Which brings us around to point one. According to Taki
Karras, Cadillac exterior design manager, "We told the
team to design a car that looks as lightweight and agile
and athletic as the architecture promises." He adds: "The
car cannot look cumbersome or heavy or bulky."
Karras says that they worked with engineering on
achieving the look that they felt was essential to deliver
the overall message. For example, he points out that the
aforementioned front body hinge pillar casting allows
a better body-to-wheel relationship (the sheet metal is
close to the tire) and a low, wide stance for the vehicle.
"We were able to take our Cadillac signature lamps
and pull them rearward in the car and have a very small
distance of body color between the
lamp and the front tire. When you look
at the car in the rear three-quarters,
the wheel becomes the thing
that is the most dominant." This, he
says, makes the car really look planted
to the ground.
"Because the engineering team was
able to lower the height of the hood,
we were able to make the car look wider," he says. In
addition, the design of the grille emphasizes width over
height, Karras says.
"On the rear it is recognizable as a Cadillac," but he
points out that the rear lights are tipped in a bit and have
"We told the team to design a car that
looks as lightweight, agile and athletic
as the architecture promises."
Inside the car, the design
is one that is meant to
emphasize spaciousness.
COVER STORY