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2005 Cadillac DeVille / DeVille Protection Series: Strong symbol of luxury with a rich technology heritage

2005 Cadillac DeVille Upholds Cadillac Tradition

With more than 50 years of history behind it, the DeVille has long been a Cadillac mainstay and a strong symbol of luxury with a rich technology heritage. Breakthrough advances such as Night Vision, the acclaimed Northstar engine and StabiliTrak have shaped the DeVille’s character, distinguishing it from other full-size luxury nameplates.

For the past 19 years, DeVille has been America’s best-selling full-size luxury car. By 2005, Cadillac expects nearly 40 percent of buyers in this segment will be baby boomers as the average age of owners trends downward.

New for 2005

* OnStar Gen 6 digital hardware with upgraded hands-free capability
* DeVille Protection Series (see press release below)
* Three colors: Green Silk, Light Cashmere, Glacier Gold (available after start of production)

DeVille introduces three new exterior colors for 2005: Green Silk, Light Cashmere and Glacier Gold. It also features new OnStar Gen 6 hardware.

OnStar-equipped DeVilles feature new sixth-generation hardware with digital and analog coverage. OnStar’s Gen 6 hardware also includes upgraded hands-free voice recognition capabilities including more intuitive continuous digit dialing and improved voice recognition accuracy. OnStar is the leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and information services in the United States and Canada. Using the GPS satellite network and wireless technology, OnStar features core safety services and OnStar Personal Calling that allows drivers to make and receive hands-free, voice-activated phone calls using a powerful three-watt digital/analog system and external antenna for greater reception.

All 2005 Cadillac owners in the U.S. will receive 12 months of complimentary access to Cadillac Virtual Advisor by OnStar. Cadillac Virtual Advisor service begins at activation of OnStar Personal Calling. Cadillac Virtual Advisor provides three-day weather forecasts and traffic reports within pre-selected ranges of 5, 10 or 15 miles of the vehicle’s location in most major markets. Cadillac Virtual Advisor also monitors traffic for up to three personalized routes and reports information on up to 10 selected stocks on the DJI and NASDAQ markets – all at the touch of a single button.

Building on Cadillac’s design and technology legacy

The 2005 DeVille reflects the bold spirit of great Cadillacs of the past, while advancing Cadillac’s vision of becoming a global leader in automotive design and technology.

DeVille’s overall appearance is trim, sleek and cosmopolitan, andbuilds on Cadillac’s rich tradition of luxury and pioneering technological innovations that offer real customer benefits.

Technology

Most notably, DeVille features Night Vision, an important safety advancement. Night Vision is the first automotive application of thermal-imaging technology, and assists drivers in seeing objects beyond headlight range during nighttime driving.

As a complement to Night Vision, the DeVille offers Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist, a technology that assists the driver in rear parking maneuvers. The DeVille also was the first in the auto industry to feature full-width light-emitting diode (LED) center high mounted stoplamp and taillights, a safety feature that provides quicker on-time performance than incandescent bulbs. Night Vision, LEDs and Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist enhance DeVille’s package of world-class active safety and security features. The list continues with safety-cage construction, leading-edge passive restraints, a DVD-based navigation system and OnStar, making the 2005 DeVille one of the safest cars on the road.

In addition, StabiliTrak, GM’s world-class stability-control system, makes DeVille’s handling even more predictable and consistent under all driving conditions and road surfaces. This enhanced version adds both side-slip rate control and active steering- effort compensation. StabiliTrak is standard on DTS and optional on DeVille and DHS.

StabiliTrak assists the vehicle in maintaining the driver’s intended path by applying a brake force at any corner of the vehicle independent of the driver’s use of the brake pedal.

StabiliTrak uses an accelerator pedal position sensor, a brake master cylinder pressure sensor and a steering wheel angle sensor as inputs to interpret the driver’s desired path and whether to accelerate or decelerate the vehicle. StabiliTrak also uses these sensors plus a lateral accelerometer and yaw rate sensor to determine the vehicle’s actual path.

If the difference between the driver’s desired path and the vehicle’s actual path becomes great enough, StabiliTrak takes appropriate action to assist the driver with maintaining the desired path. If the vehicle begins to “snowplow,” or understeer, StabiliTrak applies the inside rear brake to help turn the vehicle. If the vehicle begins to fishtail, or oversteer, StabiliTrak applies the outside front brake to straighten the vehicle. StabiliTrak is integrated with the traction control and ABS systems.

