Photo credit: Cadillac, GM, Wheelsage
Cadillac, General Motors’ premium brand for over 100 years, was the star of a profound brand image transformation, a process that began in 2002 at the Detroit Auto Show with the introduction of the Cadillac Cien.
Today, with the presentation of the Project GTP destined to bring the prestigious American brand back to Le Mans in 2023 with success clearly in its sights, one cannot but remember the futuristic Cien with its powerful longitudinally mounted 60-degree, 7.5-liter V12 which produced 750 hp and 881nm of torque.
An engine that featured direct injection and Displacement on Demand, with start-stop functionality and the ability to “turn off” half of the cylinders under light-load conditions.
Designed at General Motors’ Advanced Design Studio in England by Simon Cox, Cien ushered in a new era of style for the brand that has now become part of its DNA. The removable roof and the opening of the scissor doors contribute to its strong character as a true super sports car. The performance is up to par too, with a declared top speed of over 350 km/h.
Cadillac used this unique example not only to encourage the Le Mans and IMSA program, but also to promote the renewed image of the brand. Hence its roles in films such as The Island and Transformers: Age of Extinction. Cien has also made it to video games such as Midnight Club, Gran Turismo and Asphalt. Not a bad career for a “single”!
