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Manufacturer Brochure - 1998 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe
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| MUSCULAR STYLING, HIGH-TECH PERFORMANCE ARE HALLMARKS OF 1998 ELDORADO TOURING COUPE OVERVIEW |
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| Updated |
Jun 3, 2004 17:15:15 |
| Rating |
 88 ( -10 -11.36% ) |
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Description:
The 1998 Eldorado Touring Coupe is a true luxury couple that appeals to the adventurous and free-spirited, blending muscular styling with high-tech performance.
"Eldorado Touring Coupe buyers want to feel like they are in their own luxurious personal environment, free from their hectic schedules and the outside world," says Ed Berger, Eldorado brand manager. "And few automobiles offer a more powerful personal statement than the ETC."
The 1998 ETC's technology defines high performance. It is powered by the 300-hp Northstar dual-overhead cam- V8, one of the most powerful V8s in the world. In addition, its Northstar chassis features--continuously variable road-sensing suspensions all-speed traction control, Magnasteer, ABE, and Cadillac's exclusive stability control system, StabiliTrak--work in harmony to deliver superior handling and vehicle control.
For 1998, the Eldorado Touring Coupe receives an enhanced version of Magnasteer, which adjusts steering effort not only according to speed but to lateral acceleration. In addition, ETC receives a new family of radios featuring the renowned Bose speaker system, including an optional radio with radio data system (RD$) technology. RDS provides a new level of convenience and safety by allowing broadcasters to transmit text and emergency messages along with the audio signal. Other radio upgrades include a single-slot CD player and THEFTLOCK, an automatic theft-deterrent system.
The target Eldorado Touring Coupe buyer is 40+ years old, with household incomes exceeding $10.0,000. About 30 percent of its buyers are women.
EXTERIOR
The 1998 Eldorado Touring Coupe's bold exterior styling is further enhanced with the addition of four new exterior colors: Baltic Blue, a medium metallic blue with increased sparkle; Gold Firemist, a classic gold metallic; Moonstone, a gold and gray metallic; and Crimson Pearl, a premium process hot red that replaces Cadillac's traditional Pearl Red. At the same time, Dark Cherry, Sea Mist Green and Pearl Red have been dropped.
INTERIOR
Inside, the ETC's distinctive interior features two new Nuance leather colors, Camel and Pewter.
Radio
Cadillac is the first domestic automaker to offer radio data system (RDS) technology, which is available on the up-level Bose entertainment system. RDS is a European-based technology that allows broadcasters to silently deliver a 1,200-bits-per-second data stream along with the audio content, opening up a wide variety, of features to listeners, including:
Seeing the call letters of the station
Tuning by program type, e.g., top 40, jazz, country, etc.
Viewing song titles and artists' names
Hearing emergency broadcasts in situations in which the radio interrupts the CD or cassette player for traffic or emergency alerts
Checking pager messages
Viewing stock quotes, sports scores, directions, or other information
Synchronizing clocks with official radio time
Switching to alternate frequencies for continuous reception of network programming on long trips
With RDS, Eldorado buyers can personalize their radio so it provides them with whet they want, whether it's viewing stock quotes or searching for jazz stations.
ETC drivers also will appreciate the traffic announcement function of RDS. When a traffic announcement is broadcast on the radio, passengers will hear it even if a CD or a cassette tape is playing.
"You can also search for traffic information," Berger says. "Traffic is a unique entity--it's not a program type. You can turn the traffic announcement feature on and when you hit seek, it will only stop on stations that report traffic.
"We know ETC owners spend a lot of time in their -cars, so another RDS feature they'll appreciate is its alert system to let listeners know of impending local or national emergencies," Berger says. "You can get those currently via the emergency-broadcasting system on regular radio, but with RDS, if you're listening to a CD or tape, it will interrupt your CD or tape and broadcast the message."
Another optional radio feature in 1998 is the weather band. The weather band allows customers to get National Weather Service reports 24 hours a day.
Adding to the driving pleasure of the ETC is a new family of radios, featuring the renowned Bose speaker system and a single-slot compact disc player. A 12-disc trunk-mounted CD changer is optional.
ETC radios -in 1998 also feature a mute button, which silences the system when the button is pressed. When the button is pressed again, the sound returns.
In addition, the 1998 ETC offers home/away presets. In the past, the ETC radio 411QWed both driver 1 and driver 2 to select their own 18 (12 FM and six AM) radio station presets. In 1998, both drivers-can select their preferred radio stations outside their home area, such as in frequently traveled business or vacation areas.
