Technology Trend Setter: The Cadillac Sixteen
- Smooth-running V16 engine with 1,000 hp and cylinder deactivation
- Innovative aluminum body with glass roof
- Luxurious interior with crystal and walnut wood
Geneva. Throughout its 100-year history, American luxury marque Cadillac has always set the pace in automotive construction. Now, it has managed again to combine breathtaking design with technological wizardry. With its 16 cylinders, 13.6-liter displacement and exactly 1000 hp, the Cadillac Sixteen sets standards in the world of top-class automobiles. The striking luxury sedan study is celebrating its European premiere in Geneva. This technological trend setter is a further demonstration of Cadillac's place among the global luxury car manufacturers.
Cadillac wrote automotive history in 1930, when the luxury marque introduced the world's first 16-cylinder car. Production continued until the Second World War. Now, the marque decided it was ready for a comeback. The name of the study alone – Cadillac Sixteen – recalls an era when the American luxury marque enjoyed the undisputed position of "Standard of the World." The proportions and numerous styling elements of the sedan now on show in Geneva are reminiscent of this classic era of automotive design. The extensive use of high-tech features, however, also makes the car an ultramodern trend setter.
The body: a lightweight and robust combination of aluminum and steel
The prototype's dimensions alone make it clear that Cadillac is reestablishing itself at the top of international car design.
With a wheelbase of 3,556 millimeters and a length of 5,673 millimeters, the Cadillac Sixteen is a mighty automobile whose appearance is dominated by its long hood and the 24-inch wheels with P265/40 R24 tires. A classic gull-wing hood, whose two halves are hinged along a center spine and are power-operated, ensures convenient access to the engine.
The four-door body has an all-glass roof and no B-pillar. The chassis tunnel is made of steel, with front and rear aluminum-extruded rail structures for the spaceframe. This unusual design ensures excellent stability, while also keeping the weight down to 2270 kilograms – extremely low for a car with these dimensions and engine specifications.
The interior was also designed to capture the classic atmosphere of a 1930s luxury car with modern means. The gauges are protected by polished crystal, while the dashboard features a center-mounted Bvlgari clock. The light brown hand-stitched leather and finest walnut inlays ensure a warm mood. Hand-woven cream-colored silk carpets enhance the luxurious feel.
The sixteen-cylinder: the gentle giant
Under the hood is an engine that is without parallel; its 16 cylinders, featuring a bore of 105 millimeters and a stroke of 98 millimeters, have a total capacity of no less than 13.6 liters. As a result, the naturally aspirated engine boasts around 1000 hp/745 kW at 6000 rpm, and an enormous peak torque of 1355 Nm at 4300 rpm.
The engineers chose state-of-the-art technology for the engine, which they had up and running in just seven months. Among the special features of the all-aluminum unit – the forerunner of a coming generation of V8 engines – are dry sump lubrication to help reduce overall height. The designers made extensive use of computers when creating the intake ducts and combustion chambers, which were significantly inspired by insights from motorsports technology.
Among the key innovations are the "Displacement on Demand" two-step cylinder deactivation, allowing the 16-cylinder to run on eight or even four cylinders when less power is required. The system closes the intake and exhaust valves of selected cylinders in a fraction of a second, thereby lowering the average fuel consumption to the level of conventional eight-cylinder engines. A further innovation is the camshafts, which can be adjusted by up to 40 degrees for greater engine power and lower emissions.