In '02, GM designed a car that was light years ahead of the '11 Aventador.
05-30-2011, 01:28 AM
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In '02, GM designed a car that was light years ahead of the '11 Aventador. Caddy Cien
It's a real shame that GM never green lit the 2002 Cadillac Cien Concept for production. I love everything about this car. The jet fighter look to the centerlock wheels. Info from Wikipedia.
Think of all of the badass cars GM never built because of the future economic instability.
It's a real shame that GM never green lit the 2002 Cadillac Cien Concept for production. I love everything about this car. The jet fighter look to the centerlock wheels. Info from Wikipedia.
The Cadillac Cien had a 7.5 L V12 Northstar XV12 engine, which produced 750 hp and 450 lb·ft of torque. This experimental engine featured direct injection and Displacement on Demand, which allowed the engine to run on only six or fewer cylinders under light load. The Cien was designed at General Motors' Advanced Design Studio in England and built as a fully-working road-going vehicle with the help of the UK-based engineering and motorsport company Prodrive. The Cien's monocoque chassis and body are made of carbon fiber composite and its design was inspired by the F-22 Raptor.
05-30-2011, 01:36 AM
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More if you care to read.
Trapezoidal air inlets are milled into the front-end surface of the Cien, graphically forming Cadillac’s shield-like grille, which incorporates a centrally mounted wreath and crest insignia. These air inlets — which feed the front-mounted radiators — are flanked on either side by vertical headlamps, together creating the unmistakable `face’ of Cadillac.
In profile, Cadillac’s characteristic crisp-edged feature line runs the length of the body, suggesting tension in the surface, and also adding to the dramatic stance. Another taut line intersects the first, sweeping from the tail through the sail panel to the front of the vehicle. These main feature lines work together to give the Cien a dramatic and unique look, especially when viewed from above. The body and monocoque chassis are produced from carbon fiber composite, derived from race car technology, that is both lightweight and strong.
Electronically controlled air inlets and outlets are integrated into the Cien’s body side. These active vents open and close as required for cooling. Also, air is directed to the V12 engine via intakes beneath the two characteristic sail panels.
The Cien’s rear view embodies Cadillac’s distinctive design heritage with fin-like vertical taillights, and a wide center high mounted stop lamp (CHMSL), which spans the rear deck, along with the characteristic centerline crease. The Cien also features an active spoiler that adjusts automatically depending upon the speed of the vehicle, and a removable targa roof panel for open-air motoring.
The blue glass on the Cien was inspired by sport-performance eyewear, enhancing the vehicle’s modern, high-tech look.
Nestled between the 19-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels is a cabin featuring high-tech structural materials and Cadillac’s leading-edge technologies: Night Vision, OnStar, StabiliTrak, Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist and Communiport - which integrates the car’s audio, computing, navigation and wireless communication through hands-free voice activation.
Night Vision uses thermal imaging to help a driver detect potentially dangerous situations well beyond the range of the vehicle’s headlamps. The image is relayed to the driver via a heads-up display projected on the windscreen.
Additionally, the interior of the Cien features a digital instrument display relaying all of the vehicle’s functions, including diagnostics and satellite navigation, to the driver. LCD screens display images from the rearview cameras. A state-of-the-art entertainment system designed to match the car’s unique acoustic characteristics is incorporated into the cockpit.
Dark anodized aluminum accents reflect the Cien’s cool, technical appearance. The interior has a strong vertical theme, revolving around the car’s center console, which houses Cien’s controls, and the modern, yet classical clock - designed by Bulgari and inspired by their Rettangolo wristwatch. The interior further complements the concept’s lightweight theme, utilizing carbon fiber and aluminum structural elements in a design that combines luxury and performance.
Cadillac Cien’s 7.5-liter, V12 powerplant, which is visible through a clear window in the decklid, is a new concept engine from GM Powertrain named the Northstar XV12. The all-aluminum, dual overhead cam (DOHC) four-valve V12 engine generates 750 horsepower and 450 lb.-ft. of torque, yet it meets the packaging requirements and fuel economy standards of a V8.
The Northstar XV12 concept engine features several technological advancements over today’s V8 engines, including: GM’s Displacement on Demand technology, which allows the engine to run seamlessly on six cylinders at times to maximize fuel savings; direct injection gasoline combustion system for increased engine power, improved fuel economy and reduced emissions; and a combined starter generator.
The Cien is fitted with a semi-automatic transmission, controlled by Formula 1-inspired column-mounted electronic paddles.
