|
SLAM! Sports SLAM! Motorsports [an error occurred while processing this directive] COLUMNS INTERACTIVE CART SERIES [an error occurred while processing this directive] FORMULA ONE WINSTON CUP BUSCH SERIES SUPER TRUCKS IRL NHRA ALSO ON SLAM! |
AUTO RACING NOTEWednesday, December 1, 10:30 AM
(Courtesy PR Newswire - 201-946-5591)
#Cadillac Announces STS Cunningham Edition#
-------------------------------------------
DETROIT, Dec. 1/PRNewswire/ -- Commemorating the Cadillacs entered in the
1950 24 Hours of Le Mans race by legendary racer Briggs Cunningham, Cadillac
announced that its special edition STS that is to Pace the 24 Hours of Le Mans
next June will be named the STS Cunningham Edition.
"Cadillac's return to Le Mans opened a door of communication between
The Cunningham Company and Cadillac last spring," said John F. Smith, GM vice
president and Cadillac general manager. "We felt commemorating the Briggs
Cunningham Cadillacs of 1950 was a natural fit for our pace car program."
The ultra-high performance Seville STS pace car was initially revealed at
the Frankfurt Motor Show last September. Cadillac has agreed to the pace car
association for the 24 hour race and will be providing The Cunningham Company
a STS project vehicle for evaluation in the coming months.
The STS Cunningham Edition is conceived in the same spirit of the original
Cunningham 1949 DeVille that competed in 1950 as a near-stock vehicle.
Powered by Cadillac's 331 CID V-8, the Cunningham DeVille finished a highly
respectable 10th overall in the race.
The STS Cunningham Edition further improves on the extensive enhancements
Cadillac made to the STS for the 2000 model year, particularly in the areas of
powertrain, chassis control and occupant safety.
While Cunningham and Cadillac are still evaluating additional
modifications to the vehicle the initial features include:
* 320-horsepower rating -- 20 more than the production STS Northstar V8
* Enhanced StabiliTrak(R) 2.0 chassis control system specially adapted
for the high-speed, all-weather conditions of Le Mans
* High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights
* Night Vision technology
* Performance seating with improved lateral support and Cervigard(TM)
anti-whiplash head restraint and seat system
* 18-inch open-spoke, cast aluminum wheels mated to Goodyear Eagle F1 GS
Z-rated P275/40ZR-18 tires
* Larger brakes with oversized rotors, pistons and calipers
* Modified version of the European-configured STS front fascia to
increase airflow and improve aerodynamics
* "Argentinium" silver exterior paint first used on Cadillac's Evoq
roadster concept vehicle
The world-renowned Northstar V8 is the heart of the 2000 STS in both
street and STS Cunningham Edition trim. The STS Cunningham Edition boasts 320
horsepower -- 20 more than the already impressive 300-hp rating carried by the
standard STS. The extra performance is achieved through a combination of
reduced inlet restriction, lower exhaust back-pressure and blue printing of
the ports.
All Northstar engines in 2000 feature an all-new cylinder head design, new
intake manifolds, coil-on-plug ignition and roller cam followers to reduce
friction. In fact, virtually every engine component was changed or updated,
including the pistons, valves, connecting rods and cam shafts. The result is
significantly lower emissions, quiet operation and improved fuel economy on
regular (87 octane) unleaded fuel -- attributes important to the European
luxury car market.
Recognized as one of the most sophisticated integrated chassis control
systems in the world, every 2000 STS -- including the STS Cunningham Edition
-- is equipped with a new version of Cadillac's StabiliTrak(R) as standard
equipment. Referred to as StabiliTrak 2.0, the system now includes side slip-
rate control and active steering effort.
The STS Cunningham Edition features additional software modifications to
provide peak performance during the varied weather conditions and sustained
high speeds encountered during the race. The additional software control
systems are being demonstrated on the STS Cunningham Edition as part of a
production validation program.
In addition to StabiliTrak 2.0, both the production STS and STS Cunningham
Edition are equipped with three significant enhancements to the Continuously
Variable Road-Sensing System or CVRSS. The improvements include transient
roll control, lateral support and stability control iteration.
STS Cunningham Edition safety innovations making their debut on current or
future production STS vehicles include a sophisticated air bag suppression
system, Night Vision, High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting and
Cervigard(TM), an anti-whiplash head restraint and seat system.
To assist the pace car drivers in the dark hours at Le Mans, Cadillac has
added HID headlights (equipment slated for the 2001 STS) and adapted its Night
Vision technology for use on the STS Cunningham Edition.
The STS Cunningham Edition is also equipped with a bolstered driver's seat
for added lateral support during high-speed driving and an anti-whiplash head
restraint and seat system, Cervigard(TM). The latter is designed to
ergonomically support the head, neck and spinal curves while preventing
excessive head and neck movement through controlled damping of the forces
incurred during whiplash.
Adding to the performance look and feel of the STS Cunningham Edition are
specific 18-inch cast aluminum wheels mated to Goodyear P275/40ZR-18 Eagle F1
GS tires, as well as larger brakes with oversized rotors, pistons and
calipers.
The STS Cunningham Edition features a modified version of the European-
configured front fascia to improve airflow to the engine and brakes as well as
the overall vehicle aerodynamics.
The STS Cunningham Edition is dressed in "Argentinium" silver paint in
keeping with Cadillac's critically acclaimed Evoq concept roadster unveiled at
the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last January and the Le
Mans prototype racecar or LMP.
In June, Cadillac announced its return to race at Le Mans after a 50-year
hiatus and unveiled the LMP prototype racecar. World-renowned race vehicle
builders Riley and Scott are currently developing the actual Cadillac racecar
powered by Cadillac's Northstar V8.
CONTACT: Cadillac Communications, 800-760-4078, 313-667-5774,
or fax, 313-667-6001
Web site: http://media.gm.com/cadillac
st 12-01-99 10:25 et
|