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The redesigned 2000 DeVille is a window into the future of Cadillac.

Through its styling, with sharp edges, vertically stacked headlights and a dearth of chrome flourishes, you can see hints of the Evoq-oriented “Cadillac style” that will permeate the product line as the division fishes for new customers in the pond of youth. Evoq is the two-seat concept roadster that has made the rounds of auto shows this year.

Through its use of Night Vision infrared technology, vehicle stability control, road-sensing adjustable suspension and ultrasonic rear parking sensors, you can see that Cadillac is, and will continue to be, General Motors’ high-tech division.

Riding on GM’s G platform, a basic chassis which is under the Seville, Oldsmobile Aurora and Buick Park Avenue, the new DeVille has a wheelbase that has grown from 113.8 to 115.4 inches. It is 2 inches narrower and 3 inches shorter, too.

It comes in three models: DeVille, DeVille High Luxury Sedan (DHS) and DeVille Touring Sedan (DTS). Prices start at $40,170 for the DeVille and $45,370 for the DHS and DTS.

Under the hood sits the 4.6-liter Northstar V8. Horsepower is 275, except for the sportier DTS, which has 300. This robust engine is a jewel. It lunges into action at the slightest prod, and it snarls its way up to speed with a wail that sounds as if a Corvette is being held prisoner under its hood. As much as I liked it, I couldn’t help thinking that the sharp-edged exhaust note might strike a sour note with drivers who are expecting a car oriented more toward luxury than sport. Unlike other Northstar engines I have sampled, the one in our test car, which came from Cadillac’s press fleet, seemed to have somewhat greater mechanical noise than usual.

Cranking 300 horsepower through the front wheels can be a bit of a challenge, and at full throttle they pawed slightly from side to side.

The DeVille’s styling is bound to be a conversation point because its bold, vertically stacked headlights create a slightly bug-eyed face unlike anything else in the model line. Its profile shows a family resemblance to the Seville, but its sides are flatter and have less sculpting. The styling seemed less unusual after a few days, but traditional Cadillac buyers may find it a little much.

Inside, this iteration of the DeVille is vastly superior to its predecessors. The DTS has an analog-style instrument package that rivals Lexus for clarity and style. Secondary controls for radio and climate control are wide, flat buttons, again like those in a Lexus, and they are simple to decipher and easy to use. If only all GM cars could have radios that are this well designed. The sound quality of our test car’s Bose stereo was top-notch.

For those who want six-person seating, the DeVille and DHS can be equipped with a 40/20/40 bench front seat that has a fold-down center armrest. Seats in the DHS and DTS have 20 rollers in the lumbar section that gen tly massage your back for up to 10 minutes at the touch of a button.

The test car had an adaptive driver seat which uses sensors and 10 air cells to adjust the contour to your body’s shape.

The DTS has a suspension tuned for sporty handling, and accordingly the ride had a bit of a sharp edge to it. Lean it into a turn, however, and it tracks through admirably for such a large sedan. The StabiliTrak vehicle stability system helps counteract skidding by applying one brake at a time and reducing power if needed. StabiliTrak can rarely be invoked on dry pavement, but it would be most helpful in rain or snow.

Night Vision
This infrared imaging system, available as a $1,995 option on the DHS and DTS, really works. Before sampling it I was skeptical, but after I got used to the black-and-white negative image floating at the base of the windshield it was very helpful.

Night Vision brings Gulf War technology to the highway. A small camera, mounted in he center of the grille where you would normally find the Cadillac crest, uses thermal, or infrared, imaging to pick up the heat from objects and create a virtual image that looks like a black-and-white photographic negative.

This image is then projected onto the bottom of the windshield through a head-up display, with the result being an image that appears to float out about the end of the hood. Objects are the same size in the image as they are in the driver’s field of vision.

Driving through suburban neighborhoods at night, I could see people walking their dogs two blocks away, long before headlights ever illuminated them. Night Vision also allows the driver to “see” parked cars way down the road, or even people lurking in bushes.

At first, the system distracted me from watching the road, but I soon learned to use it only when I needed to see beyond the headlights. The way it revealed objects in the dark, I can imagine how useful it would be to police or emergency vehicles.

Other high-tech options include ultrasonic parking sensors in the back bumper which sound a warning you if you are about to back into something; OnStar, GM’s cell-phone-based communications service that helps with route information, can track the vehicle if stolen and automatically calls for help if the airbags deploy; and a CD-ROM-based navigation system. Can this DeVille challenge the best luxury cars from Europe and Japan? Yes. Does it feel as quiet, refined and solid? Not yet. But it is not far away.

Price
The base price of the DeVille Touring Sedan was $44,700. Night Vision, wood interior trim, six-disc CD player, front and rear airbags, ultra sonic parking assist, tilt steering wheel and a memory package brought the sticker price to $51,735.

Warranty
Four years or 50,000 miles.

To get in touch with Tom Strongman call (816) 234-4349 or e-mail: strongmn@kcstar.com.

Point: The redesigned DeVille boasts technical innovations on a par with the best in the luxury segment. The V8 is sweet, StabiliTrak is useful when things get slippery and Night Vision is spectacular, although at the risk of being somewhat distracting.

Counterpoint: Unusual styling may not suit traditional Cadillac buyers, the tight ride of the sporty DTS feels a bit edgy and full throttle results in mild torque steer as the front wheels fight for traction.

SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE: 4.6-liter, V8
TRANSMISSION: automatic
CONFIGURATION: front-wheel drive
WHEELBASE: 115.4 inches
CURB WEIGHT: 4,047 lbs.
BASE PRICE: $44,700
PRICE AS DRIVEN: $51,735
MPG RATING: 17 city, 28 hwy.