Tag Archives: Eldorado

2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe – Evolution of a Modern Eldorado

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The Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept is unveiled at the 2008 North American International Auto Show Monday, January 14, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan. (

The Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept is unveiled at the 2008 North American International Auto Show Monday, January 14, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan. (

Since 2003, the Cadillac CTS coupe has been consistently successful, becoming a game changer for Cadillac and a franchise player. For 2010 Cadillac plans to bring out a coupe version of the CTS. The current CTS is a sedan, or 4-door sports/luxury car. The new CTS Coupe will be a 2-door version. Cadillac also makes the luxury roadster XLR, but it is also a 2-seat vehicle. The CTS Coupe will be a 2-door 4-seat model, perfect for those of us who need the convenience of having 4 seats available for occasional need. The last full size coupe Cadillac offered was the 2003 Cadillac Eldorado.

Cadillac CTS Coupe Interior

Cadillac CTS Coupe Interior

Here was the first sketches of what was planned for the 2010 CTS Coupe:

 

Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept Sketch

Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept Sketch

2008 Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept sketch

2008 Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept sketch

The low roofline got moved up a bit, and some of the angles got smoothed out.  But the purpose of design sketches is to be TOO much, so that they leave the impression of the innovations in the sketch.

 

Where did we come from?

In 1953 the Series 62 was the mainstay of the Cadillac line.  Cadillac introduced a new, limited edition luxury convertible at the top of the line — the Eldorado Special.  532 examples were sold in 1953 at a cost of $7,750 at a time when the starting price for a 2-door Series 62 Coupe was $3,571.  The Eldorado was the Cadillac of the Cadillac line.

1953 Cadillac Eldorado

1953 Cadillac Eldorado

By 1973 the now Fleetwood ElDorado was still a convertible, and still top of the line. The price was almost the same as 20 years earlier, at $7,681 but the Eldorado was very much a production Cadillac and not the largely hand built custom limited Eldorado of 1953.

1973 Cadillac Eldorado

1973 Cadillac Eldorado

In 2003 Cadillac made the last Cadillac Eldorado, and retired all the meaningful names for more euro-centric letter designations. The Seville became the STS, the Deville the DTS, and the new C-class Touring Sedan became the CTS.

2002 Cadillac Eldorado

2002 Cadillac Eldorado

Which brings us back to the new 2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe. Many former Eldorado owners who enjoy 2-door full size Cadillacs are looking forward eagerly to this new car. It has also been well received in the press.

Cadillac Exterior Design Director John Manoogian (left) and Cadillac Interior Design Director Eric Clough display the Eyes On Design Best Concept Car award for the Cadillac CTS Coupe concept at the 2008 North American International Auto Show Tuesday, January 15, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by John F. Martin for General Motors)

Cadillac Exterior Design Director John Manoogian (left) and Cadillac Interior Design Director Eric Clough display the Eyes On Design Best Concept Car award for the Cadillac CTS Coupe concept at the 2008 North American International Auto Show Tuesday, January 15, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by John F. Martin for General Motors)

Cadillac has also rumored that it would be a natural and easy edition to release a V-Series variant of the new CTS Coupe. The means that it may be available with a 556 hp Supercharged 6.2L LSA engine, enhanced performance suspension, and performance brake package as well.

2008 Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept

2008 Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept

2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe drive-by

2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe drive-by

For up to date spy photos on the new CTS couple please check Left Lane News.

Autoweek recalls the 1954 Cadillac Eldorado

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Brooks Bierly at Autoweek has a nice perspective piece on the 1954 Cadillac Eldorado.  The Eldorado was introduced in 1953 as a premium, top-of-the-line convertible coupe, similar to the Cadillac XLR-V today.  In 1954 it had a new longer wheel-base, wrap-around windshield and custom wire wheels.

The Standard Catalog of Cadillac notes that the Eldorado featured golden identifying crests centered directly behind the air-slot fenderbreaks, and wide fluted beauty panels to decorate the lower rear body sides.  These panels were made of extruded aluminum.  There were monogram plates on the doors, and custom interior trimmings with the Cadillac crest embossed on the seat bolsters, similar to the touches added to the redesigned Cadillac CTS in 2008.

