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Cadillac. The very name conjures images of wealth and luxury, and it has done so
since its first car rolled out the door in 1902.
Formed from the remains of the Ford Motor Company after Henry Ford and his
partners left, Cadillac quickly became known for precision engineering and
quality of production. It is said that their inaugural automobile was
essentially identical to Ford's 1903 Model A, but when it was shown in New York
the quality impressed people so much that 2000 firm orders were taken.
The tradition of excellence and engineering innovation continued as Cadillac
grew up. In 1908, they pioneered the manufacturing of truly interchangeable
parts. In 1910, they became the first car maker to release cars with a standard
fully-enclosed cab. In 1912 strategic engine starting and lighting was added to
their list of automotive achievements.
More recently, Cadillac's additions to auto making include the introduction of
wishbone front suspension (1934), and tailfins (1948). Its fiber-optic
indication system which alerted the driver of a failed light bulb, has been
offered since the late 1960s.
Today Cadillac pursues new designs, embracing an "art and science" philosophy,
and eschewing the release of retro-designs (like Ford's Thunderbird and VW's New
Beetle) despite their long history in the industry. While they are still known
for making LARGE cars, they did, in fact, attempt to sell smaller coupes and
sedans, but such sales have been sluggish. Instead, it is their luxury SUV the
Escalade, which caught the attention of rapper Jay-Z, among others, which is
leading Cadillac into the 21st century, and introducing the brand to the younger
generation.
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