History of Cadillac
On August 22, 1902, the Henry Ford Company facility at Cass Street and Amsterdam Avenue was converted into the Cadillac Automobile Corporation, which was founded on that day. It was named after the 1701 founder of Detroit, the French adventurer Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac. Cadillac is one of the first automobile brands in the world, fourth in the United States only behind Autocar Corporation (1897) and sister GM brands Oldsmobile (1897) and Buick.
The Cadillac Automobile Company combined with Leland & Faulconer Manufacturing in 1905, becoming The Cadillac Motor Corporation. The General Motors (GM) corporation acquired Cadillac on July 29, 1909. Cadillac became the prestige branch of General Motors, specializing in the manufacture of a big luxury auto. Cadillac was already one of America's finest luxury automobile manufacturers when GM acquired the firm. It was able to pave the way for the present mass manufacture of vehicles due to the total interchangeability of its precise components.
The United States, Canada, and China are the company's primary markets. In 34 other global markets, Cadillac vehicles are distributed.
The front bumper was the second distinguishing design element of Cadillac. As the 1950s progressed, what had begun as a pair of artillery shell-shaped bumper guards after World War II was elevated on the front-end design. Due to their resemblance to the voluptuous 1950s television celebrity Dagmar, they came to be known as Dagmar bumpers. In 1958, they were toned down, and the following year, they were eliminated.
These features include tailfins, wraparound windshields, and excessive use of chrome, which were many of Harley J. Earl's ideas as then-design leader of General Motors. The introduction of tailfins began in 1948 and peaked in 1959. From 1960 through 1964, they declined each year until they were discontinued in 1965.
The most popular Cadillac assembly plants are:
- Lansing Grand River Assembly, Michigan, US.
- Arlington Assembly, Texas, US.
- Fairfax Assembly, Kansas, US.
- Spring Hill Manufacturing, Tennessee, US.
- Shanghai GM, China
Cadillac vehicle range
The majority of Cadillac's models were rear- and all-wheel-drive sedans, roadsters, crossovers, and SUVs.
In October 1902, the Runabout and Tonneau, the first vehicles, were finished. A 10 HP (7 kW) single-cylinder engine provided power for the two-seat, horseless carriages. These were almost exact replicas of the 1903 Ford Model A.
Cadillac started producing the M41 Walker Bulldog army tank in 1951, and it saw action in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
When the brand's first compact car, the Cimarron, was introduced in 1982, automotive journalist Dan Neil included it on his 2007 list of the "Worst cars of all time," saying that it "crystallized everything that was wrong, venal, lazy, and mendacious about GM in the 1980s in this insult to Cadillac's good name and fine customers."
Moreover, GM used the Cadillac brand as their standard for "commercial chassis" institutional vehicles, including limos, ambulances, hearses, and funeral home flower cars, all of which were made to order by aftermarket manufacturers.
Interesting facts about Cadillac
Cadillac's reputation for innovation reaches back to the first Cadillac automobile completed by company founder Henry M. Leland on October 17, 1902. His first single-cylinder Cadillac engine produced a then-astounding 10 horsepower, easily surpassing the output of his rivals' powerplants. With variable intake valves and rack-and-pinion steering, Leland's Cadillac Model A was a technological tour de force.
By successfully showing the interchangeability of its component components during a reliability test, Cadillac had the first American automobile to earn the Royal Automobile Club of the United Kingdom's Dewar Trophy in 1908; this gave rise to the company's tagline, "Standard of the World." Cadillac set a new standard for automobile technology with this stunning display. In 1912, it received the award once again for introducing electric starting and lighting to a production car.
Cadillac was the first carmaker to use a sophisticated Delco electrical system that incorporated self-starting, ignition, and lighting features two years later.
The Cadillac Type 55 Touring Model was chosen by the US Army in July 1917 after extensive testing along the Mexican border as their reliable staff automobile. The American Expeditionary Force commanders in World War I furnished 2,350 of the vehicles for deployment in France.
In 1925 Cadillac made another breakthrough in engine technology with a dual-plane V8 crankshaft. By arranging the connecting rod journals at 90-degree intervals and adding counterweights to the crankshaft, Cadillac engineers produced a perfectly balanced V8 engine with exceptional smoothness.
In 1930, Cadillac introduced the world's first V16 engine for passenger car use. With overhead valves, hydraulic lash adjusters, twin carburetors, dual exhaust, and an elegant exterior design, the V16 made an unmistakable statement about Cadillac's standing among the world's finest automobiles.
Pioneered in 1940 by Oldsmobile, Cadillac's General Motors sister division, the Hydra-Matic four-speed automatic employed a fluid coupling and a hydraulic "brain" that controlled gear changes.
In recognition of its groundbreaking overhead valve V8 engine, Cadillac received the inaugural "Motor Trend Vehicle of the Year" award from the young automotive publication Motor Trend in 1949. A 1950 Coupe de Ville, the one-millionth automobile built by Cadillac, was constructed on November 25, 1949.
A record-breaking year for the brand, Cadillac sold 390,458 automobiles globally in 2019.
