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Manufacturer Brochure - 1998 Cadillac Seville
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| SEVILLE TECHNICAL OVERVIEW: CREATING THE ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE LUXURY SEDAN |
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| Updated |
Jun 3, 2004 17:27:18 |
| Rating |
 36 ( -6 -16.66% ) |
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Description:
The prestige-luxury class is perhaps the most competitive on earth. The 1998 Seville has been designed to set a new standard for this class, through the intelligent application of the world's best automotive technology.
Though it retains several of the 1997 Seville's strongest features--its sophisticated style and powerful Northstar System--the 1998 Seville is an all-new vehicle.
A totally new body structure, the third generation of the General Motors G-architecture, provides world-class rigidity and NVH (noise-vibration-harshness) control.
The acclaimed Northstar System, with its choice of 275- or 300-horsepower V8 engines, has been further refined this year for quieter, smoother operation. The 1998 Seville STS includes a revolutionary performance-shifting feature that enhances driver control during hard driving on winding roads or when accelerating down a freeway on-ramp.
An advanced suspension system provides excellent handling and control with class-leading road isolation. Seville's StabiliTrak stability control system and Cadillac's continuously variable road-sensing suspension (CVRSS) will be standard on Seville, providing the most sophisticated chassis control technology in the industry.
Seville remains on the leading edge of safety technology, with a rugged safety-cage body structure and front and side air bags for front seat occupants. Front shoulder belts are mounted directly to the seats for optimal comfort, and incorporate pretensioners and web locks for improved effectiveness. Seville will meet new federal head-injury protection standards six years before they go into full effect.
Other innovative technologies for 1998 include an adaptive seating for the STS, which uses a system of 10 computer-controlled air cells in the seat to provide optimal comfort, and the radio data system (RDS), which enables the radio to receive data on station format, traffic broadcasts and other useful information.
Every detail of the 1998 Seville has been redesigned and re-engineered with the goal of making it the world's ultimate performance luxury sedan.
A sound foundation
The foundation of the Seville is a computer-designed body structure designed for excellent stiffness and rigidity, providing responsive handling and a quiet interior. As a global car, Seville was designed to meet all worldwide standards for front, side and rear impact, as well as those for roof crush resistance and offset crashes.
A mega-pan one-piece floor panel extends from the front of the dash to the rear of the trunk, minimizing joints and seams. The interior body side rings are stamped from a single laser-welded blank, saving weight and cost and improving build quality.
A pair of hydroformed tubes sweep from the base of the windshield into the roof and back down to the rear wheel wells. These tubes help form a safety cage around the passenger compartment, while improving torsional and beaming stiffness of the body structure.
The instrument panel and steering column are supported by a one-piece magnesium cross-car beam to minimize shake and noise. Even the doors have been more solidly mounted. Each hinge is bolted through two body panels and reinforced composite blocks to better distribute loads for a more substantial feel.
Northstar System powertrain
Cadillac's Northstar System remains a benchmark for prestige luxury powertrains. The 1998 Seville builds upon this heritage with enhancements that increase driving pleasure and make the powertrain quieter and smoother.
The 275-horsepower version of the 4.6-liter dual-overhead-camshaft Northstar V8 continues as standard equipment on the Seville SLS, while the 300-horsepower Northstar engine is standard on the STS.
Both models continue to use Cadillac's electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission. New for the 1998 STS automatic transmission is programming for performance shifting. The system uses sensors in the vehicle, including the lateral acceleration sensor from StabiliTrak, to evaluate the driver's intentions and program the transmission to respond like a manual gearbox during enthusiastic driving.
The Northstar V8 has been further refined with a new accessory system, which reduces unpleasant engine noise at idle to almost imperceptible levels.
Advanced chassis systems
The chassis combines advanced suspension and braking hardware with the latest in computerized chassis control systems, providing a level of control, comfort and safety unimaginable just a few years ago.
