The Cadillac Seville was a mid-size luxury sedan manufactured by General Motors' Cadillac division
from 1975 to 2004. The vehicle was traditionally second in the Cadillac lineup after the Deville and
was more focused on performance than the larger Deville.
History
The Seville, introduced in 1975, was Cadillac's answer to the rising popularity of luxury imports in the US from Europe, such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Historically, these imported luxury cars had been cheaper, less luxurious and significantly smaller than Cadillacs, but over time they had evolved, and had become quite luxurious and even more expensive than competing Cadillacs, and yet the market share of these imports continued to climb. It became obvious that the traditional American automotive paradigm of "bigger equals better" was no longer in full effect in the marketplace. So, the Seville was to be simultaneously the smallest and the most expensive Cadillac in the lineup, turning Cadillac's traditional marketing and pricing strategy on its head.
Fifth Generation (1998)
The Seville was updated for 1998 on a new revision of the K-body platform based on Oldsmobile's G-body Aurora. In 1997, the Cadillac Catera took over from the Seville as Cadillac's small car, and the Seville switched competitors to the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The wheelbase was up to 112.2 in but the overall length was down a bit to 201 in. The car looked similar to the outgoing fourth-generation model that was plagued by build quality problems, but was considered a leap forward and featured numerous suspension and driveablity improvements. The Seville STS (and companion Eldorado ETC) became the most powerful front wheel drive cars on the market at 300 hp (224 kW). The fully-loaded STS model delivered at an MSRP of $52,075.
The cars got a new Magnaride adaptive suspension system in 2003. The fifth generation Seville was discontinued for 2004, replaced by the rear wheel drive Cadillac STS. Production of the front wheel drive Seville STS ended on May 16, 2003 and the SLS ended on December 5, 2003. All front wheel drive Sevilles were built in Hamtramck, Michigan.
THE 2001 SEVILLE FROM CADILLAC. A POWERFUL BLEND OF
PERFORMANCE AND SOPHISTICATION.
Those seeking high performance and intuitive, immediate control in a
contemporary luxury sedan need look no further. The 2001 Seville defines
the cutting edge in its class, combining a muscular yet elegant style and
sumptuous comfort with levels of power and responsiveness that few sports
cars can equal. Technologically, Seville is stunning, from the highly
evolved Northstar System to the superb Bose stereo to the OnStar
Communications System with its extraordinary array of safety, security and
convenience services. The comprehensive suite of Cadillac Owner
Privileges, including No Charge Scheduled Maintenance, assures that you
will be as delighted with your Seville years down the road as you are the
day you first take delivery. The 2001 Cadillac Seville. Exhilaration in
automotive form.
REIGNITE YOUR PASSION FOR DRIVING
STS. ENGINEERED FOR ELATION
Powerful, easily modulated braking. Responsive turn-in, balanced handling
and impressive lateral grip. Lusty acceleration. Whatever your situation
calls for, second by second and curve by curve, STS delivers on demand.
At its peak, the Northstar engine produces 300 horsepower, and an
abundance of torque is available at virtually every operating speed. The
electronically-controlled transmission plays an important role in STS's
performance as well. Equipped with a Cadillac-exclusive feature called
Performance Algorithm Shifting, the transmission actually senses when
spirited driving is taking place and chooses the lowest available gear for
the situation, just as a skilled driver would do with a manual gearbox. As
you might expect, STS balances this remarkable powertrain with a chassis
that's equally advanced. Cadillac's innovative StabiliTrak is standard
equipment, as is a suspension that monitors road conditions a thousand
times every second and adjusts itself accordingly. On a challenging road,
the result of all this complex engineering is something surprisingly simple.
Pure bliss.
EXPERIENCE A POWERFUL SENSE OF CONTROL
The first things one notices about the STS cockpit are its pleasing design
and quality materials. Gentle curves, carefully sculpted forms and fine
textures charm the eye. Less obvious, perhaps, is the powerful intelligence
at work beneath the surface. Thanks to STS's ergonomic design and an
advanced network of electronic control modules, you enjoy complete
control of every nuance of your journey. A multi-function Driver
Information Centre supplements the information provided by the cleanly
styled analogue gauges, and a memory feature that helps ensure virtually
every system is always set just the way you like it.
AN INVIGORATING VISION OF AUTOMOTIVE LUXURY
If it adds to your comfort, convenience of travelling enjoyment, there is an
excellent chance that it's standard equipment inside STS. The spacious
cabin is trimmed in fine leathers and genuine East African Zebrano wood.
The front seats feature an extensive range of power adjustments and can be
equipped with a computer-managed system of air-filled compartments that
actually eliminate the pressure points that may occur during long trips.
Then there's the stereo: an amazing Bose 4.0 system with a 425-watt
amplifier, a 6-disc CD changer and possibly the finest sound reproduction
you have ever heard.
SLS. FOR THOSE WHO ENJOY EVERY ASPECT OF THE
JOURNEY.
