Call this "a muscle car in an Armani suit," suggests Chief Designer Dennis Little. For those familiar with the past-generation Seville, the latest iteration is evolutionary, not revolutionary. Nothing unusual about that in the luxury segment. Upscale European automakers have carried over the same styling themes year-after-year. With the latest Seville, designers have tapped into the themes and cues that helped define some of the best Cadillacs of the past, starting with the bold, egg-crate grille and strong, vertically oriented taillights. Refinement is the critical element with the '99 Seville. Edges are soft and sculpted. The wrap-around projector headlights have a jewel-like quality that only enhances their improved functionality. While exterior changes are subtle when comparing the current Seville with the last-generation model, there are far more significant changes under the skin. And wisely, Cadillac engineers used Mercedes and BMW as their ride and handling role models. Though the Seville's look is unabashedly American, there were clear concessions made to the international market when Seville was redesigned in 1998. The car is three inches shorter than the old model, moving it closer in size to some of its import competitors. But while it may be shorter, bumper-to-bumper, there's significantly more useable space, and the 2-inch wider stance enhances ride and handling, especially when coupled to the Seville's world-class suspension.
|