2001 Cadillac DeVille

2001 DeVille Delivers Intuitive Technologies, Contemporary Styling

The perfect blend of engineering prowess and sophisticated styling has made DeVille the best-selling luxury car in America for 15 straight years. Completely redesigned for 2000, the all-new, redefined DeVille has met and exceeded expectations since its debut. The 2001 DeVille offers two new technological innovations with real customer benefits by offering two new options, Infotainment with Bose audio system and new services from OnStar. The Infotainment with Bose audio system, the first Web-based infotainment system, will be offered as an option mid-year on the DHS and DTS models. The infotainment system offers myriad on- and off-line capabilities through the integration of a computer, navigation system, CD-ROM and radio functions. OnStar, the revolutionary information and communications service that debuted on Cadillac models, expands its services to include Personal Calling and Virtual Advisor technology.
Blending engineering achievement and sophisticated styling, DeVille maintains its status as the best-selling luxury car in America.

Strong Buyer Demand for Úp-Level DHS
and DTS
'The reception to the new DeVille has been extra ordinary,' said DeVille Brand Manager Patrick Kemp. 'Demand has been especially strong for our two up-level models, DTS and DHS, which offer a host of intuitive technologies including the Cadillac-exclusive Night Vision, ultrasonic rear parking assist, LED taillights, and standard OnStar. '

DeVille's overall trim, sleek and cosmopolitan appearance remains unchanged for 2001, however Cadillac offers customers an additional choice for exterior and interior color. At the beginning of the '01 model year, customers will have the choice of Graphite as an exterior color and Dark Gray for interior leather.

DeVille is renowned for unsurpassed levels of comfort and convenience, offering features such as standard tri-zone climate control, adaptive seating, massaging lumbar seats and a flexible center seat and storage system. In addition, when redesigning the DeVille, particular effort was focused on developing what may be the world's most luxurious and comfortable rear-seat environment on the road, incorporating features such as theater seating layout for optimum forward visibility, heated seats and power lumbar adjustments.

The '01 DeVille also offers a new tire pressure monitoring system, which utilizes sensors in the wheels to read air pressure levels. The vehicle's central computer feeds the data to an information center located on the instrument panel. The information is displayed according to tire location allowing the driver to determine the exact location of the problem.

These options enhance DeVille's package of world-class active safety and security features. Add to these proven safety-cage construction, leading-edge passive restraints and a CD-based navigation system and the 2001 DeVille could arguably be the safest car on the road.
AÚDIENCE

And according to dealer feedback, the all-new DeVille is now reaching the boomer audience.

'We have the best DeVille we have ever had, and as a result, younger, more sophisticated buyers are coming to Cadillac,' said Carl Sewell, owner of Sewell Village Cadillac Co. Inc., in Dallas.

By 2005, almost 40 percent of the buyers in DeVille's segment will be boomers, most of whom have driven imports at some time. These customers are accustomed to commuting and working long hours, and they often struggle to find a balance in their lifestyles. They appreciate understated style and technology — especially technology designed to make their busy lives easier.

Although DeVille is primarily intended for the North American market, it will also satisfy niche-market demand for chauffeur-driven sedans in the Middle East, Japan and other markets.

The DeVille is available in three models — DeVille, DeVille High Luxury Sedan (DHS) and DeVille Touring Sedan (DTS).

INFOTAINMENT WITH BOSE AÚDIO SYSTEM


In 2001, Cadillac becomes the first to offer Web-enabled infotainment technology. The system, called the Infotainment with Bose audio system, offers myriad on- and off-line capabilities through the integration of a computer, navigation system, CD-ROM and radio functions.

The infotainment system integrates complete full-function color map-based navigation with radio, CD-ROM, compact flash memory and audio playback.

The system is voice-controlled, which again supports the Cadillac philosophy of 'eyes on the road, hands on the wheel.' Drivers can interface with the system's many features, including:

• E-mail capability – Have your e-mail downloaded and read to you. The system provides a link to the Internet, allowing downloading of text files. This particular feature will be test-marketed in several areas of the country to gauge customer interest.

• Cell phone integration unit – Docks a portable cell phone and allows cell phone control via voice recognition or front panel keypad.

• Infrared port – This function allows handheld devices such as personal data assistants to exchange information with the system.

• CD/CD-ROM drive – Plays music CDs, reads CD-ROM databases such as maps and allows software upgrades.

• Voice memo recorder – Voice messages may be recorded, stored and played back at a later time.

• Voice recognition – Occupants can activate and control the system through voice command.

