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THE FOLKS at Cadillac must’ve gone to a shrink. They’ve got a newsense of pride, a better self-image. It shows.

Look at the 1988 Cadillac Eldorado. It’s more of what an Eldoradoshould be: sexy, sassy, extravagantly urban.

That’s “urban,” not “urbane.” Urbane is the mistake Cadillac madewith its 1987 “Euro-style” Eldo. Personally, I had no problems with lastyear’s car, but the thing didn’t sell well. I think I know why.

The first Eldo hit the streets in 1967 as a flippant response to theweighty and elongated stuffiness that marked most Cadillacs. At 4,758pounds and 221 inches, the ’67 Eldo was no lightweight either, but itdid have flair.

Folks would dress up to get into that old Eldo. And I’m not talkingabout off-the-rack suits. They’d put on fancy colors and fabrics; andthey’d wear feathers, leather and hats. Getting ready to get there in anEldo was an event itself. Arriving was climactic, especially if lotsapeople were standing around when you pulled up. But somebody at Cadillacgot the goofy idea that the Eldo was too showy, too de’classe’. The carwouldn’t play at the racquet club.

Enter the dechromed, rounded, non-flashy, 1987 mock-Euro Eldo. Theidea was to appeal to yuppies. It was a bust. A double bust, in fact,because Cadillac offended traditional-Eldo buyers in the process.

But the 1988 model — 3,358 lbs., 191.2 inches — should helpmake amends. With its higher, more-pronounced fender lines and itsuplifted rear, it’s a truly hip piece of work. And that peaked enginehood is a nice touch, too.

There are more substantial changes: The new 4.5-liter V-8 engine isan example.

But “substantial” is meaningless if no one comes in to look at thecar.

People will come in for this one.

Complaints: None.

Praise: Styling. General Motors’ Cadillac division gets kudos forchanging the sheetmetal on the Eldorado in record time — in one yearversus the usual two-and-a-half. If the test car is representative, thedivision seems to have done the trick without dropping a screw.

Ride, acceleration and handling: The new fuel-injected 4.5-liter V-8is a welcome improvement over the 4.1-liter version it replaces. Poweris up — 150 hp at 4000 rpm. Acceleration is smoother. The car’s4-speed automatic transaxle changes gears, even in low-speed traffic andat high elevations, without a hitch.

Ride and handling are excellent. So is braking, thanks to theoptional Teves anti-lock braking system in the test model. I enjoyedbeing in this car.

Head-turning quotient: Funky elegance. An urban American statement.

Sound system: AM/FM electronic stereo radio and cassette, sixspeakers, by GM/Delco/Bose. Superb.

Mileage: About 24 to the gallon (18.8- gallon tank, estimated440-mile usable volume), all highway (in Quebec), driver only, usingheater part of the time.

Price: $28,048, including $2,632 in options, such as the anti-lockbraking system and $525 in transportation costs. Bas e price is $24,891.Estimated dealer’s invoice price on tested model (excludingtransportation costs) is $23,394.

RECALL: A recent column on the 1988 Ford Festiva minicar. No suchthing as a five-speed automatic transaxle. I meant five-speed manual.