1998 Cadillac Seville Flagship of GM'S Assault Upon Foreign Markets
Seville is a well-balanced sports luxury car and has features to address any American buyer desires. But will it appeal to the foreign market?
By Bob Storck
Vehicle Type: Sports Luxury Sedan
Price Range: $39,995 through $48,500
Engine: 4.6- liter , 275 horsepower (SLS) or 300 horsepower (STS) V8s Front Engine/ Front Drive
Transmission: four-speed automatic
Fuel Economy: 17 mpg city/26 mpg highway
Safety Features: Driver and passenger side airbags and ABS anti-lock brakes are standard.
The Plains, Virginia -- Here in the heart of hunt country, luxury cars abound, but they are just as likely to be Mercedes, Jaguars or Lexuses as they are to be Cadillacs or Lincolns.
It is the unrivaled leader among American luxury cars, but with the rise of first British, then German, and now Japanese cars in the large luxury market, Cadillac Seville has had to change to meet the competition. First it had to overcome some internal complacency to bring quality and performance up to world standards. Then it had to learn that the public had changed, and buyers now not only want a smooth ride, but demand good handling and control for safety and stress-free driving. And finally, its engineers learned to use the leading edge of technology to go well beyond the competition.
Now they are ready not only to attack the foreigners on American soil, but with 40% of the market overseas, Cadillac is determined to raise the opinion of U.S. products by selling a third of their products in Europe and Japan. It was unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show -- the first Cadillac to be revealed outside of the U.S.
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