Cadillac Seville

The Cadillac Seville was a midsize luxury sedan manufactured by General Motors' Cadillac division from 1975 to 2004. The vehicle was traditionally second in the Cadillac lineup after the Deville and was more focused on performance than the larger Deville. But it has long been Cadillac's entry-level car until 1996, except during the era of the Cadillac Cimarron (1982-1988).

History

The Seville, introduced in 1975, was Cadillac's answer to the rising popularity of luxury imports in the US from Europe, such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Historically, these imported luxury cars had been cheaper, less luxurious and significantly smaller than Cadillacs, but over time they had evolved, and had become quite luxurious and even more expensive than competing Cadillacs, and yet the market share of these imports continued to climb. It became obvious that the traditional American automotive paradigm of bigger=better was no longer in full effect in the marketplace. So, the Seville was to be simultaneously the smallest and the most expensive Cadillac in the lineup, turning Cadillac's traditional marketing and pricing strategy on its head.

1956

The first use of the Seville name was on a coupe version of the 1956 Cadillac Eldorado convertible. Four Eldorado Seville sedans were built in 1957, but it was the outlandish tailfins found on the 1959 model that are most-remembered. 1960 was the last year for the Eldorado Seville.

Original concepts

The prototypes pictured below show the various styling directions explored by Cadillac prior to the final version that debuted in 1975. Various names for the proposed vehicle were explored as well. Resurrection of the LaSalle marque was seriously considered, but it was decided that given that LaSalle had been used for entry-level sub-Cadillacs in the past; it would create confusion in the marketplace among those who recollected the context of the names previous use.

1976

Based on the rear wheel drive GM X-body platform that underpinned the Chevrolet Nova (a unibody with a bolt-on subframe - this layout was common with both GM X and F bodies), the Seville's unibody and chassis were extensively re-engineered and upgraded from that humble origin and it was awarded the unique designation of "K-body". Cadillac stylists added a crisp, angular body that set the tone for GM styling for the next decade, along with a wide-track stance that gave the car a substantial, premium appearance.