1997 Cadillac DeVille Concours

A quick look might not reveal it, but Cadillac has done some heavy reengineering along with a subtle interior and exterior redesign on all versions-base, Concours, and d'Elegance-of its '97 DeVille. Cadillac stylists and customers wanted a leaner, cleaner appearance for the division's most traditional-looking model. The design goal was to avoid offending Cadillac's devoted older customers while wooing younger, affluent buyers away from less-roomy luxury imports.

To provide a more contemporary front-end presence, there are new fenders, a revised "power dome" hood, new fascia and grille, and revised headlamps. The big changes at the rear include a new fascia and a fender "skirtectomy" that properly opens up the wheel arches. Each wheel was then moved outward 10 millimeters for a slightly wider stance. The result is a vast visual improvement, moving the DeVille away from the kind of dowdiness that originally plagued the last-generation Chevrolet Caprice.

But the DeVille redo goes far beyond styling tweaks, to include several additional cross-car beams that stiffen the body structure. This supplemental reinforcement provides a new solidity, noticeable as reduced steering-column shake, a rock-solid instrument panel, and no more magic-fingers treatment from the front seat cushion. Along with steel-reinforced body sides, this luxury sedan also gets airbags in its front doors for additional side-impact protection. Already fitted with dual front units, the DeVille now becomes the first domestic model to feature side-impact bags as standard equipment.

Due to its enhanced structure, Cadillac engineers were able to stiffen the DeVille's spring rates and increase shock damping rates without impacting ride compliance. Adding greatly to the car's enhanced ability to roll smoothly is an all-new-design lower control arm in front. This component sports the same architecture as the system used in the Oldsmobile Aurora and Buick Riviera. What we noted as a result of all these changes was a better ability to swallow expansion joints and even small potholes without drumming resonance back into the passenger compartment.

Of course, our favorite thing about all Cadillacs is the Northstar powertrain, which includes an aluminum 4.6-liter V-8 and the ultrarefined 4T80-E four-speed transaxle. In the DeVille and upline DeVille d'Elegance flavors, the Northstar makes 275 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. That's plenty to move these big platforms with outstanding authority. But the ultimate setup is the 300-horsepower version of this engine, reserved for the DeVille Concours, a big linebacker of a car with a sprinter's smooth speed.

The engineering icing is larger-diameter front brake rotors for shorter stopping distances and increased fade resistance during repeated stops. Additional benefits with the new organic pads are better wear, a more communicative pedal feel, and quieter, luxury-style stops.

Although still destined to find its greatest favor among more-mature drivers, the '97 Cadillac DeVille lineup definitely has come a long way for the new model year.