In profile, Cadillac’s characteristic crisp-edged feature line runs the length of the body, suggesting tension in the surface, and also adding to the dramatic stance. Another taut line intersects the first, sweeping from the tail through the sail panel to the front of the vehicle. These main feature lines work together to give the Cien a dramatic and unique look, especially when viewed from above. The body and monocoque chassis are produced from carbon fiber composite, derived from race car technology, that is both lightweight and strong.
Electronically controlled air inlets and outlets are integrated into the Cien’s body side. These active vents open and close as required for cooling. Also, air is directed to the V12 engine via intakes beneath the two characteristic sail panels.
The Cien’s rear view embodies Cadillac’s distinctive design heritage with fin-like vertical taillights, and a wide center high mounted stop lamp (CHMSL), which spans the rear deck, along with the characteristic centerline crease. The Cien also features an active spoiler that adjusts automatically depending upon the speed of the vehicle, and a removable targa roof panel for open-air motoring.
The blue glass on the Cien was inspired by sport-performance eyewear, enhancing the vehicle’s modern, high-tech look.
Nestled between the 19-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels is a cabin featuring high-tech structural materials and Cadillac’s leading-edge technologies: Night Vision, OnStar, StabiliTrak, Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist and Communiport - which integrates the car’s audio, computing, navigation and wireless communication through hands-free voice activation.
Night Vision uses thermal imaging to help a driver detect potentially dangerous situations well beyond the range of the vehicle’s headlamps. The image is relayed to the driver via a heads-up display projected on the windscreen.
Additionally, the interior of the Cien features a digital instrument display relaying all of the vehicle’s functions, including diagnostics and satellite navigation, to the driver. LCD screens display images from the rearview cameras. A state-of-the-art entertainment system designed to match the car’s unique acoustic characteristics is incorporated into the cockpit.
Dark anodized aluminum accents reflect the Cien’s cool, technical appearance. The interior has a strong vertical theme, revolving around the car’s center console, which houses Cien’s controls, and the modern, yet classical clock - designed by Bulgari and inspired by their Rettangolo wristwatch. The interior further complements the concept’s lightweight theme, utilizing carbon fiber and aluminum structural elements in a design that combines luxury and performance.
Cadillac Cien’s 7.5-liter, V12 powerplant, which is visible through a clear window in the decklid, is a new concept engine from GM Powertrain named the Northstar XV12. The all-aluminum, dual overhead cam (DOHC) four-valve V12 engine generates 750 horsepower and 450 lb.-ft. of torque, yet it meets the packaging requirements and fuel economy standards of a V8.
The Northstar XV12 concept engine features several technological advancements over today’s V8 engines, including: GM’s Displacement on Demand technology, which allows the engine to run seamlessly on six cylinders at times to maximize fuel savings; direct injection gasoline combustion system for increased engine power, improved fuel economy and reduced emissions; and a combined starter generator.
The Cien is fitted with a semi-automatic transmission, controlled by Formula 1-inspired column-mounted electronic paddles.
05-30-2011, 01:38 AM
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05-30-2011, 01:52 AM
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Wow, that thing is freaking legit. Beautiful car! It's a shame that it never went into production. Even limited production would have been cool. GM has been capable of so many things, but never actually done them.
05-30-2011, 01:54 AM
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He was after it was to late though, if you read "All Corvettes are Red," goes over the development of the C5s, you can start to see the signs for bankruptcy started in the mid 1980s. They kept pushing back the C5 because money wasn't there, they also showed how brand sharing was killing them.
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05-30-2011, 10:40 AM
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yeah GM always had some cool concept cars. One of my favorites was the LT5 powered CERVIII from 1990. I had that car in test drive 3:the passion and drove it in that game alot.
05-30-2011, 05:06 PM
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ah yes the pontiac banshee. cool looking car. i wish GM would have lent it to universal for KR2000 so they didn't have to clone it with a stealth 
I heard they were actually asked and refused.
I heard they were actually asked and refused. 
05-30-2011, 06:41 PM
#17
Concepts are good for seeing where design teams are headed, you can see a lot of the design elements from the California Camaro that made it in to a lot of other GM products, Cavalier, 4th gen Camaro and so on. The CERV has a lot of the design elements that made it in to the C5, even the color is strikingly similar to Nassau blue. With the Cien, you can see a lot of the design elements it in to current and past Cadillac products, Escalade, XLR. CTS..so on.
05-31-2011, 11:10 AM
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