• Navigation – Drivers can select a destination and have turn-by-turn directions read to them, as well as see a color map of the display.

Importantly, except for displaying station information in radio mode or navigation turn-by-turn information, the screen menus for e-mail and browser capability are disabled unless the vehicle is stopped – a built-in safety feature to help minimize the time drivers' eyes are off the road and hands off the wheel.

ACTIVE SAFETY & SECÚRITY

In addition to the myriad powertrain and integrated chassis systems that provide excellent active safety benefits to the driver, there are additional safety features in the '01 DeVille.

New on the DTS and DHS is an interior manual trunk release mechanism. This factory-installed device provides for emergency exit in the event a child is trapped inside the trunk. A T-shaped lever attached to a six-inch cable is located on the underside of the decklid, connected to the trunk latch, allowing for easy escape with a simple tug and pull motion. The release mechanism will debut mid-year and will be standard on both models.

In addition, a tire pressure monitor debuts as an option on the DeVille. Similar to the system used on the Chevrolet Corvette, it consists of a sensor integrated into the valve stem of each tire. The sensors are battery-powered and communicate tire pressure information to the vehicle's radio frequency module. Once this module receives transmissions from the sensors, it sends tire pressure information to the driver information center for display. The driver information center responds by showing the actual tire pressure and rating it 'low' 'high' or 'OK.' If the pressure is too low, or too high, the driver information center will also display the words 'check tire pressure.'

The DHS and DTS also feature the next generation Rainsense wiper system. Rainsense automatically activates the wipers in wet weather when the system is placed in the auto delay mode. The new system is smaller, more efficient and more sensitive for improved performance.

EXTERIOR


DeVille's clean, flowing exterior form strikes a balance between formal and sporty. The chiseled shear lines of the 2001 DeVille are a design feature that will be even more evident in Cadillacs of the immediate future.

Cadillac Character

The recognizable Cadillac character begins with a shield-shaped grille at the front, which has been sculpted for a more aerodynamic look. A strong emphasis on the chrome horizontal header molding is another design characteristic that will continue into future Cadillacs. Cadillac's wreath and crest insignia has an aerodynamic contour while maintaining center stage prominently in the grille, or atop the hood in models equipped with Night Vision.

The hood is a power-dome design with sweeps that flow back to the front roof pillars.

Attention is drawn to the grille and headlights by minimizing the amount of offset between the front bumper and the body surfaces. The DTS's lower grille opening has three horizontal body-color blades with fog lights on either side. Fog lights are omitted on the DeVille and DHS. The trimmer front overhang adds to a more international look.

Strong Spline

A special Cadillac accent is the spline running the full length of the car from the headlights to taillights.

Body-side moldings are integrated with sheet metal, providing protection while keeping the DeVille as clean-looking as possible. Except for side window openings, t h e re is no chrome on the side of the 2001 DeVille. The B-pillar's matte black finish emphasizes the length of the side surfaces. Foldaway mirrors and door handles lend an international flavor. DeVille's low-level side-surface sculpting between the wheels helps emphasize length, leanness, and ride and handling.

LED Taillights - an Industry First

INTERIOR

DeVille's designers used an inside-out design philosophy to balance final appearance and functionality goals. The starting point for sketching the interior was an overall aesthetic that emphasized rich textures over large areas with intense detail concentrated in fine areas. Another overriding desire was to achieve a more angular, edgier execution to give the brand its own distinct look and achieve harmony with the exterior design.

Rear-Seat Environment May Be World's Most Luxurious

Extra effort went into developing what may well be the world's most luxurious and comfortable rear-seat environment on the road. The DeVille's 115.3-inch wheelbase creates the feeling of spaciousness and makes the back seat every bit as comfortable as the front seat.

In response to customer feedback, Dark Gray will be offered as an interior color in 2001, in addition to Neutral Shale, Oatmeal, Black and Tuxedo Blue.

Distinctive Body Configurations, DeVille, DHS, DTS

Two very distinctive body configurations are offered, in recognition that DeVille is aimed at two distinct groups of customers — those who want six-passenger capability and those who prefer a sportier look with a center console and floor shift.

The console in the DTS is replaced by a center fixed flex seat in the DeVille and DHS editions.

DTS leather upholstery is perforated and drawn tight to emphasize the sportiness of the bucket seat shapes, while DeVille and DHS use a softer appearing leather with a looser, gathered look. All DeVilles feature Nuance leather, which has a supple feel, subtle grain, low-gloss finish and a pleasing natural aroma.

World-Class Storage

Storage volume in the DeVille is world-class. Twenty-one or more distinct storage areas are located throughout the interior and provide 42 liters of useful storage volume. Slightly more than half of that volume is accessible from the front seat.

Ease Of Operation / Intuitive Technologies

A guiding principle begun with Seville and continued in DeVille is 'eyes on the road, hands on the wheel.' To achieve that goal, DeVille's designers stressed simplicity and ease of control operation. Switches and knobs are within easy reach, and are positioned logically adjacent to what they manage, whenever possible. For example, the driver information display switches are right next to the instrument cluster.

Driver Information Center

Detailed information about the operation of the car is displayed as needed or desired on a 22-character alphanumeric driver information center located at the bottom of the instrument panel cluster.

A two-person memory and personalization package is standard on DHS and optional on DeVille and DTS. The system permits personal pro g ramming of various s y s t e m s, including driver's seat, exterior mirro rs, steering wheel, exit positions, radio, HVAC and functions pro g rammed by the driver information center.

A digital instrument cluster is standard in the DeVille model, while the DHS and DTS are equipped with analog displays. The DeVille display provides a speedometer and bar graphs reporting coolant temperature and fuel level plus PRNDL information. The DHS and DTS instrument panel contains speedometer, tachometer, coolant temperature and fuel gauges.

Instruments are backlit by a 10-inch long fluorescent tube, which transmits light through light pipes. To eliminate any illumination delay in cold climates, a bulb heater automatically begins warming the fluorescent tube the instant a door is unlocked. Needles are illuminated by light-emitting diodes behind diffusers, creating bright, even light.

Navigation System

An advanced navigation system is also an option on DHS and DTS. The system is similar to the one introduced for Japanese-market editions of the 1998 Seville. The 5-inch color display screen is centrally located in the instrument panel. For bright, clear gra p h i c s, the touch- sensitive screen uses the active-matrix thin-film-transistor technology common in laptop computers. A light-gray daytime background automatically switches to a black background at night for optimum legibility. Posted on conceptcarz.com

A Delco-Bose audio system with radio data system features and a glove box-mounted six-disc CD changer are packaged with the navigation system.

Various navigation features can be personalized to suit individual tastes. Vehicles sold for the domestic market offer a choice of five languages — English, French, German, Spanish and Italian. Models exported to Japan offer a choice between English and Japanese.

Navigation system maps are stored in a CD-ROM unit in the trunk. A set of nine CDs covering the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia is included along with a storage case.

As with other in-vehicle navigation systems, detailed street color mapping is available in select cities in the Ú.S. For areas not covered by detailed mapping, there is intra-city coverage that provides major road information.

An active GPS (global positioning system) antenna helps pinpoint the car's location. When no GPS signal is available, the car's course is tracked by the dead-reckoning method using its road-speed sensor and an onboard gyroscope. Various display screens can be selected to obtain either turn-by-turn guidance to a destination or map assistance. In the turn-by-turn mode, voice prompts and a preview of the intersection are provided to assist the driver.

DHS models intended for export to Japan will offer television reception as an added feature with the navigation system. Additional equipment is involved, including an integrated TV tuner, a diversity TV antenna integrated with the backlight, an amplifier and selector for the TV antenna and an auxiliary stereo audio and video adapter.

Audio Systems

In addition to the optional Infotainment with Bose audio system, Cadillac offers two different state-of-the-art sound systems on 2001 DeVille models. The standard system in DeVille is a Delco AM/FM system with a cassette and single-slot CD player. The premium Bose® sound system is standard on DHS and DTS. Added features on the Bose system include digital signal processing, full radio data system (RDS) functions and volume noise compensation. A glove box-mounted six-disc CD changer is optional on all models.

Choice Of Five- Or Six-Passenger Seating

The DeVille is one of the few models still available with room and comfort for six passengers. A 40/20/40 split front seat arrangement is standard in both DeVille and DHS with a column-mounted shifter and a center fold-down storage armrest.

This front-seat configuration emphasizes comfort for the driver and one front passenger while also providing a 'flex' center position that can be used for storage, a third passenger or merely a convenient means of sliding across.

Outboard occupants enjoy seats that are both long and wide to provide excellent thigh support. The seats come with four-way adjustable headrests and 10-way power adjustment controls conveniently located on the outboard side. The center position is fixed in place and is a double-hinged design to serve a multitude of functions. The rear portion folds to provide a comfortable armrest for outboard passengers. Inside is a storage compartment. The bottom portion of the seat also can be hinged forward to provide a dual cupholder and a flat surface for loose items.
A lap belt is provided for those occasions when the flex seat is used to carry a passenger. When not in use, these belts can be tucked away in small storage pockets.

Five-passenger seating with a 40/40 front arrangement, center console and console-mounted shift lever is standard on the DTS. The rear portion of the console is a double-hinged lid that serves as a comfortable armrest. A double cupholder pivots outward from the forward end of the storage armrest.

Heated Seats

Heated front seats are optional on the DeVille and standard on DHS and DTS models, with dual-zone controls providing heat either in the backrest only or heat in both the backrest and the cushion area.

Massaging Lumbar System Gently Stimulates Back Muscles

A four-way power lumbar adjustment is offered as optional DeVille equipment. DHS and DTS are equipped with a massaging lumbar support system for both f ront occupants. The system gently stimulates back muscles to improve circulation and nutrient flow through the spinal column. A single tap of the power lumbar switch activates a massage action that moves 20 rollers up, then down, for 10 minutes unless interrupted by a brief tap of the control switch.

In place of the massaging lumbar seats, DHS and DTS customers may choose adaptive seating. Based on a technology originally used in hospital burn units, adaptive seating results in less fatigue and more comfort, even after many hours of driving.

Adaptive seating uses a network of 10 air cells located between the leather upholstery and foam in the seat cushion and seatback. Sensors attached to these air cells measure internal pressure and supply that information to a control module, which compares the measurements to an optimal pressure pattern stored in its memory. If a discrepancy exists, pressure inside the air cells is adjusted.

Rear-Seat Comfort

Rear-seat comfort and convenience are emphasized in the DeVille. Outboard positions have the legroom, knee room and head room necessary to accommodate 95th percentile male occupants. A theater-seating layout, with the rear hip point elevated from the corresponding front position by 20mm to 25mm, provides enhanced visibility of the road ahead.

Combination lap and shoulder belts are provided for all three rear-seating positions. A four-way power lumbar adjustment is standard on DHS, which also has four-way adjustable headrests, a power-operated rear sunshade and manually operated shades for each door window. Integrated rear-seat headrests are on DeVille and DTS editions. In addition, dual zone rear heated seats are offered on the DTS and DHS.

Automatic climate control with three distinct zones — for the left-front, right-front and rear-seat occupants — is standard on DeVille. A separate HVAC control panel is provided for rear passenger use. A larger AC condenser helps increase system capacity, and a new scroll-type air conditioning compressor works more quietly than the previous piston-type compressor.

Other Features

A 100-square-inch micro-fiber filter element built into the cowl plenum removes pollen, mold spores, road dust, bacteria and disagreeable odors from incoming air, providing a cleaner interior, sharply reduced odor levels and an environment less susceptible to respiratory problems or allergic attacks.

A sunroof is offered as optional equipment on all DeVilles. A manual steering wheel tilt adjustment is standard on DeVille. A power tilt and telescope adjustment is standard on DHS and offered as an option with the memory setting system on the DTS. A leather-wrapped steering wheel with redundant HVAC and radio controls is standard on the DeVilles, with a wood trim package standard on the DHS and optional on the DTS.

NORTHSTAR SYSTEM

Changes made to the DeVille's renowned Northstar V8 in 2000 enable it to operate cleaner, quieter and more efficiently with a 2-mpg increase in highway EPA mileage estimates from 1999.

One result of these improvements is that the 2001 DeVille is certified for sale nationwide as a low emissions vehicle (LEV). This was achieved by means of a reaction-heated catalyst, pistons with reduced crevice volume and a new combustion chamber design.

While the basic engine architecture remains a predominantly aluminum 4.6-liter DOHC 32-valve V8, major design improvements have been incorporated to deliver lower emissions, excellent mileage with regular fuel, and smoother, quieter operation.

The DeVille's fuel recommendation changed in 2000 from premium (93 octane, lead-free) to regular (87 octane, lead-free), resulting in a major reduction in operating expense. To facilitate this gain, the Northstar's compression ratio was lowered from 10.3:1 to 10.0:1.

Power And Torque

The 4.6-liter dual-overhead-camshaft Northstar V8 in the DeVille and DHS generates 275 horsepower (205 kW) at 5600 rpm and 300 lb.-ft. (407 Nm) of torque at 4000 rpm. The sportier DTS is equipped with a retuned version of the Northstar V8 producing 300 horsepower (224 kW) at 6000 rpm and 295 lb.-ft. (400 Nm) of torque at 4400 rpm.

The Northstar engines offer 100,000-mile (160,000 km) durability and limp-home mode in case of total coolant loss. The Northstar's maintenance-free design requires no tune-ups — only changing the oil, oil filter and air filter — until the DeVille logs 100,000 miles (160,000 km). In limp-home mode, the engine can operate on four cylinders at speeds of 50 mph (80 km/h) for about 50 miles (80 kilometers), giving the driver an opportunity to reach a safe location. The engine accomplishes this by alternately delivering fuel to four of the eight cylinders. The remaining four cylinders do not fire, but continue to pump air, which cools the engine.

On all DeVille models, the 4T80-E transaxle is linked to the engine via a viscous converter clutch, which ensures smooth operation by reducing torque variation when the torque converter clutch is applied. The 4T80-E also features equal-length drive axles, which limit torque steer by minimizing angle differences from side to side as the car accelerates.

Ride And Handling/ Continuously Variable Road-Sensing Suspension 2.0

DeVille's new chassis architecture offers the flexibility to provide various suspension system variations to suit different customer tastes. DeVille and DHS editions are equipped with luxury suspension tuning that emphasizes ride quality while providing excellent handling characteristics.

DTS is equipped with a more active suspension tuned for sharper performance. The CVRSS 2.0 system comes with three significant enhancements — transient roll control, lateral support and stability control interaction.

CVRSS uses wheel-position sensors to read road conditions and fast-acting dampers at each corner of the car to continuously and instantly adjust ride and handling for any situation. At 65 mph, a damper can shift from full soft to full firm every 6 to 7 inches of road surface traveled. CVRSS manages both body and wheel motion. Damping is adjusted as necessary to control heave (up and down motion over road swells), pitch (front of car lifting while rear of car dives, or vice versa), roll in corners, and front-end lift during acceleration. On very smooth roads, damping forces are minimized to enhance isolation. To maintain ride comfort and stability at high speeds, damping forces are increased with vehicle speed.

The extensive use of electronic chassis controls to manage steering, braking, suspension damping and traction functions interactively means that more ideal settings can be provided for every driving circumstance. It is not necessary to make tradeoffs, such as comfort versus performance or agility versus stability. While the car is quiet and smooth during cruising, the driver feels confidently in control during emergency or aggressive handling maneuvers.

Four-Stage Valving

DeVille, DHS and DTS all come equipped with four-stage, shock absorber valving for improved body motion control without sacrificing isolation. The new four-stage technology is used in all four DTS shock absorbers and in the front shock absorbers only in DeVille and DHS.

Squeeze-cast aluminum road wheels provide the most mass-effective wheels available with superior surface finish. DeVille and DHS are equipped with Michelin blackwall all-season radials — size P225/60SR-16 — which provide very low rolling resistance for excellent fuel economy. White sidewall radials are offered as an option. DTS is equipped with Goodyear Eagle LS P235/55HR-17 blackwall all-season performance radials.

DeVille's anti-lock brake system, traction control and StabiliTrak systems are combined in a new Delco Electronics-Bosch 5.3 design that is smaller and lighter than the 5.0 design it replaces. A significant feature with this system is electronic brake distribution. In place of a fixed front-to-rear distribution of braking effort for all vehicle loading and operating conditions, the electronic approach uses wheel-speed sensors and hydraulic controls to adjust and optimize distribution dynamically. Stopping distances are shortened, especially in the heavily loaded condition, when more rear brake effort is desired. Electronic brake effort distribution also improves handling during braking-while-turning maneuvers.

Stabilitrak 2.0

StabiliTrak 2.0, an improved version of the most advanced integrated stability control system in the world, is standard in DTS and offered as an option on DeVille and DHS. The improvements on this enhanced version include side-slip rate control and active steering effort compensation.

Introduced on three performance-oriented Cadillac models in the 1997 model year, StabiliTrak provides an important safety advance by helping the driver maintain control during emergency or evasive maneuvers. StabiliTrak works by comparing the driver's intentions (indicated by steering wheel position) with how the vehicle is responding. Three key sensors keep the ABS and traction control computer informed: one reads steering wheel angle, another reports the vehicle's lateral acceleration and the third measures yaw rate (rotational velocity about a vertical axis through the car's center of gravity). Information is also gathered from vehicle speed.

If the vehicle's dynamic response does not agree with the direction the driver is steering, StabiliTrak goes to work by selectively applying the individual front brakes to help keep the car on the intended course. If the car is slipping wide of the desired path in a turn, applying the inside brake helps the DeVille turn tighter. In case of diminished traction at the rear causing the tail of the car to drift wide, activating the outside-front brake gently nudges the car back in line. StabiliTrak is automatic and requires no additional driver action. In most cases, the driver probably won't even notice the helping hand from this technically sophisticated system.

Respected car critics have called StabiliTrak one of the greatest active safety advancements since four-wheel anti-lock brakes. Únlike stability control systems from other manufacturers, Cadillac's system maintains the driver's ability to apply throttle in StabiliTrak maneuvers.

BODY STRÚCTÚRE AND ACOÚSTICS

A vastly improved body structure is a major benefit of the DeVille's move to new vehicle architecture in 2000. The G platform is significantly stiffer in torsion and bending, contributing to superb ride and handling performance, and improved crashworthiness.

The bending stiffness natural frequency has been increased 21 percent in the DeVille. By making the body structure as stiff as feasible, the suspension does a superior job of isolating noise and road harshness from the passenger compartment. Curb weight has been slightly reduced in all three models, which allows added feature content without an associated reduction in fuel economy. A number of features have been incorporated to maximize stiffness without adding weight in the DeVille.

New analytical tools were used to identify areas of the body structure where metal thickness could be reduced with little or no loss of performance. In addition, engineers studied the interaction of major masses within the car. As a result, some components were relocated to optimize the design not only for weight, but also to meet ride, handling and safety goals.

Aluminum Hood

DeVille's aluminum hood is about 20 pounds lighter than a steel hood, and it contributes to reduced component vibration, improved vehicle mass distribution and lower hinge loads during impact. Light, stiff, two cell extruded aluminum bumper beams are rigidly mounted to reduce component vibration and improve overall vehicle feel.

Lateral tie bars that connect the front longitudinal rails are closed section to stiffen and strengthen the front structure and to improve crashworthiness in a forward collision. Shock towers connect solidly to the dash panel to integrate DeVille's front end to the main cabin structure, improving load flow into the body structure from suspension struts.

Noise, Vibration Reduced

To minimize shake and noise, the instrument panel and steering column are supported by a cast magnesium cross-car beam. The steering column also is a magnesium casting, eliminating idle shake at the steering wheel. Major body cavities are filled with urethane-foam baffles that expand to provide a seal that thoroughly blocks noise transmission and reverberation. The addition of a second level of isolation between the rear wheels and the passenger compartment has resulted in major reductions in rear-seat noise.

The use of single-sided spot-welding eliminates the need for large access holes in the body structure that reduce stiffness and admit road noise. Where spot welding is difficult or impractical, structural adhesives help stabilize panels. For example, the roof panel is totally restrained by structural adhesives except for one spot weld at each corner.

SAFETY & SECÚRITY

Outstanding safety and security are primary requirements for DeVille customers. The DeVille meets these requirements with an unsurpassed combination of accident avoidance and crash protection advancements, along with a long list of features that help provide peace of mind.

OnStar

OnStar is again a standard feature on the DeVille, along with one year of free premium service. In 2001, OnStar will offer two additional services: Personal Calling, which allows drivers to make and receive hands-free, voice-activated personal calls from their vehicles without an additional cellular contract; and OnStar Virtual Advisor, which will deliver to the vehicle personalized Internet-based information such as news headlines, sports scores, stock quote, weather conditions. Both services will be available through OnStar's unique three-button system, offering completely hands-free operation.

'This is yet another example of Cadillac's and General Motors' commitment to giving customers first-in-the-world advanced technology,' said Michael J. O ' Malley, Cadillac general manager. 'GM is building a broad portfolio of in-vehicle communication and information products for its customers. These products are being developed with an e-vehicle team within e-GM. They address the growing customer need to stay connected to the office, home and the world while on the road.'

Night Vision

During the Persian Gulf War, infrared technology enabled coalition military forces to own the night battlefield. With the introduction of Night Vision on the DeVille in 2000, Cadillac became the first automaker to bring the safety benefit of this technology to drivers.

Improving vision at night is an important safety advancement. While nighttime driving represents only 28 percent of total driving, it accounts for 55 percent of all traffic fatalities, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Of all pedestrian fatalities, 62 percent occur at night. In addition, highway safety authorities recorded more than 300,000 vehicle-deer collisions in 1997, many of which could have been avoided with more time to react to the hazard.

While Night Vision is not meant to replace a driver's view out of the windshield, it gives drivers additional visual information beyond what their eyes are capable of seeing. Night Vision helps the driver detect potentially dangerous situations well beyond the normal headlight range.

Night Vision Allows Driver to See Three-to-Five Times Further than Low-Beam, Headlights

The extra vision extends three-to-five times the range of low-beam headlights and double the range of high-beam headlights. At 60 miles per hour, normal headlights provide a driver about 3.5 seconds to react to an object ahead. With Night Vision, the driver will have up to 15 seconds to react. The system also can help drivers see beyond the headlight glare from oncoming vehicles.

In addition, Night Vision can help enhance personal security. For example, as a DeVille driver pulls into a driveway, the system can help detect a person hiding in the bushes or out of the range of the headlights.

Head-Úp Display

Because the virtual image is projected by a head-up display (HÚD) rather than on a flat screen mounted in the car, Cadillac's Night Vision helps drivers keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. The image is projected near the front edge of the hood — in the driver's peripheral vision — and was designed not to obstruct the view of the road.

Night Vision is offered on the DHS and DTS models.

LED Taillight & CHMSL

The auto industry's first combination light emitting diode (LED) taillight and center high-mounted stoplamp (CHMSL) debuted on the 2000 DeVille, bringing safety and security advantages, as well as allowing more design flexibility. The 1992 Seville pioneered LEDs in the CHMSL, and LEDs are used on large truck trailers, but this is the first taillight application in a vehicle intended for ordinary consumer use.

Reliability is one notable advantage of the LED taillights. Because LEDs last for thousands of hours, most customers will probably never have to service this part of the car throughout its entire life.

A second advantage of LEDs is a quicker 'on' time than possible with an incandescent bulb. LEDs illuminate in 100 nanoseconds (a nanosecond is one-billionth of a second) versus the 200 milliseconds required for an incandescent bulb to light. At 60 mph, that translates into an extra 17.6 feet of warning to the driver behind, enough to possibly prevent a collision when a panic stop is necessary.

Últrasonic Rear Parking Assist

While Night Vision can help DeVille drivers to see objects ahead, Últrasonic Rear Parking Assist is designed to help them park their vehicles while in reverse. This optional system uses both audio and visual cues to convey information on the closeness of objects behind the vehicle, assisting the driver in rear parking maneuvers. The system can help prevent low-speed contact with objects such as bicycles, sign posts or other vehicles.

Developed by Bosch, the system uses an array of four ultrasonic sensors located on the bumper fascia. Spaced approximately 18 inches apart and located 24 inches off the road surface, the sensors are active any time the vehicle's speed is below 3 miles per hour in reverse gear. The effective field of view is from about 10 inches off the pavement up to about the top of the trunk.

OCCÚPANT PROTECTION

G-Based Architecture DeVille's G-based architecture is a front-wheel-drive design, a configuration that has proven to be highly predictable in the hands of typical drivers. To achieve the overall balance necessary for outstanding maneuverability at the limit of adhesion, weight has been shifted rearward where possible. For example, the DeVille's hood is aluminum and its battery is located beneath the rear seat.

The DeVille body structure forms a safety cage around the passenger compartment, providing protection in a range of front, side and rear collisions. At the same time, structural members at the front and the rear are engineered to collapse in a controlled manner, reducing the forces transmitted to the interior. In a severe frontal collision, DeVille's powertrain is engineered to move downward and under the car's floor, minimizing its intrusion into the passenger space. A key element of the safety cage is a single hydroformed tube that sweeps from the base of the windshield over the front door to the B-pillar. This stiffens the structure and is particularly effective in resisting roof crush.

A single-piece door aperture design is resistant to side-impact intrusion. Door hems are offset to prevent overlap, helping ensure that doors can be opened after an accident.

Windshield and back-window headers are closed-section roll-formed members to securely tie side members of the car together and resist deformation during a collision. Other lateral reinforcements are positioned behind and beneath the rear seat.

Reinforcements also have been added in the longitudinal rail area to enhance offset collision performance. Metal gauges in the rocker area and up the A-pillar are optimized to resist collapse when crash-impact loads are concentrated on the driver's side of the car.

Extensive Testing

While the federal government mandates five barrier tests at 30 mph, GM conducted 25 different tests at speeds up to 50 mph to ensure that the DeVille's body structure surpasses both government safety standards and more rigorous internal targets. Tests used a wide range of occupant sizes, from three-year-old child dummies to 95th percentile male crash dummies.

Air Bags

DeVille is equipped with four air bags — front and side-impact air bags for front-seat occupants — as standard equipment. Front air bags are mounted in the steering wheel for the driver, and in the top of the instrument panel for the front passenger. These front driver and passenger air bags are a second-generation design with reduced force inflation.

Built into the outboard surface of each front seat's backrest bolster, side-impact air bags enhance upper-torso protection in the event of a severe lateral impact. Because the driver's side is always occupied by an adult (while a small child may be seated in the front passenger seat), the driver's side side-impact air bag is a larger second-generation design that helps protect the torso.

Rear-seat air bags, unique to DeVille, are offered as optional equipment. Modules containing the folded air bags are mounted behind the outboard edge of the rear seat cushion. When triggered by collision sensor mounted in the B-pillar, an inflating restraint helps guard against torso-related injuries during a high-speed lateral collision. Testing with small-stature instrumented dummies verified that there is no hazard to a child resting with his or her head in the vicinity of the side-impact air bag.

Backup power to air bags is provided if electrical power is interrupted during a collision.

After an air bag deployment, interior lights are automatically lit for up to 25 minutes to assist post-collision exit. Automatic door locks unlock the vehicle after a 15-second delay.

Safety Belts

Even with air bags, safety belts remain the primary restraint. Front belts are mounted directly to the seat structure and move with any seat adjustment, providing optimum comfort and protection. A structural beam is provided behind the rear seatback to provide a secure anchor point for the middle passenger's upper torso restraint. Úniform child restraint anchors are provided at three locations in the back seat.

OWNERSHIP AND WARRANTY

All 2001 Cadillacs are backed by a four-year/50,000-mile (whichever comes first) bumper-to-bumper limited warranty with courtesy transportation for all warranty repairs and no deductible. The warranty also includes defects in the material and workmanship of tire s. Additional coverage includes a six-year/ 100,000-mile (whichever comes first) rust-through protection.

Cadillac 24-hour roadside assistance is available to owners toll-free by dialing 1-800-882-1112. Cadillac-trained service technicians are dispatched to handle minor repairs and assist with flat tires, lockouts, jump starts, fuel deliveries and other roadside emergencies. If the repair cannot be completed on the spot, the technician can arrange to have the vehicle transported to a dealership and customers driven to their home or other local destination. Roadside assistance is provided at no charge for any warranty repair and at a nominal charge if the vehicle is not under warranty.

Source - Cadillac

New For 2001

• Infotainment with Bose audio system (option on DHS and DTS)

• Tire Pressure monitor

• New services from OnStar*

• Next generation rainsense wiper system

• Manual trunk release mechanism*

• New exterior color: Graphite

• New interior color: Dark Gray

• * Will not be available at start of '01 production

Source - Cadillac

Sales History (Calendar Year)

2000 48,485 (through May 2000)
1999 90,755
1998 100,513
1997 104,743
1996 103,730
Vehicle History




The line's history begins with the 1949 Coupe de Ville, a breakthrough in body design offering the first pillarless two-door hardtop, a style also referred to as a 'hardtop convertible.' The 1949 Coupe de Ville earned Motor Trend's first-ever 'Car of the Year' award.

Cadillac made major strides in luxury and safety. Air conditioning became an official factory option in 1953, the same year Cadillac introduced an 'autronic eye' that automatically dimmed high-beam headlights with oncoming traffic.



This set the stage for the next use of the de Ville name with the introduction of the four-door hardtop Sedan de Ville in the 1956 model year. It was an immediate hit with customers, outselling every other Cadillac in its introductory year, and helping drive Cadillac sales past 150,000 units for the first time.

Convertible Joins Lineup
A convertible de Ville joined the lineup from 1964 through 1970. A variation in the roofline theme introduced for the 1965 Sedan de Ville (lasting through 1970) was a frameless door glass with a fixed central roof pillar.

Sweeping Redesign
The de Ville family was narrowed to two models starting in 1971 — pillarless two- and four-door body styles — as part of a sweeping redesign of all Cadillacs. The new models sported a trimmer, more youthful appearance based on the 'fuselage' design concept.

During the early 1970s, de Villes accounted for more than two-thirds of the division's sales volume. Almost 100,000 Sedan de Villes were sold in 1972, making it far and away the world's most popular luxury car. The following year, the Coupe de Ville shattered that record with nearly 113,000 sales. The five-millionth Cadillac manufactured was a 1973 Sedan de Ville.

In 1994, Cadillac focused on a single DeVille body style, the four-door sedan, in response to customer tastes. Interior and exterior dimensions both were stretched to emphasize comfort, elegance and classic Cadillac road presence. StabiliTrak, Cadillac's innovative stability-enhancement system, was offered on the DeVille Concours in 1997 and extended to DeVille and DeVille d'Elegance the following year.

Source - Cadillac