2000 CADILLAC
Cadillac's millennium-ending 2000 lineup featured completely restyled full-size DeVille
sedans built on a much stiffened platform shared with some other GM marques.
- The end results were somewhat shorter and slightly narrower than the 1999 models,
but rode on a 1.5-inch ionger wheelbase.
- Catera received a face-lift and the addition of a Sport version distinguished by 17-inch
wheels and other exterior styling features.
- Eldorado and Seville remained largely unchanged in appearance but received tweaks to
their Northstar V-8 engines.
- While Cadillac's impressive Evoq concept car hinted at future styling for the marque,
the year's production models were characterized by technological razzle-dazzle such as
- a thermal-imaging Night Vision system
- updates to StabiliTrak that included automatic
shock-absorber dampening adjustment on individual wheels
- LED taillights
- Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist
- a system that prevented front-passenger air bags
from deploying if the seat was unoccupied or contained a small child.
| Model | Series Prod. No. | Body Style No. | Body Type | Factory Price | Shipping weight
|
|---|
| Catera | VR5 | R69 | 4-door Sedan | 31010 | 3770
|
|---|
| DeVille | KD5 | D69 | 4-door Sedan | 39895 | 3978
|
|---|
| KE5 | E69 | 4-door DHS Sedan | 45595 | 4049
|
|---|
| KF5 | F69 | 4-door DTS Sedan | 45595 | 4047
|
|---|
| Eldorado | EL1 | L57 | 2-door ESC Coupe | 39665 | 3825
|
|---|
| ET1 | T57 | 2-door ETC Coupe | 43240 | 3856
|
|---|
| Seville | KS5 | S69 | 4-door SLS Sedan | 44475 | 3970
|
|---|
| KY5 | Y69 | 4-door STS Sedan | 49075 | 4001
|
|---|
The 2000 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:
| POSITION | DIGIT | MEANING
|
|---|
| 1 | 1 or 4 | manufacturing country (United States)
|
|---|
| 2 | G | General Motors
|
|---|
| 3 | 6 | Cadillac
|
|---|
| 4 & 5 | car line series |
| V/R | Catera
|
|---|
| E/L | Eldorado ESC
|
|---|
| E/T | Eldorado ETC
|
|---|
| K/D | DeVille
|
|---|
| K/E | DeVille DHS
|
|---|
| K/F | DeVille DTS
|
|---|
| K/S | Seville (SLS)
|
|---|
| K/Y | Seville (STS) |
|---|
|
|---|
| 6 | the 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 |
|---|
|
|---|
| 7 | the restraint code |
| 2 | active (manual) belts w/dual frontal airbags
|
|---|
| 4 | active (manual) belts w/dual frontal and side airbags
|
|---|
|
|---|
| 8 | the engine |
| Y | LD8 4.6L V-8
|
|---|
| 9 | L37 4.6L V-8
|
|---|
| R | L81 3.0L V-6
|
|---|
|
|---|
| 9 | check digit | -
|
|---|
| 10 | model year | Y = 2000
|
|---|
| 11 | the assembly plant | -
|
|---|
| 12-17 | the production sequence number | -
|
|---|
- As announced during 1999, Cadillac did field an effort to compete in the 2000 24 Hours
of Le Mans endurance race.
- The four racing Cadillacs, named LMP (for Le Mans Prototype), were based on Riley &
Scott chassis fitted with a twin-turbocharged, intercooled 4.0-liter Northstar V-8s (not a
regular production item).
- While not ultimately victorius, valuable lessons were learned by the Cadillac contingent
and optimism prevailed for a better showing in 2001.
- One bright spot in Cadillac's LeMans experience was the
flawless performance of the Night Vision systems on its race cars.
- Derived from thermal-imaging technology developed for the military and proven during
the Gulf War, Night Vision was but one element of the technological wizardry
that typified production Cadillacs for 2000.
- Standard and optional features such as Night Vision, StabiliTrak,
CVRSS, PAS, Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist, OnStar, selective air bag deployment, and
hands-free cellular phone operation -- to name a few -- brought world attention to Cadillac's
state-of-the-art engineering and commitment to excellence.
