1999 CADILLAC


Cadillac offered four series this year: Catera, DeVille, Eldorado, and Seville. The DeVille featured three models: 4-door Sedan, d'Elegance Sedan, and Concours Sedan. The Eldorado featured two models: 2-door Coupe and an all new 1999 2-door Touring Coupe. The Seville featured two models: SLS Sedan and STS Sedan.

The Catera gained an optional Sport Package model. The big news for Cadillac was the Escalade -- the first truck-based vehicle in Cadillac's history. New optional equipment for 1999 included the innovative massaging lumbar seat to provide maximum driver comfort.

STYLE

ModelSeries Prod. No.Body Style No.Body TypeFactory PriceShipping weight
CateraVR5R694-door Sedan317753770
DeVilleKD5D694-door Sedan386303978
KE5E694-door d'Elegance Sedan427304049
KF5F694-door Concours Sedan432304047
EldoradoEL1L572-door Coupe392353825
ET1T572-door Touring Coupe434953856
SevilleKS5S694-door SLS Sedan433553976
KY5Y694-door STS Sedan478504001

I. D. NUMBERS

The 1999 Cadillac had a 17-symbol vehicle identification number (VIN) stamped on a metal tag attached to the upper left surface of the cowl visible through the windshield. The code was as follows:
POSITIONDIGITMEANING
11 or 4manufacturing country (United States)
2GGeneral Motors
36Cadillac
4 & 5car line series
  • V/R = Catera
  • E/L = Eldorado
  • E/T = Eldorado Touring
  • K/D = DeVille
  • K/E = d'Elegance
  • K/F = Concours
  • K/S = Seville (SLS)
  • K/Y = Seville (STS)
6the body style:
  • 1 = two-door coupe
  • 2 = two-door
  • 3 = two-door convertible
  • 5 = four-door sedan
  • 6 = four-door
  • 8 = four-door station wagon
7the restraint code
  • 2 = active (manual) belts w/dual frontal airbags
  • 4 = active (manual) belts w/dual frontal and side airbags
8the engine
  • Y = LD8 4.6L V-8
  • 9 = L37 4.6L V-8
  • R = L81 3.0L V-6
9check digit-
10model yearX = 1999
11the assembly plant-
12-17the production sequence number-

HISTORICAL NOTE

Cadillac, within its future design theme of "The Fusion of Art & Science," debuted its Evoq concept car on the 1999 auto show circuit to rave reviews. The two-seat convertible with detachable hardtop was powered by a 405-horsepower 4.2-litre Northstar V8 topped by an integrated supercharger/intercooler system. Other features of the Evoq included an automatic transmission that featured Performance Algorithm Shifting. borrowed from the 1998 Seville Touring Sedan; Eyecue heads-up display and the Night Vision System borrowed from the 2000 DeVille.

Cadillac also stunned the racing world when the luxury automaker announced it would compete in the 2000 24 Hours of LeMans endurance race. The racing Cadillac, the prototype was named LMP (for Le Mans Prototype), was based on a Riley & Scott chassis fitted with a twin-turbocharged, intercooled 4.0-liter Northstar V-8 (not a regular production item). With a reported budget of $30 million spread over four years, the reason given for Cadillac to enter the competition arena was "image" and enhancing Cadillac's reputation as a global automobile.


LITERATURE & LINKS




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