Automatic windshield washers, power steering, a 12-volt electrical system, and aluminum alloy pistons made the long standard equipment list in 1954.

Another one-off creation also appeared in 1954 — an exclusive, one-off Sedan DeVille!

Thanks to Autoweek and owner Bill Parfet for this beautiful living history!

1954 Cadillac Eldorado

1954 Cadillac Eldorado

2002 Cadillac Eldorado: New for 2002

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CADILLAC ELDORADO

New For 2002

  • Updated GF3 oil specifications
  • Extended oil and filter change intervals

Model Lineup

Engines Transmission
275 hp 300 hp
Northstar V8 Northstar V8 4-speed auto
Eldorado s – s
ETC – s s

Key:

Standard: s
Not available: –

2002 CADILLAC ELDORADO ADDS REFINEMENTS FOR NEW MODEL YEAR

For nearly 50 years, the Eldorado has helped distinguish Cadillac from the competition. Long considered the ultimate in prestige, Eldorado has also been a technological showcase, consistently debuting new, groundbreaking innovations.

“Features such as StabiliTrak, Magnasteer and continuously variable road-sensing suspension set Eldorado apart from other luxury offerings,” said Steve Rosenblum, Eldorado brand manager. “In terms of design, its sharp, razor edges and angular body give it a distinctive appearance on the road.”

The 2001 model was built to be the most advanced and responsive Eldorado ever, and continues to be the best-selling prestige luxury coupe in the United States. Production was shifted from the Detroit Hamtramck Assembly Center in Detroit to the Lansing Craft Centre in Lansing, Michigan, creating manufacturing efficiencies, achieving a better balance between available facilities and market demand and improving overall quality.

For 2002, Cadillac has added a few additional refinements to the Eldorado. Routine maintenance becomes less time consuming, with oil and filter change intervals increased from every 10,000 miles to 12,500 miles.

The Eldorado also has new factory fill engine oil that meets the industry’s upgraded GF3 oil specifications. The specification calls for a .5 to 1 percent increase in fuel economy and a 40 percent reduction in oil consumption. The new oil is more highly refined and contains more detergent inhibitor.

Offering both 275- and 300-horsepower variants, the 4.6-liter aluminum 32-valve Northstar V8 remains the heart of the Eldorado. The engine was redesigned in 2000, resulting in significantly lower emissions, quieter operation, and better fuel economy running on regular unleaded fuel. All without losing the performance that has long been Northstar’s signature. The 2000 engine featured an all-new head design, new intake manifolds, coil-on-plug ignition and rolling cam runners to reduce friction.

Other features that distinguish the Eldorado include new OnStar services – Personal Calling capability and OnStar Virtual Advisor. Added in the 2001 model year, Personal Calling allows drivers to make and receive hands-free, voice-activated personal calls from their vehicles without an additional cellular contract. Virtual Advisor delivers personalized Internet-based information such as e-mail, news headlines, sports scores, stock quotes and weather conditions to the vehicle. Both services offer completely hands-free, eyes on the road operation. For more information about OnStar, see the “OnStar” section of the Corporate press kit.

SPECIFICATIONS

Overview

Model: Eldorado; Eldorado Touring Coupe
Body style / driveline: midsize coupe, transverse front engine, front-wheel drive
Manufacturing location: Lansing, Michigan

Engine

Eldorado 4.6L Northstar V8 ETC 4.6L Northstar V8
Type: 4.6-liter, DOHC V8 4.6-liter DOHC V8
Displacement (cu in / cc): 279 / 4565 279 / 4565
Bore x stroke (in / mm): 3.66 x 3.31 / 93 x 84 3.66 x 3.31 / 93 x 84
Cylinder head material: aluminum aluminum
Valvetrain: dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder
Ignition system: crank-triggered direct fire crank-triggered direct fire
Fuel delivery: sequential tuned port fuel injection sequential tuned port fuel injection
Compression ratio: 10.0:1 10.0:1
Horsepower (hp / kw @ rpm): 275 / 205 @ 5600 300 / 224 @ 6000
Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm): 300 / 407 @ 4000 295 / 400 @ 4400
Recommended fuel: 87 octane 87 octane
Maximum engine speed (rpm): 6500 6700
Emissions controls: MAF, linear EGR, OBD II, catalyst, A.I.R. MAF, linear EGR, OBD II, catalyst, A.I.R.
Estimated fuel economy
(mpg city / hwy / combined): 18 / 27 / 24 18 / 27 / 24