The front suspension is a MacPherson strut design, using an L-shaped lower control arm that places the rear bushing along the front wheel center line for responsive handling and precise steering.
Seville's rear suspension is a multi-link design, similar to that used on Catera. Lateral toe links control wheel angles for predictable, responsive handling during hard cornering and emergency maneuvers.
Because of its compact design, the rear suspension of the 1998 Seville allows maximum interior and trunk space. Yet it provides significantly more travel than before--50 percent more in compression, 20 percent more in rebound--for a more comfortable, controlled ride.
Also standard on all 1998 Sevilles is StabiliTrak, the most advanced integrated stability control system in the world. Sensors in the vehicle measure steering angle and other inputs from the driver, to determine what he or she wants the car to do. If the car isn't responding appropriately, a computer can selectively apply the individual front brakes to help keep the car on the intended course.
Powerful disc brakes are used at each corner of the car. These incorporate electronic wear sensors to alert the driver when the brake pads need to be changed. Seville features the latest Bosch 5.0 four-channel anti-lock braking system. All-speed traction control is also standard.
Intelligent electronics
The intelligent application of advanced electronics has been a hallmark of Seville, dating back to the introduction of electronic fuel injection on the 1976 model. The 1998 Seville takes the advanced Class II electrical architecture of the current model to yet another level of development.
At the heart of the Seville electronic system is a network of 16 electronic control modules linked together into a network capable of transferring data at 10,400 bytes per second.
This Class II electrical system significantly reduces the complexity of the wiring system for enhanced reliability, easier assembly and reduced weight. The weight-saving is estimated at 65 percent, and the system uses 25 percent fewer terminals and 92 percent fewer splices than a conventional system. The instrument cluster is based around four electro-luminescent analog gauges. The primary instruments are backlit by a 10-inch fluorescent tube, which transmits light through light pipes. Needles are illuminated by rows of light-emitting diodes behind diffusers, creating bright, even light.
The standard sound system is a Delco AM-FM system with a cassette and CD player mounted in the dash. The system features a 250-watt amplifier and eight speakers. A MiniDisc CD player and a console-mounted six-disc CD changer are available.
Optional on the SLS and standard on the STS is a Bose 4.0 entertainment system, which is the best sound system ever developed for a production automobile. The amplifier, rated at 425 watts average power output, drives eight specially tuned speakers.
In General Motors audio testing, the Bose system scored 4.0, higher than any automotive system ever tested. The "perfect" rating, 5.0, has been achieved only by a high-end home stereo in an acoustically perfect room.
Seville's radio data system (RDS) lets the radio receive digital data transmitted along with the standard radio signal. This information can include station call letters, program format, the name of the song and the artist playing, and other useful information. RDS also makes it easier to find traffic and emergency information.
Safety and security
As a global car, the 1998 Seville is engineered to meet safety standards in all the markets where it will be sold. The active safety of the Seville--its ability to help the driver avoid an accident--is a function of its excellent chassis and advanced technical features, such as ABS, all-speed traction control and StabiliTrak.
Seville incorporates a number of state-of-the-art technologies that enhance its ability to protect the occupants in the event of a crash.
The Seville body structure forms a safety cage around the passenger compartment, while the front and rear sections are designed to absorb the energy of an impact.
Seville also features side air bags for both front seat occupants, providing additional protection during side-impact collisions.
Even with air bags, safety belts remain the primary restraint. Front belts for the 1998 Seville are mounted directly to the seats. They move with any seat adjustment, providing optimum comfort and protection. In addition, there is a lap and shoulder belt for the rear-seat passenger, and adjustable rear seat headrests for the outboard passengers.
Front belts also feature pyrotechnic pretensioners and web locks. The pretensioners are triggered during any crash serious enough to inflate the front air bags, removing slack from the belts. This keeps the occupants more firmly in place, increasing the effectiveness of both the safety belts and air bags.
A tilt-and-telescope steering wheel allows shorter drivers to locate the steering wheel and air bag at a safer distance. |
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