To beat the European premium carmakers, Cadillac introduced a completely new Seville in 1992 and built it in the European style.
Long, sleek, and with a sportier look, the 1992 Seville was a far departure from its regular design language. The transition to the front-wheel-drive system was a process that Cadillac didn't master yet, but that didn't make them abandon the idea.
From the exterior, the Seville sported the same flat, vertical grille but dressed in body color instead of chrome, although that was an option for those who liked it the old-fashioned way. The cab-forward design was amplified by the very sloped rear windscreen and the long-wheelbase from its sides. Cadillac installed an LED strip across the entire trunk lid as a third brake light in the rear.
Inside, the transverse, front-mounted engine left room for a roomier interior. At the front, the bucket seats were available with power adjustments and leather upholstery. The carmaker moved the steering-column shifter on the center console in the European and Japanese style. Cadillac redesigned the dashboard, which featured a unitary design and an instrument cluster extended over the center stack. The on-board computer buttons and climate controls flanked the instrument panel. In the rear, the bench was profiled for two passengers and offered plenty of legroom and headroom.
Under the hood, GM installed the old 4.9-liter V-8 push-rod. Later on, it introduced the Northstar V-8 unit with over-head camshafts. For the transmission, the Seville featured a standard four-speed automatic. To stop the heavy sedan, the car featured disc-brakes in all corners. Unfortunately, the car had a very heavy nose, and that led to longer stopping distances.