Consummate style, confidence and comfort are the hallmarks of SLS. the
275-horsepower Northstar V8 is reassuringly responsive in urban traffic
and provides the kind of effortless acceleration that takes the stress out of
highway merging and passing. Matching it perfectly, the suspension is
turned for fluid handling and a smooth, quiet, controlled ride. SLS is
particularly assured when the going gets slippery, with a host of standard
electronic systems designed to make the most of the available grip. One of
these, StabiliTrak, actually senses when a lateral skid is taking place during
hard cornering and automatically adjusts the application of the brakes to
help return the car to your desired line. Then there's the way SLS reduces
distractions to help you concentrate on the important business of driving.
When engaged, the wiper system, for instance, actually senses moisture
build-up on the windshield and can sweep it away automatically with no
need for driver intervention. It's just one of many thoughtful SLS features
that enhance your safety and convenience.
A COMFORTING REFUGE IN A TUMULTUOUS WORLD.
It's a world of harsh winds, broken pavement, extremes of temperature and
roaring exhausts. Why not let SLS take the edge off? SLS was deliberately
created to isolate you from the less desirable aspects of travel. Extensive
sound-deadening measures and a unique suspension tuning help to keep the
cabin whisper-quiet, even at highway speeds. An automatic dual-zone
climate control system quickly serves up your preferred temperature,
regardless of the season. Even the window glass plays its part, with a
special coating that filters out the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays.
THE INTELLIGENT INTEGRATION OF NORTHSTAR
In traditional automobiles, the engine, transmission, steering and suspension
systems all function independently of one another. Such cars can only be as
good as the sum of their parts, no more and no less. Seville is built in
accordance with an entirely different philosophy. In creating Seville,
Cadillac's engineers called for the finest possible powertrain and chassis
components, then linked them electronically via a network of sensors and
control modules. The engine, transmission, anti-lock brakes, traction
control, steering, and on STS, the Continuously Variable Road-Sensing
Suspension 2.0, are all joined together as a single intelligent unit. Called
the Northstar System, this Cadillac-exclusive technology helps extract
maximum performance from every component system, achieving new
levels of driver control in the process.
UNWAVERING SOPHISTICATION MEETS IRRESISTIBLE
FORCE.
Herewith, a short course in how to engineer an industry-leading luxury
powerplant. Begin with a 90deg; V8 configuration, for an optimal blend
of power and smoothness. Cast both the block and the cylinder heads from
aluminum. to trim weight without compromising durability. Stipulate
double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder; this layout
contributes to engine efficiency and power production. Call for
computer-controlled Sequential Fuel Injection, so you can be sure that fuel
is delivered to each combustion chamber at precisely the right moment,
even when the crankshaft is turning at 6000 rpm. Continue by making
intelligent, informed decisions about hundreds of other crucial design
issues. Then fine-tune the resulting engine relentlessly and test it over
hundreds of thousands of kilometres in the most punishing conditions
imaginable. Finally, at the end of the day, you may find yourself with an
engine that wins the praise of the world's automotive press and warms the
hearts of serious drivers everywhere. An engine precisely like the one
under the hood of the 2001 Seville.
EXTRA CONTROL, FOR DRIVERS WHO VALUE CONTROL ABOVE
ALL.
Consider the following scenario. It's a quiet afternoon and you're following
a truck on a two-lane country highway. Suddenly, without warning, the
truck's tailgate opens and a dresser topples onto the road ahead of you.
Instinctively, you swerve to avoid the obstacle. An instant later the rear
tires lose their grip. It's the early stages of a spin -- and a truly frightening
moment for both you and your passengers. StabiliTrak was created
specifically to help you avoid this kind of disconcerting and potentially
dangerous experience. Standard on both Seville models, StabiliTrak
employs a complex network of hardware and software to determine
whether your Seville is going in your intended direction. If the system
detects a lateral skid it steps in and adjusts the application of the brakes, or
applies the appropriate brake automatically, to help bring the skid to an
end. StabiliTrak operates so unobtrusively, you may never notice it
working. But you'll always find it comforting to know it's there.
HEAR YOUR FAVOURITE MUSIC FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Seville's Bose 4.0 sound system reproduces music so accurately, you'll find
that even the most familiar pieces take on a whole new subtlety and depth.
Standard on STS and available on SLS, this unit boasts a very high
425-watt average power rating and a kind of clarity that prompted a
Toronto Sun scribe to proclaim, "...it's not only the best sound system I've
ever heard n a car, it's the best sound system I've ever heard."
HOPE FOR THE BEST. PLAN FOR THE WORST
Seville is engineered to help you avoid collisions when it's at all possible
to do so. There's even an available Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist system
that can warn you of obstacles to the rear when you're reversing into a
parking space. Seville is also engineered to help protect you when a
collision can't be avoided, with such safety features as Next Generation
frontal and front-seat side-impact air bags, pre-tensioners that pull the front
safety belts snug and a sturdy steel safety cage that surrounds the
cabin.