Cadillac Cimarron
Manufacturer	General Motors
Production	1982–1988
Assembly	Janesville, Wisconsin
Class	Compact
Body style(s)	4-door sedan
Platform	FF J-body
Engine(s)	1.8 L OHV I4 2.0 L OHV I4 2.8 L 60° V6
Related	Buick Skyhawk Chevrolet Cavalier Oldsmobile Firenza Pontiac J2000 Pontiac 2000 Pontiac Sunbird

The Cadillac Cimarron was a compact car built by Cadillac based on the GM J platform. It was first introduced in 1981 for the 1982 model year, and sold through 1988. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Automakers, also known as carmakers, automobile manufacturers, motor manufacturers, or the automobile industry are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ... General Motors Corporation, also known as GM or The General, an American multinational conglomerate corporation, is the worlds largest auto company by annual production volume for 2006, and the second largest by sales volume as of the first half of 2007, behind Toyota Motor Corporation. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Downtown Janesville looking south on Main Street (2004) Janesville is a city in southern Wisconsin. ... Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories. ... The Rambler American introduced in the late 1950s was an early compact car. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... A notchback full-size luxury sedan. ... An automobile platform is a shared set of components common to a number of different automobiles. ... Sketch of FF layout In automotive design, a FF, or Front-engine, Front-wheel drive layout places both the engine and driven wheels at the front of the vehicle. ... The J platform, or J-body, was General Motors inexpensive front wheel drive automobile platform from the 1980s and 1990s. ... General Motors produced a plain pushrod ( OHV) straight-4 engine for the J-body compact cars and S-series trucks. ... The straight-4 or inline-4 is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders aligned in one row. ... General Motors produced a plain pushrod ( OHV) straight-4 engine for the J-body compact cars and S-series trucks. ... The straight-4 or inline-4 is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders aligned in one row. ... The General Motors 60° V6 family of engines began with the 1980 Chevrolet 2. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... There have been two small cars from Buick called the SkyHawk or Skyhawk: 1975-1980 RWD Chevrolet Monza clone (H-body) 1982-1989 FWD Chevrolet Cavalier clone (J-body) Categories: Buick vehicles | Front wheel drive vehicles | Rear wheel drive vehicles ... The Chevrolet Cavalier was Chevrolets version of the compact GM J platform. ... The Oldsmobile Firenza was produced from 1982-1988. ... There have been two different vehicles bearing the name, Pontiac Sunbird. ... There have been two different vehicles bearing the name, Pontiac Sunbird. ... There have been two different vehicles bearing the name Pontiac Sunbird. ... The Rambler American introduced in the late 1950s was an early compact car. ... For other uses, see Cadillac (disambiguation). ... The J platform, or J-body, was General Motors inexpensive front wheel drive automobile platform from the 1980s and 1990s. ...

The Cimarron was one of Cadillac's least successful models, its noticeable economy car roots were seen by many automotive writers and critics as doing much to tarnish Cadillac's prestige image. According to Car and Driver, current Cadillac product director John Howell has a picture of the Cimarron on his wall captioned, "Lest we forget."[1] Cover of Car and Driver from age of psychedelic lettering Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. ...

History

Cadillac's first foray into smaller cars, the 1975 Cadillac Seville, intended to answer the sales threat from Mercedes-Benz luxury cars, was a relative success, but the political and economic climate of the 1980s suggested a need for something smaller. A crucial factor was the advent of CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) requirements from the U.S. federal government, which severely penalized automakers if their fleet average fuel economy dropped below the minimum. Another was the success of imported compacts from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi. Although Cadillac had intended to introduce the Cimarron later in the 1980s, it was rushed into production early. The result was the smallest and, in many opinions, least-distinguished Cadillac model produced to date. The Cadillac Seville was a luxury car manufactured by the Cadillac division of American automaker General Motors. ... This page is about the Mercedes-Benz brand of automobiles and trucks from the DaimlerChrysler automobile manufacturer. ... The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations in the United States, first enacted by Congress in 1975,[1] are federal regulations intended to improve the average fuel economy of cars and light trucks (trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles) sold in the US in the wake of the 1973 Arab... For other uses, see BMW (disambiguation). ... This page is about the Mercedes-Benz brand of automobiles and trucks from the DaimlerChrysler automobile manufacturer. ... Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer with headquarters in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, and has been an almost wholly owned (99. ...