Transmission

Eldorado 4T80-E ETC 4T80-E
4-speed electronic automatic with overdrive and viscous- type converter clutch 4-speed electronic automatic with overdrive and viscous- type converter clutch
Gear ratios (:1):
First: 2.96 2.96
Second: 1.63 1.63
Third: 1.00 1.00
Fourth: 0.68 0.68
Reverse: 2.13 2.13
Final drive ratio: 3.11:1 3.17:1

Chassis/Suspension

Eldorado ETC
Front: independent 4-wheel suspension, MacPherson strut, steel coil spring, 19-mm stabilizer bar continuously variable road-sensing independent suspension, MacPherson strut, steel coil spring, 21-mm stabilizer bar
Rear: fully independent, short/long arm, automatic level control, 14-mm stabilizer bar fully independent, short/long arm, automatic level control, 16-mm stabilizer bar
Traction control system: full-range (all speed) full-range (all speed)
Steering type: Magnasteer variable-assist speed sensitive steering, rack-and-pinion Magnasteer variable-assist speed sensitive steering, rack-and-pinion
Ratio: 15.6:1 on center 14.1:1 on center
Steering wheel turns, lock-to-lock: 2.65 2.83
Turning circle, curb-to-curb (ft / m): 40.35 / 12.3 40.35 / 12.3

Brakes

Type: power-assisted four-wheel disc ABS power-assisted four-wheel disc ABS, road texture detection
Rotor diameter x thickness, front (in / mm): 11.85 x 1.26 / 301 x 32 11.85 x 1.26 / 301 x 32
Rotor diameter x thickness, rear (in / mm): 10.94 x .43 / 278 x 11 10.94 x .43 / 278 x 11

Wheels/Tires

Eldorado ETC
Wheel size and type:
Standard: 16 x 7 cast aluminum 16 x 7 cast aluminum
Optional: 16 x 7 chrome aluminum 16 x 7 chrome aluminum
Tire size and type: All-season Mud and Snow Michelin Symmetry blackwall P225/60R16 S-rated All-season Mud and Snow blackwall Goodyear Eagle LS P235/60R16 H-rated

Dimensions

Exterior

Wheelbase (in / mm): 108 / 2743 108 / 2743
Overall length (in / mm): 200.6 / 5095 200.6 / 5095
Overall width (in / mm): 75.5 / 1918 75.5 / 1918
Overall height (in / mm): 53.6 / 1361 53.6 / 1361
Track (in / mm):
Front: 60.9 / 1546 60.9 / 1546
Rear: 60.9 / 1546 60.9 / 1546
Min. ground clearance (in / mm): 5.8 / 148 5.8 / 148
Base curb weight (lbs / kg): 3814 / 1730 3865 / 1753
Weight distribution (% front / rear): 63 / 37 64 / 36

Interior

Seating capacity:
Front: 2 2
Rear: 3 3
Head room (in / mm):
Front: 37.8 / 961 37.8 / 961
Rear: 38.3 / 972 38.3 / 972
Leg room (in / mm):
Front: 42.6 / 1081 42.6 / 1081
Rear: 35.5 / 901 35.5 / 901
Shoulder room (in / mm):
Front: 58.2 / 1478 58.2 / 1478
Rear: 57.6 / 1463 57.6 / 1463
Hip room (in / mm):
Front: 57.6 / 1464 57.6 / 1464
Rear: 55.7 / 1416 55.7 / 1416

Capacities

Trailer towing maximum (lbs/kg): 1000 / 453
Fuel tank (gal / liters): 19 / 71.9
Engine oil less filter (quarts / liters): 7 / 6.62
Cooling system (quarts / liters): 12.5 / 11.8