Shortest and longest Cadillac models
The 2023 Cadillac CT4 is the smallest and most affordable offering in the American luxury brand's lineup. It's the spiritual successor of the Cadillac ATS, a compact sedan that's fun to drive. On the other side, the longest wheelbase standard Cadillac (not limo or stretched Cadillac Fleetwoods) was the 1930 Cadillac, which was built on a 140-inch wheelbase that, to this day, remains the longest standard size Cadillac ever built.
Cadillac motorsport history
Like other manufacturers, Cadillac took part in a variety of motorsports before World War II broke out. Cadillac engines were used by several Allard vehicles.
Famous Indy driver Paul Russo won the 1949 Milwaukee 100 stock car race in a Cadillac, Red Byron came in third at the 1950 NASCAR Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina, and Gober Sosebee started from the pole and came in second at the June 1951 NASCAR Grand National race in Columbus, Georgia, which was run over a half-mile dirt track. In 1952, Buck Baker won a 250-mile race in NASCAR's Speedway division in a Cadillac-powered Indy-style car, and Tom Deal's Cadillac finished second in the La Carrera Panamericana road race in Mexico.
Like other American automakers at the time, Cadillac took part in the NASCAR Grand National Series in the 1950s. By the 1960s, the brand was no longer present in the series.
GM Racing, the technical arm of GM's motorsports program, developed several competition versions of the Premium V engine, including a twin-turbocharged Northstar V8 that powered the Cadillac Northstar Le Mans Prototype in the American Le Mans Series. The small-block V8s that power the production CTS V and the CTS V race car are among the most powerful small-block engines ever produced. The transmissions in the CTS V race cars use a synchronizer design developed by Cadillac years ago as "Silent Shift," although the original bronze synchronizer pads are replaced with carbon composite material in the modern version.
Formula One
General Motors, the parent company of Cadillac, announced on January 5, 2023, that it would team up with Andretti Global to join the Cadillac brand in the Formula One World Championship.
Cadillac Project GTP Hypercar
In 2023, Cadillac will contest both Championships - the FIA World Endurance and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a third-generation prototype race car from the American luxury brand named Project GTP Hypercar.
After 20 years, Cadillac will be making its way back to Le Mans. Cadillac Racing will have the chance to showcase its skill, workmanship, and technology by participating in the 2023 IMSA and WEC championships.
With the Cadillac DPi-V.R, Cadillac has been a leader in American sports car racing since 2017 and has competed in the IMSA Manufacturers Championship.
The V-Series lineup perfectly encapsulates Cadillac's dedication to performance. Recent additions to its lineup include the Escalade-V, CT4 V, and CT5 V performance sedans, as well as the track-ready Cadillac CT4 V and Cadillac CT5 V Blackwing.
This summer will mark the start of the racing car's on-track testing, and the Rolex 24 at Daytona will serve as its debut event in 2023.
Cadillac biggest competitors
Cadillac was elevated to the top of GM's vehicle hierarchy in 1909, ahead of Buick, Oldsmobile, Oakland, and eventually Chevrolet. Acura, Audi USA, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Lincoln, and Mercedes-AMG are some of Cadillac's rivals and related businesses.
Cadillac Pros and cons
Cadillac's most popular models
Cadillac is, believe it or not, one of the oldest carmakers in the world. Like every other American brand, Cadillac has experienced numerous ups and downs and has had its reputation burnished and tarnished. Yet over time, the Cadillac name grew to stand for elegance, originality, and dependability. Its many positive attributes all contributed to it becoming one of the most popular automobiles in America. The greatest automobiles it has ever placed on the road, according to the most cutting-edge concepts:
- 1912 Cadillac Model 30
- 1930 Cadillac V16
- 1941 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible
- 1953 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
- 1959 Cadillac Coupe De Ville
- 1976 Cadillac Coupe De Ville
- 2002 Cadillac Escalade
- 2003 Cadillac CTS
- 2011 Cadillac CTS V Sport Wagon
- 2022 Cadillac CT5 V Blackwing
Cadillac's worst models and their imperfections
Unfortunately, Cadillac has also had its share of bad vehicles:
- 1981 Cadillac V8 6-4 - system suffered from numerous drivability issues as the computer technology at the time couldn't deactivate/reactivate the cylinders fast enough.
- 1982 – 1988 Cadillac Cimarron – named one of the worst cars to ever come off the brand's assembly line. Had an 88 HP four-cylinder engine with power to the front wheels only.
- 1987 – 1993 Cadillac Allanté – Poor performance, being a front-wheel-drive car powered by a 170 horsepower engine while weighing 3600lbs. Numerous quality issues, most notably a leaky convertible top and expensive problems with its Bosch anti-lock brakes.
- 1997 – 2001 Cadillac Catera - underpowered engine failed to impress, along with its hibernating automatic transmission. One broke down multiple times during a test by Automobile magazine.
