First Look: Cadillac Ciel Concept

August 20, 2011 7:00 PM Text Size: A . A . A Cadillac hasn?t had a bold, brash concept car since the Sixteen hit the stage at Detroit back in 2003. It was a four-door mega-sedan powered by a 16 cylinder engine, built to show that Cadillac aspired to build a car that could compete with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series. That sedan never came.

But now Cadillac might be rethinking its position on large sedans. This weekend, the company unveiled a big, brash four-door convertible built as ?a new expression of Cadillac?s historical grandeur,? according to the carmaker. Whatever the inspiration?we dig it. It?s like a modern-day ?59 Cadillac convertible.

Under that long hood of the Ciel is a 425 hp twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 paired to a hybrid drive system. So mechanically, it?s a departure form the Sixteen and a nod to today?s fuel conscious buyers. The idea that a flagship Cadillac could be powered by a V6 would not have been a popular one just ten years ago. Today, it's probably the only way the company could meet upcoming fuel economy regulations.

The wheelbase is about a foot longer than a CTS sedan, so there?s plenty of room inside for four people to soak in the sun. Inside, the Ciel is trimmed with lots of Italian olive wood and packs some neat features, such as the pull out blankets and lighted armrests.

Though this over-the-top concept will probably never hit the showroom, perhaps the design hints at how a flagship Cadillac sedan could look within the next few years. We certainly hope so.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/preview-concept/first-look-cadillac-ciel-concept?src=rss

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