Friday 31st May 2002

Cadillac Cien

V12 super coupe could be produced in the UK

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[rob.ellis]

exellent news that whichever company they choose, the work will come to a uk company.

lets hope lotus get the work, as this could really kick start a new-esprit project....

[bennno]

i have seen this car in the flesh when it was being painted at a bodyshop in brum...it looks absolutely gorgeous close up.

I know Pro-drive engineered the concept car, which works but is a bit 'rough' mechanically. So I guess they are favourites for the contract

Bennno

[Twin Turbo]

Don't care who builds it, as long as it gets built.

Amazing looking car. Designed by a Brit too (Simon Cox), so it'd be great if it was built here too.

Isn't the 7.5 V12 destined for the Cunningham C7 coupe? Another of Bob Lutz's toys - good lad!

[RacerX]

Now that would be a Cadillac to forgive ALL their sins (Allante, Cimarron, Escalade and most every model since 1970!).
I am sure the origins of the name could be found somewhere. Is it a play on the Spanish for One Hundred (ciento) or the French for dog (chien)? Thank goodness thay have gotten away from the old names, or it just might be called the Cadillac Ponderosa Esquire Country Fleetfoot Broughm Allegra Torero Sport!

[danmangt40]

you've gotta wonder how hard it was for lutz to convince the rest of GM that the corvette doesn't have to be the GM performance pinnacle long enough for this speculation to even exist. I'm rooting for the project b/c if GM is making the 7.5 liter v12 for its own in-house project and profits, the odds of the cunningham becoming a reality are greater. that alone would be worth it to me, b/c regardless of what I think of the cien, I think the c7 is about the most gorgeous shape that has ever been considered for production. It'd be like an american aston martin.... **** the damn cien otherwise. Sure, it's a sweet car, and its easily the most attractive application of art & science yet, but as anything other than a shoehorn for getting the v12 to production, I really couldn't give a crap. If I wanted to get a super-quick sportscar that trades on generating numbers and smiles alone, I'd get an ultima or noble. the cien will be to the gt40 what the camaro was to the mustang... just there b/c the competition creates a market. gimme a cunningham... so get the v12 goin!

[RacerX]

I am assuming the V12 is a Northstar V8-and-a-half. And believ-you-me, the Northstar is a wonderful engine by anyones standards. Don't know about the Cunningham, but given GM's amazing choices, the V12 will end up in trucks and Suburbans before anything else!

[ErnestM]

As Lotus is a name more globally known, I expect they may get the nod for the build. I look for a lot of "engineered by Lotus", "built by Lotus" type badges on this thing.

If Lotus has the ability to "dual produce" a la VX220/Elise S2, I would go for the Lotus model. Maybe an Esprit mark II?

ErnestM

[Roadrunner]

Engine sounds good. It's not a beautiful car, but it is striking.

[rob.ellis]

This car was on display at Goodwood, and looked fabulous. I saw it at Geneva earlier in the year and it impressed me then, but seeing in parked on the grass in the Style et Luxe area it look the absolute dogs biscuits.

Does anyone know if it is actually going to be produced or not?

[Twin Turbo]

I hope so, I really do.

You're right, it looked stunning aparked next to the Buick "Y" Job on the lawn.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for both this and the Cunningham C7.

[ErnestM]

Here's another look...



Would I stick a cadillac in my garage? Only this one. Imagine seeing this barrelling down in your rear view...

ErnestM

[plotloss]

Well thats the first caddy, with the exception of the concept Lincoln LS size one they had at Detroit a few years back, that I would drive.

Nice looking motor that I reckon.

Matt.

[The Wiz]

Based on the F22 Raptor apparently ... can't really go wrong. It looked superb at Goddwood, better than most of the other supercars, except the Zonda.

[Fatboy]

I seriously like that caddy, the cien is definately on my wish list. Looks so evil/mean. Especially with some good old fashioned Yank big cube muscle powering it..

Edited to add: Looks like a stealth bomber - all you need is some of the paint the USAF use and you've got a GATSO invisible car

>> Edited by Fatboy on Wednesday 17th July 14:57

[The Wiz]

The F22 is a fighter not a bomber but it does have Stealth characteristics no the less .....