This imposing coupe is the Cadillac Elmiraj concept. Designed as an American take on the Mercedes S-class coupe format, the Elmiraj stands 5.2m long and seats four passengers in an opulent cabin.
The car also sports Cadillac’s new ‘V Sport’ moniker, which will feature across the Cadillac range soon, copying the success of BMW’s M Sport models, and Audi S-line cars.
>> Click here for CAR’s A-Z guide to the 2013 Frankfurt motor show
Tell me more about the Cadillac Elmiraj
Beneath that long bonnet is a 4.5-litre V8 boosted by twin turbochargers, developing 493bhp and 500lb ft. It’s essentially the 2014 Cadillac CTS V Sport’s twin-turbo V6 motor, with an extra couple of cylinders strapped on for good measure. The Elmiraj is rear-wheel drive – those wheels in question being 22in in diameter, and hauled to a halt by carbon-ceramic brakes.
Compared to would-be rivals like the Mercedes CL63 AMG and Bentley Continental V8, the Elmiraj is impressively light, at 1814kg. By comparison, the outgoing Benz coupe weighs a portly 2018kg.
What’s it like inside?
Minimalist in design, ambitious in technology, and swathed in the finest materials – like any concept car worth its salt. The Elmiraj is upholstered in camel-skin leather, and its cockpit is trimmed in solid titanium and Brazilian Rosewood, more often found in orchestral string instruments. There’s also a 10in infotainment screen, which can be concealed inside the instrument panel when not in use.
Seen it all before?
Cadillac has a habit of not putting its mouth-wateringly extravagant concepts into production. The Cadillac Sixteen unveiled in 2003 met with widespread approval for reviving the Cadillac brand image, and its insane 13.6-litre, 1000bhp V16 engine. However, it missed the cut for production, like the Cien supercar, and the Ciel convertible first shown in 2011.
What is certain is that Elmiraj-derived styling elements, like the slimline LED headlights, crisp body creases and that V Sport designation, will all be incorporated into Cadillac’s future showroom models.
What else will Cadillac display at the Frankfurt motor show?
The all-new CTS will be on display, hoping to draw eyes away from the Audi, BMW and Mercedes executive saloons also present – including the facelifted 5-series and updated E-class.
Another European debutant is the ELR coupe – a Caddy concept car which did escape the accountant’s axe. The ELR is a plug-in range-extender vehicle, which uses the same drivetrain as the Chevrolet Volt and Vauxhall Ampera. The car can cover 35 miles on battery power alone, and has a limited top speed of 100mph.
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