And that ethic seems to be at the heart of the Cadillac DeVille Concours.

When it made its debut in 1994, the Concours (pronounced kahn' kor) combined Cadillac's market-tested luxury appointments with the muscular Northstar powertrain. Cadillac seemed to be telling its traditional buyers - mostly middle-aged and older - that they could still ensconce themselves in Cadillac-style luxury without completely forgoing the speed-demon impulses of youth. Evidently, that message struck a chord, as the Concours accounted for 30 percent of all DeVille sales in '94.

The '95 Concours offers a bevy of luxury and performance features as standard equipment - most notably, the aforementioned Northstar engine. In the Eldorado Touring Coupe and Seville Touring Sedan (STS), the Northstar is powered by 300 horses. In the Concours, however, the 4.6-liter DOHC V8 is a bit tamer - yielding 275 hp (five more than in '94) and 300 lb.-ft.

The Concours' performance is enhanced by standard equipment such as a 4-speed electronic transaxle, speed-sensitive steering, road-sensing suspension, full-speed traction control, anti-lock brakes and a new-for-'95 Integrated Chassis Control System (ICCS). The ICCS is designed to shorten straight-line stopping distance, stabilize the brakes during high-speed turns and level out the traction control system in tight, low-speed maneuvers.

Also standard on the Concours are cast aluminum wheels, dual airbags, remote keyless entry, flash-to-pass feature, rear-door child safety locks, leather seats, electronic climate control, two-position memory driver's seat, interior Zebrano wood appliques, 12-way power seats, illuminated front and rear vanity mirrors and stereo cassette player with 11 speakers.

Our test model had a base price of $39,400 and came equipped with the following options: chrome wheels, premium sound system with CD player, PASS-Key II theft-deterrent system, heated front seats and electronic compass. These options boosted the MSRP to $42,141.