click on image to enlarge
We told you last week that reports of Cadillac building a long-wheelbase version of the DTS were true, and now we have confirmation in the form of official shots of the long legged sedan released by General Motors today. While no information accompanied the images, you can clearly see about 6 to 8 inches of extra wheelbase that makes itself evident behind the rear doors. That extra length also gets added to the C-Pillar, which will both protect important back seat passengers from prying eyes and be a challenging blindspot for chauffeurs to see around. It's also clear from these pictures that, as we reported, a high-performance V-Series of the DTS-L will not be offered. One is clearly meant to be driven in this car, not to drive it himself (or herself). The rear-seat legroom is ample, as we would expect, with enough space behind the front seats to park an Aveo.
Will the Cadillac DTS-L give the aged Lincoln Town Car a run for its money? It might, if Cadillac can keep the cost down and find enough livery outlets looking to switch. Keep in mind, however, that we haven't heard much about the Chrysler 300 Long Wheelbase making any waves in the human delivery market. The Town Car is a tough cookie to beat due to its total entrenchment in this market, relatively low cost and a library of maintenance that's well known and tolerated. We'll likely see the Cadillac DTS-L at the L.A. Auto Show next week in person where we'll certainly climb in back and kick our feet up.
Check out the interior shot after the jump.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Richard S. @ Nov 22nd 2006 12:22PM
Looks good. However it is FWD platform. Do the livery businesses prefer RWD cars?
Bob @ Nov 22nd 2006 12:30PM
Check out the size of that C-pillar!
Richard Warren @ Nov 22nd 2006 12:39PM
It's big, that's for sure!
gkz @ Nov 22nd 2006 12:40PM
sorry to be so negative, but that looks like sh!t. whoever designed the extension clearly has no sense of proportion. frankly, it looks more like a shortened hearse than a lengthened sedan.
MikeW @ Nov 22nd 2006 12:59PM
It is better than that huge blind spot Lincoln had for the first year(s?) of the stretched town car.
Fred D. @ Nov 22nd 2006 1:16PM
Meh. A minivan with the middle seats removed has got this one beat.
Vinny @ Nov 22nd 2006 1:56PM
It would look sweet with a bubble window or port hole on that C-pillar.
Ralph @ Nov 22nd 2006 2:06PM
Looks a LOT better than a Town Car. Classy.
Bill @ Nov 22nd 2006 2:23PM
I like this approach better than the Lincoln's bulky B-pillars and longer doors.
Also, if I was a passenger, I'd prefer the privacy of being tucked within the C-pillar like that. Also, for certain "markets", I'm betting that those C-pillars could be significantly reinforced from a ballistic standpoint, which might appeal to certain customers.
Guenther @ Nov 22nd 2006 2:27PM
Blind spots are really not a big problem for professional drivers- they know what the side mirrors are for and use 'em. That looks like it wants some flogs flapping on top of the fenders
Rolf @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:01PM
Working in the LA livery industry, Chrysler is making inroads due to Lincolns off and on Town Car of late. Cadillac may be late to the party.
jon c @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:59PM
They could benchmark the LS460 if they offered a folding ottoman for the back passenger with heated seats & massage feature.
MikeW @ Nov 22nd 2006 5:23PM
That blind spot stunk for the passengers in the town car.
How come Ford could not just have made the new doors from day one?
The 300 stretched has bigger doors so you don't have to 'crawl' to the rear seats, Although that bigger C pillar can provide privacy, if that is what you are looking for.
BOB @ Nov 23rd 2006 1:00AM
Re styling comments above -- the huge C pillar says "limo" to the passenger, the person who is supposed to be impressed: I think it works.
BUT-- the totality of the design has less surface interest and complexity, by far, than the 2007 Camry. Cadillac lost it when they tried to "de-Cadillac" and attempted to look European. Put back the showy opulence, guys, and you will have real Cadillacs.
(PS--don't worry if the cars are too big for Europe. You probably sold more 1959s there than 2006s, but the point is being right as a leader in THIS market.)
walter morris @ Nov 29th 2006 6:24AM
Realy great Cadillac after Fleetwood. This is superb car and knockout germans. The best car in the world!
tony ferro @ Dec 19th 2006 5:53PM
I am a Private Chauffeur in California and my Company recently had a Cadillac DTS stretched 6" by Accubuilt. They call it a DES. Because it was built on a Limousine chassis, it is one rough riding sedan and Cadillac can't seem to change the suspension to make her ride smoother. I wish I had known about this DTS-L a couple of months earlier. I think this Cad will do fine in the Livery Industry as long as they did not mess with the suspension and can't wait to view it in person at the LCT Show in Las Vegas in Late January. I definetly miss the smooth riding Cadillacs of the 80's.
Barry Beall @ Dec 26th 2006 4:25PM
I'm looking to replace my 2005 livery deville, looks like I just found the replacement. Those in the industry know the Cadillac (i love mine) it is a smoother ride than the towncar, and much classier looking. Clients love the Cadillac
bob brown @ Dec 27th 2006 10:13PM
This is an interesting development from Cadillac. Reminds me of the stretched fwd "Sixty Special" they did in the late '80s, when they realized the newly downsized DeVilles and Fleetwoods of 1985 were shrunk too far. Back then, the rwd Brougham was still available also.
I wonder if the livery owners will accept fwd?
Why doesn't Cadillac just bring back the Fleetwood rwd, and even a Fleetwood 75 factory limo, jump seats and all!?
aarmed @ Dec 28th 2006 5:07PM
You know what? I think DTS-L is the best designed car for our industry comparing with 300C and town car L. 300C made for kids to learn driving with 24" rims, lambo doors, and a bentley grill... Town Car is for grandpa's to drive around grandma's... DTS-L .. I can see elegant driver waiting for a CEO or a President.
Jeff @ Feb 10th 2007 5:22AM
Hmmm, I think Cadillac missed something. Being the flagship nameplate for GM, you'd think they'd have spend the few extra engineering dollars to make a rear door body side moulding that stretched the length of the rear door?