The Sixteen is more than a special car because of its size or performance. It is a show of excessive opulence of financial and technological resources of General Motors, exhibited in a product in which all the aesthetic aspects involved were taken care of.
The designers of General Motors opted for a method deeply rooted in old customs for the construction of this concept car. They searched for skilled craftsmen to carry out tasks of interior upholstery, modeling instruments, combining wood and metal in doors and board and even preparing some aluminum panels from the body.
The interior was meticulously hand-worked to achieve two objectives: the first is to evoke the standards of luxury and comfort of the 1930s but with contemporary style, as can be seen in the upholstery of Tuscan leather armchairs, walnut root inlays on doors and consoles and a very special detail: the seat Right rear reclines like a divan. The second objective was to make it urban, which means that it is prepared for a very punctual and exclusive type of situation. That the person invited to travel in this vehicle feels entertained from the first contact with its ergonomics, which is all that their senses perceive, colors, textures, aromas, etc.
The Cadillac Sixteen's body design is bold and imposing, something unusual in today's designs. The aluminium hood is long enough to assume that it hides something even more impressive, it is worth noting that the hood does not lift by hand, but is powered electrically. The roof has a fully glass panel and the windows do not have B-pillar (the one located between the front and rear windows).
While GM designers rescue the ultra-luxurious essence of the 1930s sedan, engineering is truly advanced with remarkable innovations. The V16 32-valve (OHV) engine connects to an electronically controlled 4-speed automatic gearbox. This V16 has the particularity of being lighter than other V8 engines present today in mass production vans and having fewer parts despite having twice as many cylinders.
Computer-aided design (CAD) enabled engineers to optimize their designs before making costly prototypes, which generate an increase in development and budget times. Resistance analysis of the parts to the stresses they will be subjected to in real situations and simulations to optimize the efficiency of the cooling and lubrication systems.
The airflow obtained with only 2 valves is similar to those obtained by other DOHC engines with 4 valves. The engine has DoD (Displacement on Demand) technology to reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. This system deactivates half of the cylinders under normal driving conditions and gently and automatically reactivates them in more demanding conditions such as sudden accelerations, heavy load towing, etc.
A fuel consumption study conducted by GM determined that on a trip from Detroit to California, the Sixteen engine would operate 65 percent of the time on 8 cylinders, on 4 cylinders 30 percent and only the remaining 5 percent of the trip with the 16 active cylinders.
The use of multiple aluminum components is an advantage that helps in overall weight reduction. The engine has valves and other titanium alloy parts. The steering operates on all four wheels to improve the maneuverability of this colossus more than 5.6 meters long and 3.5 meters between axles. 16-inch brakes and 6-piston jaws help stop it.
Among the electronic devices stand out a central DVD handling system in the rear seats, Bose sound system and the fifth generation of the OnStar security and communication system. The front and rear lights are equipped with LED technology.
Baer 16” Brakes
Engine: Powertrain GM V16 at 90º - 14,000 cm3
© Adrián Blanco 2004 — Prohibited the total or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —