1997 Cadillac DeVille
08/04/1997
Greg A. Godsell
Cadillac is undergoing a transformation. Gone is the land yacht, Fleetwood, which epitomized Cadillacs of years past. Seville/Eldorado offer technology and contemporary styling to lure potential buyers of European and Japanese luxury imports. Catera, which is new for 1997, is meant to catch the eye of entry level luxury buyers such as those moving up from Camrys and Accords. Left in the middle, you have the DeVille, a holdout hoping to bridge the gap between Cadillac's traditional buyers and the rest of the lineup.
This year Cadillac has significantly updated the DeVille with new features and a new separation of trim levels. Cadillac hopes that freshened styling and innovative content such as side air-bags and ICCS will help lure buyers to their core sedan offering.
Join us as we take a look at the 1997 Cadillac DeVille
Few cars are marketed at as many different niches as the DeVille is with the Concours, DeVille, and d'Elegance models. In fact, the only common denominator in all three packages is the age and wealth of the target buyer. DeVille is a large luxury vehicle targeted at other various large luxury vehicles: DeVille at Lincoln's Town Car and Continental, Concours at Mercedes' S-Class and BMW's 7-series, and d'Elegance at Lincoln's signature-series Town Car.
All three models start as the same large four door sedan, sharing the body, chassis, front-engined/front wheel drive orientation, and basic appearance. Differentiation between the models is minor and is mostly packaging and appearance based.
DeVille and d'Elegance are luxury-oriented. Their tires have white-walls and their exteriors bear more decorative items like hood ornaments and extra chrome on the trim pieces. On their interiors, both vehicles contain bench seating that will accommodate 6 people and a healthy list of standard features. A 275 horsepower version Cadillac's NORTHSTAR V-8 powers both models.
The d'Elegance extends the luxury theme of the DeVille by adding various upgrades like leather seating, wood-trimmed interior surfaces, gold-tone trim pieces on the exterior, and in general more electronic gadgetry on the inside. The d'Elegance is equipped with Rainsense, a system which will activate and adjust the speed of your windshield wipers during varying levels of rainfall.
Concours, the premium-priced sedan of the trio has a somewhat different presentation. Its exterior favors items like performance tires (with no whitewalls), sport alloy wheels, integrated fog lamps, and stainless steel dual exhausts over fancy ornamentation or gold-trim. Inside, you will find differences in Concours' 5-passenger seating and unique instrument panel. Aside from the superficial differences, Concours is considered the flagship of the three and contains the largest list of technological add ons. Like the d'Elegance, Concours sports the Rainsense system and extensive electronic memories, but also adds the ICCS chassis control system. The performance package is rounded out with an upgraded 300hp variant of the Northstar V-8 engine.
Pricing for all three vehicles is square in the middle of Cadillac's vehicle line. Base model DeVilles carry a MSRP of about $38,000. D'Elegance models are priced at about $41,000, and the premium Concours model is available for just under $42,000. These prices include a hefty list of standard features and one has to look at items like Cadillac's powered astro-roof, with an MSRP of about $1500, to raise the price any further.
Drive-train
Mechanically the 1997 DeVille model have not substantially changed from their 1996 predecessors. Motivation is provided by Cadillac's Northstar V-8 system to the front wheels via a 4-speed automatic (4T80-E) transaxle and viscous coupling clutch.
The Northstar V-8 itself features some impressive standard features like the 100,000 mile service interval and the limp-home feature that allows reduced performance driving to the nearest service center. The 4.6 liter dual overhead cam V-8 engine provides 275 horsepower and 300 ft-lbs. of torque (300 hp and 295 ft-lbs. of torque in the Concours). For 1997, the oil pump has been redesigned for quieter operation and increased reliability.
The transmissions in all three models are configured with the exact same gearing ratios and 3.11 final drive ratio. The driveline configuration allows this 2-ton car to accelerate to 60mph in 7.8 seconds (7.5 for the 300hp Concours).
DeVille is a large vehicle and requires large brakes to stop. The four-wheel disc brakes have been increased in diameter for 1997 by almost an inch. The 11.9-inch (diameter) front brakes have been redesigned to improve brake cooling and to decrease fade.
Body & Suspension
The body and chassis have been significantly updated for 1997. Numerous changes were made to increase the stiffness of the body and chassis. In general, the styling has been updated to tone down the traditional Cadillac styling cues such as fender skirts and hood creases. In the front, the grille has been updated. In the rear, the lower fascia has been restyled to better cover the rear suspension and exhaust.
The chassis contains quite a bit of technology, especially in the Concours model which features Cadillac's Integrated Chassis Control System (ICCS). For 1997, ICCS has been updated to include a road-texture detection system for the brakes and a stability enhancement feature. Stability enhancements correct for understeer by applying corrective braking force to the front interior wheel and for oversteer by applying braking force to the outside front wheel. The road texture analysis feature allows the operation of the anti-locking brakes to be adjusted to prevent engagement when stopping on bumpy or uneven surfaces (conditions under which ABS can increase stopping distances). Traction control is provided by the Bosch ASR5 system.
Interior
The interior has been updated for 1997. The instrument panel has been updated to include analog gauges and a center console that is intended to be more user-friendly than the previous design.
Cadillac stakes a claim as the first domestic automaker to include air bags on the door for extra side impact protection. The bags deploy from within the door panel to fill the crush space between the occupant the door. DeVille also carries forward Cadillac's Airbank system that will protect all three occupants of a front bucket seat.
One high point is the new enhanced memory control system. This system, which identifies drivers by the remote key fob or door key code chip, can remember all configuration changes such as radio presets, radio volume, climate control settings, seat and mirror position settings. If the optional cellular phone is included, preset phone numbers are configurable per driver as well.
Trunk space, a traditional strong point for Cadillacs is abundant in the new DeVilles which boast 20 cubic feet of storage space. So much room in fact that a dealer-installed option is available that will partition the trunk into smaller compartments for storage of smaller items.
All three models share the same basic interior. Concours differs in that it has bucket seats in front and a unique instrument panel. The d'Elegance model differs with the addition of vanity mirrors for the rear passengers of the vehicle.
Form
Cadillac continues to make large strides in its offerings to buyers. Just a few years ago, their product line was almost completely out of touch with potential buyers. With the demise of the Fleetwood this year, the DeVille is left as the only car in the line-up that attempts to bridge the gap between the traditional buyers and new luxury car buyers. This is evident in the manner in which redesigns of the DeVille continue to temper the "traditional" styling in attempt to move the car more in line with competition from all over the globe.
The redesign of the exterior works well. The shape is now more contemporary looking and will tend to appeal more to the buyers of other Cadillac models such as the Catera and Seville. It is still difficult to compare the styling with that of European standouts like the 7-series or S-class, but the overall effect is pleasing.
Paint quality on this model is exceptional, but once again this car chooses to compare itself with some stiff competition. One flaw noted with the exterior styling was the design of the gaskets for the limousine style doors. On models with light colored paint the black gaskets are very evident and appear in some odd places like the C-pillar.
The interior of the DeVille is huge. Fortunately, the updated interior boasts ergonomics that work for the vehicle. The updated instrument panel and center console help to bring the interior in line with some of the standouts in the segment. Materials in the interior of the DeVille test model were well chosen and assembled with few noticeable flaws. The interior is an area that has improved the most in this redesign. Thankfully gone are the days of clunky ergonomics and poor material choices in favor of a clean well constructed instrument panel that in the case of the Concours borders on downright handsome.
Typically, a car such as this boasts a large list of electronic features that requires training to master all of the details. The DeVille manages to provide high levels of functionality with a minimal amount of fuss.
From the driver's seat outward vision is good, but one does not forget the size of the vehicle while peering out over the expansive hood. Larger rear view mirrors would be one area that could use improvement. The mirrors fitted to the vehicle seem a little small for the vehicle's overall size.
Although the redesign has given the DeVille a more contemporary look on the outside, we are still skeptical that buyers would opt for the DeVille based on exterior styling alone. The inside, however is another story. The well-executed interior boasts an expanse of room that buyers would be hard pressed to find in the European imports.
Aside from differences in appearance and technology, little separates these vehicles. There is by far more in common between the base model DeVille and the top of the line Concours then there are differences. Despite the 300hp version of the Northstar found in the Concours, the performance differences between the vehicles is minor. If price is an issue, the 10% difference makes a base model DeVille a sound purchase.
Function
Functionally, the DeVille executes particularly well for a car that weighs over two tons. The Northstar engine continues to be one of Cadillac's largest assets and helps propel this beast from 0-60 in 7.8 seconds, which is more than enough power to exist on the city streets and highways. In fact, all aspects of driving the DeVille belie the sheer size of the vehicle. Perhaps this is the strongest point that can be made. While this vehicle may not behave as a compact, the fact that it belies its size is a huge triumph for the designers of the DeVille. Competitive cars such as the Lincoln Town Car have struggled with the consequences of their size for years.
Specifications
General
1997 Cadillac DeVille
front engine / front wheel drive
6 passenger, 4 door sedan
integral body and frame
price range (MSRP): $38,000-$42,000
Engine
32 valve, dual overhead cam, V-8
Bore & Stroke: 3.66in x 3.31in (93.0mm x 84.0mm)
Valvetrain: direct acting hydraulic tappets
Displacement: 279 cu. Inches (4565 cu cm)
Compression Ratio: 10.3:1
Fuel Delivery: tuned port-fuel-injection
Horsepower: 275 hp @ 5600rpm
Torque: 300 lb-ft @ 4000rpm
Drivetrain
4 speed automatic transmission
2.96(1st); 1.63(2nd); 1.00(3rd); 0.68(4th)
Final Drive Ratio: 3.11:1
Interior
Head Room (F/R inches) 38.5/38.4
Leg Room (F/R inches) 42.6/43.3
Hip Room (F/R inches) 56.1/55.9
Storage Volume: 20 cu. Ft. (trunk)
Measurements
Weight: 4009 lbs.
Width: 76.5 in.
Height: 56.4 in.
Ground Clearance: 5.9 in.
Towing capacity: 1000 lbs.
Suspension
Front: Fully independent, strut, steel coil spring - MacPherson strut damped
Rear Fully independent, short/long arm auto, level control - shock with airlift dampening
Steering
Magnasteer(TM)
2.65 turns lock to lock
Turning circle: 44ft (wall to wall)
Brakes
Four wheel, power-assisted ABS
Front: 11.9in x 1.26in discs
Rear: 11.1in x .43in discs
Wheels & Tires:
All season P224/60R16 'S' rated white wall tires.
16x7 cast aluminum wheels
Fuel Economy
Economy (city/highway) 17/26
Range 520 miles
Summary
Cadillac tries to both please traditional Cadillac buyers and tempt import buyers with the DeVille sedan. By providing solid content for the money, the DeVille will certainly succeed at the former, while the tempered traditional styling (in particular, the Concours) may help in the battle for the latter. Buyers of the DeVille will be rewarded with a roomy luxury vehicle with an outstanding engine and a well-designed interior, wrapped in a new more pleasing exterior. Those willing to make the comparison to the import luxury vehicles will find a distinct price advantage for their efforts.