GM had just introduced the J platform, an economy car platform shared across all passenger-car divisions. Each rode the same 101.2 in (2,570 mm) wheelbase and had the same basic MacPherson strut front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension, and all shared the same engines. The cars were mostly identical, however differed largely in styling details, features, and price. The basic body/frame structure used a unibody with a front subframe that carried the lower front suspension, engine, and transmission. This was refined for the Cimarron with the addition of hydraulic dampers between the subframe and the body in the interest of improving the ride and handling of the vehicle. General Motors Corporation, also known as GM or The General, an American multinational conglomerate corporation, is the worlds largest auto company by annual production volume for 2006, and the second largest by sales volume as of the first half of 2007, behind Toyota Motor Corporation. ... The J platform, or J-body, was General Motors inexpensive front wheel drive automobile platform from the 1980s and 1990s. ... An economy car is an automobile that is designed for low cost operation. ... A simple MacPherson strut suspension on the left front wheel of a rear-wheel drive vehicle. ... The front suspension components of a Ford Model T. Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. ... Torsion beam suspension, also known as a torsion bar, is a vehicle suspension system. ...

Pete Estes, GM's president at the time, warned Ed Kennard, Cadillac's general manager that "Ed, you don't have time to turn the J-car into a Cadillac." [2] Elliot M. Estes Elliot Marantette Pete Estes (January 7, 1916 - March 24, 1988) was the fifteenth president of General Motors, from 1974 to 1981. ...

The Cimarron, introduced on May 21, 1981, was initially advertised as "Cimarron, by Cadillac."

The new compact Cadillac had the unconventionalI4 engine (the first 4-cylinder Cadillac since 1914) and a four-speed manual transmission (Cadillac's first manual since 1953), with a three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic optional. Power steering and air conditioning were standard. The high level of standard equipment pushed base price to US$12,181, nearly double that of its J-body siblings. The straight-4 or inline-4 is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders aligned in one row. ... For other uses, see Cadillac (disambiguation). ... Year 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... Turbo-Hydramatic is the registered tradename of an automatic transmission developed and produced by General Motors. ... Power steering is a system for reducing the steering effort on cars by using an external power source to assist in turning the wheels. ... Note: in the broadest sense, air conditioning can refer to any form of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ...

While some motoring press critics had high praise for the car, it was coolly received by Cadillac buyers, and first-year sales were only 25,968, about a third what Cadillac anticipated. The Cimarron's compact dimensions did not appeal to traditional Cadillac buyers, and its humble origins did little to appeal to the buyers of high-priced imports. Consumers also thought it was absurd to pay twice as much for what essentially was a well-equipped Chevrolet Cavalier with Cadillac emblems, and thought General Motors should have developed a compact model specifically for Cadillac. Even though interior fabrics and craftsmanship were top notch, the Cimarron was further criticized for its standard four-cylinder engine (though a V6 engine arrived in 1985 and became standard in 1987). Critics derisively referred to it as the "Cadvalier". The Chevrolet Cavalier was Chevrolets version of the compact GM J platform. ...

