NAIAS Highlights: Concepts
Cadillac crosses over with Vizon
Cadillac's Vizon is meant to fill the gap between sport utility vehicles and sport/performance wagons. According to Tom Kearns, Brand Character Chief Designer for Cadillac, "It's an alternative to a sport utility vehicle with a more car-like driving experience." The unibody Vizon fits in the middle of the current luxury performance-wagon segment with a 3050-mm (120-in) wheelbase and an overall length of 4830 mm (190 in).
When the engine is started, gills open on the vehicle's sides and the two-piece sunroof slides back. Power comes from a 4.2-L Northstar V8 producing 224 kW (300 hp) and 408 N•m (300 lb•ft). It is connected to a shift-by-wire five-speed automatic transmission and is all-wheel drive linked, for the first time, with a StabiliTrak vehicle-dynamic-control system. Suspension is by a short- and long-arm arrangement in front and multiple links in the rear, and its height can be adjusted for different road and load conditions. The vehicle's cruise control system monitors traffic ahead and automatically adjusts vehicle speed to maintain a safe following distance. Safety is enhanced with night vision, xenon front lighting projected through Fresnel lenses, and rearview video systems.
The Vizon's four-passenger interior features leather seating with integrated heating and cooling. The center console extends the length of the interior, forming a long box for skis and other cargo. It also supports the front seating, eliminating rails from the floor under the seats. An electronically operated liftgate opens to reveal a rear storage area with a load floor that lifts to form a shelf or reveal more storage underneath. The large power sunroof opens two ways: the front portion of the panel can be angled upward for venting, while the larger rear panel retracts into the roof.
Infotainment features include a DVD player and a built-in video screen for rear passengers. As the driver approaches the vehicle, a system called EZ Key identifies the owner through a chip embedded in the key fob; the car unlocks itself and sets seating and mirrors to the driver's position. As the engine starts, a sliding IP cover opens to reveal a reconfigurable three-panel instrument display. The vehicle's OnStar Virtual Advisor offers turn-by-turn navigation through a satellite speaker phone.
- Kevin Jost