Innovations – created and used by Cadillac
Cadillac has set the standards in bold design and ingenious technology. When Cadillac first made these features available on production cars, they were praised as technical advances. The list of Cadillac innovations includes the first self-starter, the first independent front suspension, and the first synchronized transmission. Cadillac raised the bar in powertrains with elegant V8, V12, and V16 engines. Cadillac also introduced America's first transverse - V8/front-wheel-drive automobile.
In 1906, Cadillac became the first large-scale producer of a completely enclosed automobile. Cadillac took part in the interchangeability test in 1908 in the United Kingdom, and it won the Dewar Trophy for the year's most significant development in the auto industry.
Cadillac was the first automaker to include an electrical system that allowed for lighting, ignition, and starting in 1912.
In contrast to auto-engineered bodywork, Cadillac first offered designer-styled bodywork in 1927. In 1926, it installed glass that wouldn't break. Cadillac also debuted the "turret top," which was a passenger car's first all-steel roof. Car roofs were once composed of wood that was covered with cloth.
Using continuous mesh gears, Cadillac debuted the first clashless Synchro-Mesh manual gearbox in 1928. In 1930, Cadillac introduced the first V16 engine, one of the most powerful and silent engines in the country, with a 45-degree overhead valve, 452 cubic inches (7.41 liters), and 165 horsepower (123 kW). Making Cadillac, the "Standard of the World" was made possible by the creation and launch of the V8, V16, and V12. In 1949, an upgraded V8 engine with overhead valves became the benchmark for the entire American car industry.
Henry F. Phillips released the Phillips screw and screwdriver to the public in 1934. The Phillips technique, which was widely embraced in 1940, was initially used by Cadillac in 1937. In 1941, all of the company's vehicles were powered by the same basic engine and powertrain for the first time in many years.
GM introduced the industry's first curved windshields in 1948, and the first tail fin made its modest debut on a Cadillac. Inspired by the twin rudders on the Lockheed P38 aircraft, the tail fin would become a defining characteristic of Cadillac automobiles for decades.
In 1954, Cadillac's innovative padded dashboard was seen as a state-of-the-art safety device. Ten years later, front seat belts became standard Cadillac equipment. Computerized anti-lock rear brakes were introduced as optional equipment in 1971, and in 1974, Cadillac pioneered the use of an air cushion restraint (air bag) system to help protect the driver in a frontal collision.
The first three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic automatic gearbox and completely automated heater-air conditioning systems both debuted in 1960; both innovations would later become standard GM models for many years.
In 1975, Cadillac became the first US manufacturer to use electronic fuel injection. The 1978 Cadillac Seville was equipped with a trip computer, and two years later, integrated circuits took charge of fuel injection, ignition, and vehicle diagnostics. Cadillac introduced the first front-wheel-drive vehicle with electronic traction control in 1990. Other advances in digital technology were quickly adapted to Cadillac vehicles, with a computer-controlled suspension system and speed-sensitive steering introduced in 1993.
Cadillac debuted the Northstar engine in 1991. General Motors developed this line of high-performance 90° V engines from 1991 until 2010. The original double overhead cam, 4 valves per cylinder, aluminum block/aluminum head V8 design, which is regarded as GM's most technically challenging engine, was created by Oldsmobile's R&D but is most closely related to Cadillac's Northstar series. The associated Northstar System was Cadillac's trademarked moniker for a set of performance characteristics that was first debuted in mid-1992 and included variable valve timing, road sensing suspension, variable power steering, and four-wheel disc brakes.
Cadilac safety and reliability
Cadillac may have started off as one of the best vehicles available. They opened the path for other automakers to go abroad, penetrate international markets, and establish a strong reputation. Yet, over time, that reputation has deteriorated, forcing them to place last in several consumer reports.
When dependability is taken into account, Cadillac is among the top six manufacturers. Even though the company has periodically had trouble evolving, recent years have seen a significant improvement.
The CTS, ATS, and Escalade were among the lowest rated Cadillac models, receiving only one start out of a potential five. If you look a bit closer, you'll see that the company had six distinct significant recalls in 2014 alone.
You can't go wrong with a Cadillac since it has above-average ratings for safety, dependability, and fuel efficiency. Modern safety measures are included in every Cadillac car to avoid crashes and promote safer driving practices both on and off the road. They still rank worst in several consumer assessments since their reputation has deteriorated over time.
Cadillac electric models
Cadillac's first all-electric vehicle is quite impressive, so much that it advanced to the finalist round of our 2023 SUV of the Year competition. The 2023 Lyriq represents the next generation of Cadillac vehicles. It's whisper-quiet, spacious, cosseting to drive, dressed to the nines, and packed with advanced features. Wowed our judges with its unique design, lovely interior, and smooth, refined driving manners. In many ways, it combines the best of old-school Cadillac with a futuristic feel.
As a model for the 2024 model year, the Cadillac Celestiq electric vehicle was unveiled by General Motors' Cadillac division. It will take the place of the Cadillac CT6, which is anticipated to start selling for the 2024 model year, as its flagship sedan. The first automobile built at GMTC to be made available for purchase will be the Celestiq. The Celestiq utilizes GM's Ultium battery technology and BEV3 chassis, much like the Cadillac Lyriq, an electric SUV that came before it.