Cadillac Sixteen

Information

Cadillac Sixteen Concept

The Cadillac Sixteen Concept was made as an homage to the Cadillac flagship that used a V16 in the 1930s. The Cadillac V-16 was one of the best-looking cars of its era and one of the most expensive; they were made until 1940, with 4,000 being produced. In 2003, GM took its homage to the Detroit Auto Show and showed it off with the engine being the main centerpiece. Made by Katech Inc., this 32-valve, 13.6 L V16 was based on the Gen 4 LS base and featured fuel-saving Displacement on Demand, meaning half of the cylinders are shut down to save fuel. This happens under most driving conditions; you can get all 16 cylinders when you put your foot down. Its power is fairly remarkable, producing 1000 hp and 1000 lb/ft (1355 Nm), which was all put through a modified 4-speed Hydra-Matic 4L85-E transmission. As cool as this engine is, it is electronically limited to 40mph (64 kph) with no top speed given.

When the Cadillac Sixteen Concept was unveiled, it was hailed as 'exactly how a Cadillac should look like,' with it being huge while also sharp and subtle. It ran on 24-inch polished aluminum wheels, had no door handles, no B-pillar, and had two motorized hood panels. Where the exterior is imposing, the interior is large and comfortable, like a Cadillac should be. The seats were hand-stitched, tuscany leather, with other luxury features including a Bvlgari clock mounted in the dash, and the cherry on top, the Cadillac logo in the middle of the steering wheel was carved out of one solid crystal. For a more luxurious driving experience, the Cadillac Sixteen features Quadrasteer, Cadillac's four-wheel steering system. This was for greater stability and control, where at low speeds the rear and front wheels turn in opposite directions to have a tighter turning radius, and at high speeds the front and rear wheels turn in the same direction for better stability.

For years after the concept was revealed, there were rumors of it going into production, but Cadillac never intended for the Sixteen to go any further than a show car. Cadillac did use it as a design model for inspiration, with many cues being used in subsequent models. The best example is the 2008 Gen 2 CTS. People also speculated what Cadillac would use the V16 for, and sadly, they never pursued development. What is left is a one-off design study and concept, which was meant to pay homage to an iconic model. The Cadillac Sixteen is kept in the GM Heritage Center Collection.