Cadillac was formed in 1902 by Henry Leland, an engineer who named his new company after a French explorer who founded Detroit. A former gunsmith, Leland understood precision craftsmanship. That dedication to quality earned Cadillac a reputation for excellence and sparked the "Standard of the World" ad slogan that would define the brand. Cadillac was indeed the standard of the world through the 1960s, but its reputation diminished in the latter part of the 20th century. A product renaissance that started in the early 2000s continues to this day, and Cadillac's current models once again rank among the world's best.

1915 Cadillac



Cadillac wasn't the first automaker to offer a V8 engine, but it was the first to offer a reliable and commercially successful one. At a time when straight-6 engines were just starting to take hold, Cadillac skipped the six altogether and built a 90-degree flathead V8 that put out 70 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. Cars so equipped could cruise at 65 mph, but few roads of the day could accommodate those speeds. Cadillac offered the engine in 10 body styles; prices ranged from $1,975 to $3,600.

1930 V16 sedan




The timing of Cadillac's regal V16, or Sixteen, couldn't have been worse. Introduced as the Great Depression began, the Sixteen was intended to bring Cadillac to the very top of the market. Its 452-cubic-inch V16 engine churned out 165 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque, allowing the car to cruise at speeds up to 90 mph — quite a feat for the time. The Sixteen was available in as many as 33 variants during its eight-year run, and Cadillac offered a V16 engine through 1940. The cars were long, heavy and elegant at a time when austerity was more appropriate. Not surprisingly, the Sixteen sold in limited numbers.

1938 Series 60 Special sedan




Penned by a young William Mitchell, who would later create the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, the 1938 Cadillac Series 60 Special's design was predictive of things to come. Its square-back roof and fenders, chrome side windows and concealed running boards were revolutionary, and they would influence the design of many cars in the coming years. Offered only as a $2,090 4-door sedan, it was more expensive than all Series 60 iterations but the convertible sedan. Power came from a 352-cubic-inch 135-horsepower V8 engine. Production was modest at under 4,000 units that first year, but the 60 Special continued in the lineup until 1974.

1949 Series 62 Coupe DeVille




It took Detroit automakers a while to retool after World War II, and Cadillac came back with a bang. Cadillac redesigned its lineup in 1948, giving the cars modern envelope bodies with airplane-inspired tailfins, and the '49 models featured a new high-compression overhead-valve 331-cubic-inch V8 engine that spun out an impressive 160 horsepower. Also new for '49 was the sexy Series 62 Coupe DeVille. The hardtop design was meant to look like a convertible with the top up while keeping out the elements. Together with Buick and Oldsmobile, Cadillac kicked off the stylish hardtop segment that would become the rage in Detroit during the 1950s.

1957 Series 70 Eldorado Brougham




Cadillac showed the Eldorado Brougham concept at the 1955 Motorama, and it became reality as the country's most expensive car for the '57 model year. This hardtop sedan sported a distinct dip in the beltline, sharply pointed fins, rear-hinged rear doors, and its most distinguishing feature: a brushed stainless steel roof. The car was priced at a kingly $13,074 at a time when the average car sold for $2,749 and the average American pulled in $4,230 per year. An air suspension borrowed from commercial vehicles helped provide a glassy ride, though it proved troublesome. A total of 400 were mostly hand-built for 1957.

1959 Eldorado Biarritz convertible




No car signifies the design excesses of the 1950s more than the 1959 Cadillac. Cadillacs grew nine inches that year, making them a nightmare to park. They were festooned with the most garish of tailfins and covered in blinding chrome, and their 390-cubic-inch V8 engine was punched to 325 horsepower (345 for Eldorados), giving them massive power. They were certainly appealing, however. All of the '59s were brashly styled, but the Eldorado Biarritz convertible represented the height of excess with its $7,401 price tag and convertible ragtop that could be dropped to reveal the owner of this conspicuous ride.

