Кадиллак Севиль: Американдық сәнді седан тарихы

American mid size luxury sedan

The Cadillac Seville is a mid size luxury car manufactured by Cadillac from the 1976 to 2004 model years as a smaller sized, premium model. It was replaced by the STS in 2004 for the 2005 model year.

The name of "Cadillac's first small car" was selected over a revival of LaSalle or the GM design staff's preference, LaScala, primarily because, as noted by GM Marketing Director Gordon Horsburgh, "It had no negatives." The initial suggestion was "Leland" in honor of one of the make's founders but it was rejected because most buyers wouldn't understand the reference and Henry Leland had also founded rival Lincoln. Hundreds of suggestions were considered: after extensive research, LaSalle was the top pick with St. Moritz a distant second, trailed further by Seville. A troubled past (LaSalle) and difficult pronunciation (St. Moritz) led to the eventual selection of the Seville nameplate. Seville is the name of a Spanish province and its capital, renowned for its history and treasures of art and architecture. Cadillac had first used the nameplate for a two door hardtop version of the 1956 Eldorado. 1960 was the last model year for the Eldorado Seville, returning in 1967 under a different name.

The Seville, introduced in May 1975 as an early 1976 model, was Cadillac's answer to the rising popularity of European luxury imports as Mercedes Benz, Audi and BMW. GM planners were becoming concerned that the division's once vaunted image as the "standard of the world" was fading, especially among younger generations of car buyers. Over time, European luxury cars had become quite luxurious and even more expensive than the much larger Cadillacs. As market share of these imports continued to climb, it became obvious that the traditional American automotive paradigm of "bigger equals better" had begun to falter. The Seville became the smallest and most expensive model in the lineup, turning Cadillac's traditional marketing and pricing strategy upside down and also partially succeeding the Calais as the "smallest, Chevrolet based Cadillac". Full size design prototypes were created as early as winter of 1972–73 (wearing the tentative name LaSalle, reviving the Cadillac junior brand from 1927 to 1940). Subsequent design prototypes looked edgier (specifically a 1973 named LaScala which forwardly hinted at the 1992 Seville). Styling took strong cues from the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow. Cadillac stylists added a crisp, angular body that set the tone for GM styling for the next decade, along with a wide track stance, giving the car a substantial, premium appearance. A wide chrome grille flanked by quadruple rectangular headlamps with narrow parking and signal lamps just below the header panel, while small wrap around rectangular tail lamps placed at the outermost corners of the rear gave the appearance of a lower, leaner, and wider car. The taillight design was similar to that used on a rejected Coupe DeVille concept. Unibody construction included a bolt on subframe with a rear suspension based on the rear wheel drive 1968–74 X body platform that underpinned the Chevrolet Nova. It also featured a rear differential with thicker front subframe bushings similar to the second generation F platform used in the Camaro, Firebird, and the 1975–79 X body platform. Substantial re engineering and upgrades from these humble origins earned it the unique designation "K body" (rather than "X special" following the format of the A special Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Pontiac Grand Prix and B special Buick Riviera). Also shared with the X body platform was part of the roof stamping and trunk floor pan (for 1973 and newer vehicles). Seville engineers chose the X body platform instead of the originally intended to be used German Opel Diplomat in response to GM's budget restrictions—executives felt re engineering an Opel would be more costly. Cadillac, the Seville was almost lighter than the full sized Deville. The Seville was thus more nimble and easy to park, as well as retaining a full complement of Cadillac features. More expensive than any other Cadillac (except the Series 75 Fleetwood factory limousines) at US$12,479 ($ in dollars ), the Seville was modestly successful. It spawned several imitators including the Lincoln Versailles and the Chrysler LeBaron (Fifth Avenue after 1982). To ensure the quality of the initial production run, the first 2,000 units produced were identical in color (Georgian silver) and options. This enabled workers to "ramp up" to building different configurations. Total 1976 Seville production was 43,772 vehicles. Early Sevilles produced between April 1975 (a total of 16,355) to the close of the 1976 model year were the first Cadillacs to use the smaller GM wheel bolt pattern (5 lugs with a bolt circle; the 2003–2009 XLR also uses this pattern). The first Sevilles shared a minority of components with the X Body. The rear drums measured and were similar to the ones used with the Nova 9C1 (police option) and A body (Chevelle, Cutlass, Regal, LeMans) intermediate station wagons. Starting with the 1977 model year, production Sevilles used the larger 5 lug bolt circle common to full size Chevrolet passenger cars (1971–76), Cadillacs, Buicks, Oldsmobiles, Pontiacs, and half ton Chevrolet/GMC light trucks and vans. It also received rear disc brakes, a design which would surface a year later as an option on the F body Pontiac Trans Am. 1975–76 models included a vinyl roof, to less expensively cover the roof's two part construction, the rear section around the C pillar was pressed especially for Cadillac and X body pressing was used for the forward section. Due to customer demand, a painted steel roof was offered in 1977, requiring a new full roof stamping. 1977 Seville production increased slightly to 45,060 vehicles. The last year, production increased to the first generation's peak production, at 56,985. The engine was an Oldsmobile sourced V8, fitted with a Bendix/Bosch electronically controlled fuel injection. This system gave the Seville smooth drivability and performance that was usually lacking in domestic cars of this early emissions control era. Power output was , gas mileage was 15 MPG in the city and 21 MPG on the highway while the full size Cadillacs were still getting single digit gas mileages ( respectively). In the late 1970s, Florida coachbuilder, Grandeur Motor Car Company, offered converted Sevilles with neoclassical 1930s styling cues. These sedans were converted into 2 door coupes with an elongated hood, fake spare tire covers on both sides, a small portal window in the rear right section of the vinyl covered roof, and an upright Rolls Royce like grille. An estimated 600 Seville Opera Coupes were produced. The Seville was manufactured in Iran under the brand name of "Cadillac Iran" from 1978 to 1987 by Pars Khodro, which was known as "Iran General Motors" before the Islamic Revolution. A total of 2,653 Cadillacs were made in Iran during this period. This made Iran the only country assembling Cadillacs outside the US until 1997 when the Opel Omega based Catera was built in Germany for US sale. The Cadillac BLS, built in Sweden exclusively for European market, was introduced in 2006. Although the Allanté had an Italian sourced body and interior, its final assembly was done in the US.

From 1978, through the third generation in 1988, the Seville was available with the Elegante package. It added a unique black/silver two tone exterior paint combination and perforated leather seats in light gray only. Real wire wheels were standard as were a host of other features which were optional or unavailable on the base Seville. In 1979, a second color combination was added, a two tone copper shade with a matching leather interior. For the second generation Elegante in 1985, a monotone paint combination became available; however, dual shade combinations, later available in various colors, remained more popular. The price for this package increased over time from $2,600 in 1978 ($ in dollars ) to $4,005 ($ in dollars ) in 1987 in addition to the base price.

YearEnginePower 1976–1979 5.7 L Oldsmobile V8 1978–1979 5.7 L LF9 Diesel V8

ModelYearEnginePowerTorque STS 1998–2003 4.6 L L37 Northstar V8 at 6000 rpm at 4400 rpmSLS 1998–2004 4.6 L LD8 Northstar V8 at 5600 rpm at 4000 rpm