Cadillac Allanté

The Cadillac Allanté is the first launched by Cadillac luxury-class roadster and was offered from 1987 to 1993.

The vehicle

With the originally developed under the code name " Callisto " Allanté Cadillac came into direct competition with the Mercedes -Benz SL. Chassis and engine initially came directly from the Cadillac Eldorado, other components shared with the Buick Reatta the Allanté, the Buick Riviera and Oldsmobile Toronado said.

Floor pan and chassis originated in Cadillac plant in Detroit and went by air freight to Pininfarina in Turin, where the body was mounted; the semi- finished cars were then shipped by Lufthansa Cargo back in the U.S. where final assembly took place. The press spoke of "the longest pipeline in the world".

The Allanté cost $ 54,000 at its premiere and was by far the most expensive model in the Cadillac program. Due to the high cost incurred by the Allanté only about 21,000 copies.

The Allanté was driven initially by the in-house 4.1 -liter V8 (type HT -4100 ) with electronic fuel injection, the (170 PS ) carried out 125 kW at a speed of 4300/min. Front and rear wheels were out on spring strut axles, disc brakes on all included as standard.

With the 1989 model year, a new 4.5 -liter V8 was used (type HT 4500 ), which carried 149 kW at the same speed and 366 Nm at 3200 revolutions / min. For this, the Allanté received a speed sensitive suspension control that answered to the name "Speed ​​Dependent Damping Control " or simply SD ² C and the chassis from a speed of 40 km / h and, in a second stage, from 60 km / h made ​​harder. The tightest setting also supported the start- up to a speed of 8 km / h Also new was the operating speed dependent power steering.

In addition, the Allanté learned to his production end of 1993 only a few changes. However, the Roadster was the last model year 1993 ( which began in early 1992 ) the brand new Cadillac Northstar V8 with dual overhead camshafts and 4.6 liters. This machine made ​​otherwise 213 kW, for use in Allanté Cadillac gave the power of 220 kW at a speed of 5600/min and the maximum torque of 393 Nm at 4400 rpm on. At the same time we built a new multi -link rear suspension, which originated from the models Cadillac Seville and Eldorado and the road conditions improved. Another innovation was the " Road Sensing Suspension", an electronically controlled active shock absorber control. Were further improved New disc brakes, a deep -drawn front spoiler and the elimination of the wind deflector behind the A-pillars.

The Allanté with Northstar engine won a comparison test of the U.S. magazine " Car & Driver " in front of the Mercedes -Benz 300 SL and the Jaguar XJ -S V12 Cabriolet. The Cadillac received high marks for his engine, but deductions from the road holding, the result of front-wheel drive design. To win the Allanté eventually be helped with just under $ 65,000 relatively low price - the Jaguar well cost 72,000, the Mercedes over 90,000 dollars.