CADILLAC SEVILLE (1979-85)

4-door 5-seater saloon.

All new front-drive Seville for 1980 just squeezes into this survey. A step forward in engineering but back in styling, for new car had razor-edge fastback like an updated R-type Bentley would have had. Now with shared 'corporate' perimeter chassis frame and all-independent suspension, exactly as Eldorado/Riviera/Toronado of the same period. In theory, diesel engine was standard, which certainly explains sales drop (halved 1979-81) and rash of optional petrol units (V6s later) which followed. Petrol-engined version had 145bhp and 110mph top whack - speed with elegance. Whoever would have thought that from Cadillac.