The early 2000s were a fairly good time, as the economy roared to life, and renewed optimism spilled over from the 1990s.
General Motors seemed to be sitting high and mighty atop the automaker hill, and the Cadillac division continued to sell vehicles to a completely opposite consumer it seeks now. But, it did have quite the bright spot on its record in 2003 when it introduced the stunning Cadillac Sixteen concept vehicle.
Powered by a V16 engine, and said to make a minimum of 1,000 hp while returning 16 mpg with Active Fuel Management, the 2003 Cadillac Sixteen went down as one of the most incredible modern Cadillac concept cars without a doubt. Although it never came to fruition, its design influenced an incoming generation of vehicles, such as the CTS and STS.
And, after over a decade, it seems a proper Cadillac flagship will finally come to life following the 2016 CT6.
Go ahead and sit back, click play and relive a sliver of 2003, which includes plenty of handheld digital cameras. Remember life before smartphones?
Comments
Regardless of what anyone say, I would love to see a proper V12 hybrid Cadillac ultra super sedan one day. May not be anytime soon but like to see a V12 Cadillac in production, not in concept form.
This was truly the blueprint for the ultimate Cadillac ultra luxury sedan; minus the V16 of course. To think there was once a time when Cadillac, in the height of their geriatric pursuit days, legitimately contemplated a V12 powered sedan seems quite fanatical to say the least. But if such a car were to be produced today, I’d rather it be produced by today’s Cadillac engineers, instead of the ones of the early 2000’s.
I was in high school when GM unveiled this masterpiece. And for the first time ever us “youngsters” of the day and age were raving about a Cadillac! The Sixteen pretty much stole the 2003 North American Auto Show and was truly a Cadillac worth aspiring to own….Too bad it never fully came to fruition. As was mentioned, only certain cues here and there made it to production Cadillacs; namely the grille and rear fascia. Those ultra cool reclining rear seats with the leg extensions, the Bvlgari center console clock, the solid crystal carved Cadillac logo on the steering wheel and silk carpeting would catapult Cadillac to the top of the luxury charts……..
Have you seen the El Miral and Ciel concepts?
I would say those blow the Sixteen out of the water and are much more realistic in terms of actually being produced!
Given the advancements in material science and automotive engineering, it would be interesting to see Cadillac bring the Sixteen to life as a limited production of the Elmiraj as it would be a modern interpretation of what a true luxury sports coupe should be.
Well this car was no where near production and it was no where really something anyone would want to drive on the road. It made a wonderful looking show car and that was about it.
To do this car right they would have had to have made some major changes and it would have compromised the car much.
Also this is a very old show car now and would need refreshed.
This car sent the signal of where the ATS, CTS and CT6 were going styling wise nothing more.
I had wished they had down sized it better for a CTS at some point too but that time has come and gone.
I think if they hold to the styling direction we saw in the last show car we should be fine. It carried the good things of a car like the Sixteen but also was much closer to todays expectations and reality of really being on the road.
I was able to see this car here once outside and it is a very impressive show car. The ELR is a great looking ex show car but also shows the short comings of a show car brought to real life. Same for the SSR.
I hope the CT8 will be here before 2020…. as a 2020 modal year
Style wise, I see a lot of the original SRX in the all-new XT5.
Cadillac styling is old
That car is just beautiful and smooth, wish cadillac would just build it.
Still waiting to see those glorious headlamps on a Cadillac.