac model in over 20 years to be available with a manual gearbox, the alternative being an electronically controlled 5-speed automatic. The 4.83-meter long sedan is Cadillac's first model worldwide in the luxury mid-size segment. Even buyers of the base version will be able to enjoy Cadillac's classic comfort features; the standard equipment includes dual-zone climate control with separate controls for driver and front passenger, power windows all-round and a top-quality sound system with built-in CD/tape/radio. "Magnetic Ride Control" – Continuous damping for Seville STS flagship Cadillac now offers even better ride comfort – with the advanced magnetic damping control system "Magnetic Ride Control." The innovative suspension system was first seen two years ago in the Imaj concept car, and is now available immediately in the Cadillac Seville STS. It works as follows: "Magnetic Ride Control" uses the magnetic properties of metal particles in the damper fluid for continuous adaptation of the damping. The advantage: it can react within a millisecond to bumpy roads. Further cutting-edge features in the Seville STS include speed-sensitive power steering (Magnasteer), automatic gearbox with adaptive shifting (PAS) and integrated stability control (StabiliTrak). With 224 kW/305 hp, the luxury Cadillac is the most powerful front-wheel-drive production car in the world, its all--aluminum V8 engine boasting a 4.6-liter capacity. Further convincing arguments are the reputation of the brand and the imposing US-styling of the 4.99-meter long sedan. The sophisticated interior of the Seville includes luxurious soft leather trim. The launch of the 2002 STS also saw the introduction of a DVD-based navigation system with voice recognition. The large 165 x 127 mm touchscreen guarantees precise map reproduction. While the automatic gearshift is "P," DVD films can also be watched on the screen. | ||
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