1967 Eldorado



The Eldorado had always been an attractive car and a style leader, but it never sold well. For 1967 it became a technological marvel and, more importantly, a successful seller. A hardtop coupe, the Eldorado was thoroughly modern, with beautiful razor-edge styling and a front-wheel-drive architecture taken from the previous year's Oldsmobile Toronado. The car drove well, too, even though its 429-cubic-inch V8 engine sent 340 horsepower through the front wheels. Priced at $6,277, the Eldorado attracted 17,930 customers in its first year.

1999 Escalade




For better or worse, Cadillac changed the face of American luxury with the release of the 1999 Escalade SUV. A gilded version of the already luxurious GMC Yukon Denali, the Escalade caught on as the vehicle of choice for rappers, athletes and Hollywood stars, making Cadillac cool again. It was a sales success, too, and led to the Escalade ESV — a version of the Chevrolet Suburban — and the Escalade EXT, a version of the Chevy Avalanche. With its massive footprint and big V8 power, the Escalade came to represent America's infatuation with excess; tellingly, sales declined rapidly during the Great Recession.

Cadillac Sixteen concept




Cadillac has teased the idea of a high-priced line-topping model several times, not the least of which was the Sixteen concept shown at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The exterior and interior designs were inspired by the classic Sixteens of the 1930s, as was the engine. Cadillac actually built a 13.6-liter V16 engine for the car, producing a mind-blowing 1000 horsepower and 1000 lb-ft of torque. The engine contributes to the sedan's unique dimensions, which include a miles-long hood and a short rear deck. At the time, Cadillac hinted that the Sixteen concept might come to market as a niche model but, alas, it was not to be.

2003 CTS




Cadillac had tried to build a European-inspired, entry-luxury car before to no avail, but the CTS changed all that. The car made its debut for the 2003 model year, but it came into its own in 2004 when a 3.6-liter 255-horsepower V6 engine replaced the initial 3.2-liter 220-horsepower V6, giving the car power to match its accomplished platform. That platform was the new rear-drive Sigma architecture that provided handling to compete with the best from European. Sales have been strong ever since, and the CTS is credited with starting the product renaissance Cadillac enjoys today.

2009 CTS-V




Cadillac first offered a high-performance CTS-V in 2004, but the revived 2009 model was a better, more powerful car. A supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine increased horsepower from 450 to 556, giving the car a top speed of 191 mph and a zero-to-60-mph time of 4.1 seconds. Those numbers and track-ready handling made the car a viable competitor for the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. Like the mainstream version, the CTS-V also benefitted from a more attractive version of Cadillac's Art & Science design language, as well as improved interior materials

2013 ATS




The initial Cadillac CTS was priced to compete against the BMW 3-Series, but it was sized between the 3-Series and the larger 5-Series. For 2013, Cadillac introduced a car sized, priced and designed to compete directly with the 3-Series, long considered the best sport sedan in the world. Cadillac engineers kept weight to a minimum and developed the car on the famous Nurburgring road course in Germany. Those efforts paid off, making the ATS the best-handling compact sports sedan on the market. We like the 2.0-liter 259-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and the 3.6-liter 321-horse V6.

2014 CTS




If the ATS is a great sports sedan, the new CTS is even better. The third generation rides on a larger version of the rear-drive architecture from its smaller sibling and shares the same dedication to weight savings. As a result, it handles much like the ATS, making it the most agile midsize sports sedan in the world. The looks are drop-dead gorgeous, and the interior features high-quality materials and plenty of space for five passengers. The CTS offers the same turbocharged 4-cylinder and 3.6-liter V6 as the ATS, but our favorite engine is the CTS Vsport's twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter 420-horsepower V6.

Elmiraj concept




Cadillac unveiled the Elmiraj concept at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance as a possible grand tourer to top the Cadillac lineup. The car — which Cadillac calls a grand coupe — combines power and beauty, with a twin-turbocharged 4.5-liter 500-horsepower V8 engine under the domed hood and sleek styling that certainly predicts the future of Cadillac's Art & Science design language. We hope Cadillac brings the Elmiraj to market as a competitor for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series. The stretched profile could accommodate a 4-door version as well — perhaps with rear-hinged rear doors, a la the 1957 Eldorado Brougham.