SSAA TASS OLE TEEES MEE ME ae er

TEST DRIVE

THE REDESIGNED 1992
Cadillac Seville was a turn-
ing point for General
Motors Cadillac division
because its design philoso-
phy stemmed from €uro-
pean — particularly Ger-
man — influences, rather
than traditional American
design concepts. Gone were
such traditional touches as
heavy chrome trim, vinyl
roof, pleated seats, wire-
wheel hubcaps and opera
windows.

The Seville was, and is, a clean
and honest design that doesn’t
look overweight or overdone. Its
angular creases defy the current
organic look, but it manages to
look powerful, luxurious and con-
temporary anyway.

The only weak point, in’ my
opinion, is the glitzy,  high-
mounted brake-light) which — ex-
tends the full width of the trunk
lid. Other than that, the Seville is
one af the most successful styling
exercises to come out of America
in a long time.

It should be noted that the base
Seville model is slightly more
tradiional in appearance with a
chromed eggerate grille, electronic
digital instrumentation, column-
mounted shite lever and clorh in-
terior, The STS (Seville Touring
Sedan) offers a body-colored grill,
front fox lamps, standard leather
interior, console shiiter and
analogue giupes.

The Seville is afso noteworthy
for its European-inspired ride and
handling characteristics. The
front-wheel-drive Seville is not
afraid fo be thrown inte sharp
bends ind dips, and its handling is
surprisingly neutral despite a
Hose-heavy disposition, The
suspension is) firmer than most
American duxurs cars (perhaps it
Hite too firm for some), but of-
fers more stability and driver con-
tral.

The °93 STS offers a. new
multi-link rear suspension | that
provides greater stability par-
ticularly under hard braking.
Combined with a new computer-
operated = Road-Sensing Suspen-
sion which automadcally selects
soft ar firm daniping settings, he
STS provides uncommon handling
for a domestic lanury car.

Up unul this vous, however, the
Seville was available ordy with a
tradidanal American pushrad V8
engine -- not real match for
Import competitors’ modern,
overhead cam,  muldevaive VS
engines.

Far 1993, the Seville STS is af-

ay ft

sa iy ee

Friday, May 14, 1963

RoR ASE Ws Sp oa

North Shore News - 29

a

Photos submitted

THE 1993 Cadillac Seville STS features a new 295-harsepower 4.6-litre multi-valve V8 engine, driver and passenger airbags, road-
sensing suspension, and traction control. Check out the new Seville at Carter Pontiac Buick Ltd., 4550 Lougheed Hwy., Burnaby.

fered with GM's 295 horsepower
Northstar 4.6-litre V8 engine with
four overhead camshafts, 32
valves, and sequential mufti-port
fuel injection. The base Seville re-
tains fast year’s 200 horsepower,
4,9-litre pushrod V8.

The new Northstar 4.6-litre V8
engine, first introduced in the
Cadillac Allante, has 48% more
horsepower than the 4.9-fitre unit.
Producing 295 horsepower at
6,000 rpm and 290 {t-lbs of tor-
que at 4,400 rpm. the Noriistur
engine has more power than
you're ever dikely ta need ina
luxury tar.

Zero to 60 mph comes up in 7.5
seconds and top speed on the test
track is 40 km/h.

The standard electronseally
controlied four-speed automatic
transmission performed flawlessly
during my test drive,

With so much power directed
through the front wheels. is not
surprising that there is some tor-
que steer under hurd acceleration,
The steering wheel will afrempt to
break free from: your grip if you
really floor the accelerator, but
it's not a serious Oroblem. Stand.
ard traction control, which
monntarily cuts back on engine
power when toss of traction is
detected, helos fo overgome this
problem,

The interior shows heavy styling
influences from Audi. and
Mercedes-Benz, with Jacquered
woodgrain trim oon the dash,
doors and consele, a hooded
analogue instrument cluster (STS),
white-on-black anidogne  gituees,
and electrically adjustable front
bucket seats with power tuimnbar
adjustment. Al pussengereside air
bag is standard for 1993,

A tashometer ind speedometer
are set very close together ahead
of the driver. while top computer
and ciinndte control oushbuttons

THE INTERIOR of the Cadillac Seville shows heavy styling
Benz.

flank the instrument pod. The fan
is powerful, but curiously, there
are no controls to direct air
through the vents or footwell on-
ly,

One more beef: there's no
pass-through through othe rear
armrest’ for skis.

The STS's base price of $48,688
is thousands of dollars cheaper
than comparable V8-powered
Japanese and German luxury
sedans. In the luxury car market,
the Seville STS is one heck of a
buy.

Price as tested $53,048

Base price $48,688

Type four-door, five-passenger
tuxury sedan

Layout transverse
engines front-wheel drive
Engine 4.6-litre V8, four cam-
shafts, 32 valves. sequential
multi-port fuel injection
Horsepower 295 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque 290 ft-lbs @ 4,400 rpm

front

Transmission
automatic

Curb weight 1,776 k2/3,903 Ibs
Wheelbase 2.819 mm/UE.Q in,
Length 3,19) mm/204.4 in,
Width 1.888 mm/74.4 in.
Height 1.370 nim54.0 in.
Trunk cupacity $08 litres/14.4
cuit.

Fuel consumption Cit $6.4
1/100 hm, 17 ompes Hi 10.1
LT kim, 28 mp

Warranty four years “100,000
kin

four-speed