Even though the Cimarron had grown comparatively more refined by the end of its production run with more Cadillac-like styling to further distinguish it from other J-cars, buyers stayed away, and the car was discontinued after 1988 with a production run that year of only 6,454 units. The Cimarron's failure was part of a series of events that drove the division close to bankruptcy in the 1980s, and Cadillac had little more luck with its next effort at a rebadged smaller car, the Catera. Notice of closure stuck on the door of a computer store the day after its parent company, Granville Technology Group Ltd, declared bankruptcy (strictly, put into administration—see text) in the United Kingdom. ... Badge engineering is a term that describes the rebadging of one model of car as another. ... Pre-facelift Catera The Cadillac Catera was a mid-sized automobile that was largely a rebadged version of the Opel Omega MV6 made in Rüsselsheim, Germany. ...

For other uses, see Cadillac (disambiguation). ... General Motors Corporation, also known as GM or The General, an American multinational conglomerate corporation, is the worlds largest auto company by annual production volume for 2006, and the second largest by sales volume as of the first half of 2007, behind Toyota Motor Corporation. ... A 2002 Lincoln Town Car, an example of a flagship luxury sedan A luxury vehicle is a vehicle which provides a great abundance of ease and comfort. ... The Cadillac BLS is a compact executive car designed specifically for the European market by the Cadillac marque of General Motors. ... Pre-facelift Catera The Cadillac Catera was a mid-sized automobile that was largely a rebadged version of the Opel Omega MV6 made in Rüsselsheim, Germany. ... The CTS (Catera Touring Sedan) [1] is a mid size entry level Luxury car made by General Motors for the Cadillac brand. ... The CTS (Catera Touring Sedan) [1] is a mid size entry level Luxury car made by General Motors for the Cadillac brand. ... A mid-size car, frequently referred to as an intermediate, is an automobile with a size between that of a compact and a full-size or standard-size car. ... The Cadillac Seville was a luxury car manufactured by the Cadillac division of American automaker General Motors. ... The Cadillac Seville was a luxury car manufactured by the Cadillac division of American automaker General Motors. ... The Cadillac Seville was a luxury car manufactured by the Cadillac division of American automaker General Motors. ... The Cadillac Seville was a luxury car manufactured by the Cadillac division of American automaker General Motors. ... The STS (Seville Touring Sedan) is a luxury car sold by Cadillac. ... 2001 BMW 750iL The Ford Falcon, a popular Australian full-size car A full-size car is a marketing term used in North America for an automobile larger than a mid-size car. ... It has been suggested that Cadillac Coupe DeVille be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Cadillac Coupe DeVille be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Cadillac Coupe DeVille be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Cadillac Coupe DeVille be merged into this article or section. ... The Cadillac DTS (DeVille Touring Sedan) replaces the Cadillac DeVille as that carmakers largest luxury car for the 2006 model year. ... The Fleetwood name was used on the top of the Cadillac line since 1927. ... The Fleetwood name was used on the top of the Cadillac line since 1927. ... The Fleetwood name was used on the top of the Cadillac line since 1927. ... The Cadillac Brougham was the last rear wheel drive Cadillac in the 1990s. ... The Eldorado model was part of the Cadillac line from 1953 to 2002. ... The Eldorado model was part of the Cadillac line from 1953 to 2002. ... The Eldorado model was part of the Cadillac line from 1953 to 2002. ... A crossover SUV (also called CUV for Crossover Utility Vehicle) or XUV (not to be confused with GMCs Envoy XUV) is an automobile with a sport utility vehicle appearance but is built upon a more economical and fuel-efficient unibody construction. ... The Cadillac SRX is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV produced by the Cadillac division of American automaker General Motors since the 2004 model year. ... This article or section may be confusing or unclear for some readers, and should be edited to rectify this. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 1950 Jaguar XK120 roadster This article is about the car body style. ... The Cadillac Allanté was Cadillacs first venture into the luxury roadster market and was sold from 1987 through 1993. ... XLR shown with the top up The XLR is a luxury roadster sold by the Cadillac division of General Motors and is assembled in Bowling Green, Kentucky. ...

External links

• 1988 Cadillac Cimarron review on Epinions.com
• Derek Kreindler's Autoblog article on the Cimarron