In addition to StabiliTrak, DTS is equipped with the continuously variable road-sensing suspension (CVRSS). This enhanced system adds three significant improvements – transient roll control, lateral support and stability control interaction.

Cadillac DeVille Protection Series

Vehicle Highlights

* 4.6L Northstar V-8 engine with 275 horsepower (205 kw) and 300 lb.-ft of torque (407 Nm)
* Bullet-resistant glass
* Ballistic protection on roof and rear seat back (around passenger compartment)
* Enhanced mobility tire and wheel system designed with two-piece wheel beadlock system
* Self-sealing fuel tank
* Standard-length and 8-inch stretch models
* Available with standard OnStar, XM Satellite Radio and universal garage door opener

DeVille Protection Series Provides Unmatched VIP Security

Cadillac DeVille – a vehicle with a long and illustrious history of providing transportation to presidents, diplomats and VIPs – is available in a Protection Series for the 2005 model year.

GM has partnered with Scaletta Moloney Armoring – the preferred U.S. government supplier of armored vehicles – to bring to market a state-of-the-art armored Cadillac DeVille. This special DeVille will provide an added level of security to executives, officials and others who may require protection and security as they travel.

The DeVille Protection Series is available in both a standard sedan and an 8-inch stretch model, with a range of options to suit individual customer requirements. Though this DeVille incorporates many advanced features – from ballistic steel and glass, to a special run-flat wheel and tire system, and a self-sealing fuel tank – it is designed to be inconspicuous and not draw undue attention to the vehicle or its occupants.

DeVille’s armoring has been designed by engineers with expertise in systems design, ballistics, physics and blast analysis. The DeVille Protection Series is rated to meet National Institute of Justice Level IIIA requirements, which means the vehicle is capable of withstanding attack from firearms as large and as powerful as a .44 magnum handgun. It is designed to protect against acts of violence committed with the most common firearms available in the United States today.

Each window – side, rear and windshield – of the DeVille Protection Series is made of bullet-resistant glass incorporating the latest ballistic technology. The multi-layer construction is designed to withstand the impact of bullets fired from a wide variety of firearms.

The DeVille Protection Series also uses a new, state-of-the-art method for armor protection developed by Scaletta Moloney Armoring. A protective shell is built using ballistic steel panels that are formed with great precision. These carefully fitted panels, which overlap at critical points, are then hand-welded together at close tolerances to ensure the highest quality. The shell is then welded to the chassis. Ballistic steel is covered by ordinary steel on roof, sides and undercarriage to form the protective shell that, along with the ballistic glass, helps protect the vehicle’s occupants.

The vehicle also is equipped to ensure continuous mobility, even with zero tire pressure. The Enhanced Mobility System combines a special two-piece, heavy-duty wheel and beadlock system with an advanced run-flat tire insert. Also included is a tire pressure monitoring system that continuously monitors the pressure in each tire and alerts the driver if one or more tires start to lose air pressure.

The wheel’s beadlock system positively secures the tire to the rim. The advanced run-flat tire insert is constructed of specially formulated and reinforced rubber that greatly reduces road-handling degradation in run-flat conditions. Even with a flat tire, drivers can still travel up to 30 miles and maintain a 30-mph speed. This allows the DeVille Protection Series to continue moving – under control – as the driver navigates to a “safe” area.

DeVille Protection Series is available in four exterior colors for 2005: Black Raven, Light Cashmere, Light Platinum and Thunder Gray. The standard leather seating surfaces on this special DeVille may be ordered in Black, Neutral Shale and Dark Gray.

Technology

DeVille also was the first in the auto industry to feature full-width light-emitting diode (LED) center high mounted stoplamps and taillights, a safety feature that provides quicker "on-time" performance than incandescent bulbs. Add to these, proven safety-cage construction, leading-edge passive restraints, a DVD-based navigation system and OnStar, the revolutionary information and communications service, and the 2005 DeVille Protection Series could arguably be the safest car on the road.

XM Satellite Radio

XM Satellite Radio (Continental U.S. only) provides 100 coast-to-coast, digital-quality channels of original music, news, sports and talk. Consumers can subscribe to the basic service for $9.99 a month – less than the cost of a single CD. In addition, GM customers with GMAC financing can choose to include the XM subscription in their car payments. Cadillac was the first automaker to offer XM as factory installed. The armored version is built on DeVille’s heavy-duty professional vehicle chassis and is powered by the 4.6L Northstar V-8 offering 275 horsepower (205 kw) and 300 lb.-ft. of torque (407 Nm).

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Source: Cadillac