Sixteen Candles…

Cadillac used to rule the roost when it came to big, luxurious showboating cars;
Ben Klemenzson asks if it
could it be that way again?

Images: GM

You may remember a few issues ago we showed you Cadillac’s concept the Sixteen (so named after its 16 cylinder engine which powered it). Well, it seems that the duck and wreath division weren’t joking when they put Lexus, BMW and Mercedes firmly in their sights.



Spurred on by their success with the CTS and Escalade in the North American markets over the past decade, it looked as though they had seriously decided to take on the BMW 7-series and Mercedes S-Class when they revealed the Sixteen awhile back. Powered by a 1000bhp 13.0-litre twin V8 motor set-up that would probably have Ken Livingston foaming at the mouth, it may not necessarily seem to be the most logical idea for a new car launch in these times of environmental consciousness and rocketing oil prices.
However, the actual road-going version of Cadillac’s wish car, which has been sighted in Australia, is based on a stretched Holden Commodore (Zeta) platform and features a pair of 300bhp 3.6-litre V6 engines. These combine to produce a whopping 600bhp and 540lb.ft. of torque. There is a nod to the green agenda in that the Sixteen will feature direct injection and multiple displacement (i.e. it’ll run on 12, 8 and possibly 4 cylinders much like the 8-6-4 engines of the Eighties).
In light of the Federal government’s recent attention on US manufacturers’ corporate fuel economy (or lack there of) and GM’s shaky times recently we think that it’s still likely the plug will be pulled on this beautiful beast, no matter what Bob Lutz might say. Also, in light of its new ‘diddy’ power train, shouldn’t it now be called the Twelve rather than the Sixteen?!