For 1998, both ETC radios are equipped with THEFTLOCK, which provides automatic theft deterrence for the radio. It works' by linking the Eldorado radio to the vehicle identification number (YIN) of the vehicle. If the radio is removed from the vehicle, it won't work in any other car unless the VIN is cleared. This can only be done by a dealership using a special tool. In addition, once the VIN is scribed into a radio, the radio can be traced.
NORTHSTAR SYSTEM
Northstar V8
The 1998 ETC is powered by the 300-hp Northstar 4.6-liter, 32-valve dual-overhead cam V8 engine. With 295 ft.-lbs of torque at 4400 rpm, this V8 provides strong acceleration off the line, achieving zero to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds. It also provides plenty of " power for passing maneuvers, accelerating from 30 mph to 70 mph in 6.5. seconds. This engine is packaged with a 3.71:1 final drive ratio, which provides responsive performance for all driving conditions.
The Northstar engine also offers 100,000-mile 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 ETC logs 100,000 miles. And in limp home mode, the engine can operate on four cylinders at speeds of 50 mph for about 50 miles, giving the driver an opportunity to reach a safe location. The engine does 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 ETC's 4T80-E transaxle is linked to the engine via a viscous converter clutch, which assures 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.
StabiliTrak
The ETC in 1998 continues to offer StabiliTrak as a standard feature. StabiliTrak, a Cadillac exclusive, is a stability control system that improves-the stability of the vehicle on all surfaces at all steeds: At the heart of StabiliTrak are two sensors--a yaw rate sensor and lateral acceleration sensor--that work with the car's suspension, steering, ABS and traction control systems.
StabiliTrak's sensors compare the steering angle (where the driver wants the car to go) with feedback from wheel and directional sensors (where the car is actually going).
When the StabiliTrak system determines that the ETC is not going where the driver is steering it, the StabiliTrak computer (which' also controls ABS and traction control functions) sends a complex but extremely rapid series of directions to the vehicle's traction control and ABS brakes to help straighten the vehicle. For example, if the car is starting to fishtail, StabiliTrak gently applies the outside front brake, which slows the vehicle and nudges the car's tail back into line.
Road-texture detection
Another standard feature on ETC is road-texture detection, which makes the anti-lock brakes more effective by measuring the roughness of the road and adjusting brake operation accordingly. The result of road-texture detection is more effective ABS brakes, with shorter, more consistent stopping distances on rough roads: It also reduces unnecessary ABS engagement and improves steering.
Continuously variable-road-sensing suspension
The 1998 ETC is 'equipped with continuously variable road-sensing suspension (CVRSS),'which produces optimum body and wheel damping under virtually all driving conditions by independently adjusting the damper setting et' each corner of the vehicle and responding in real time. CVRSS can precisely match damping required to the severity of the input, enabling a refinement level not previously achieved. The benefits to the ETC customer include markedly improved rolling smoothness, road isolation and impact feel, with exceptional control during aggressive emergency maneuvers.
Magnasteer
Another integral part of the Northstar System, Magnasteer is a continuously variable, speed-sensitive steering system that is standard on' the ETC. Magnasteer varies the amount of steering effort in proportion to vehicle speed. Steering is easier at lower speed for maneuvering and parking ease. As vehicle speed increases, tine' steering effort also increases. At highway speeds, the amount of steering effort is increased 'to provide maximum stability and control.
In 1998, the Eldorado Touring Coupe receives the next generation of Magnasteer, which reacts to lateral acceleration as well as speed. When the cornering rate is up, as sensed by an on-board lateral accelerometer, steering effort is automatically increased to enhance the driver's feel of the road. In addition, if StabiliTrak is active, steering effort also is increased significantly to help the driver maintain command of the situation.
PERSONAL SECURITY
OnStar
OnStar, an advanced cellular-based communications system, is an option on ETC. When customers order the OnStar services package they receive a fixed cellular phone with two specific buttons for OnStar. Using Cadillac's sophisticated on-board-electronics, OnStar brings a remarkable range of safety, security and convenience features to the driver, including automatic notification of front air bag deployment, remote door unlock; theft detection notification and stolen vehicle tracking; emergency services; and concierges services.
Personalization upgrades
ETC's personalization feature provides additional peace of mind. In past model years, drivers have been able to program their doors with three locking modes. For 1998, there are two new modes: all doors lock when shifting out of park and only the driver's door unlocks when the key is turned off; and all doors lock when shifting out of park and unlock when the key-is turned off.
The remote keyless entry (RKE) fob also adds an additional feature for-1998 when the lock button is pressed, the horn will sound to verify that the doors have locked: Additionally, when the vehicle is in reverse, the passenger-side mirror can be programmed to tilt downward, giving the driver a better view of the curb during parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse returns the mirror to its original position. |
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