Editing Cadillac (section)

===Downsizings and new technology-assisted luxury features: 1977–1988===
{{more citations needed|section|date=December 2023}}

In 1977, Cadillac's D-bodies experienced the same "downsizing" as the rest of GM's "B" and "C" bodied cars. In 1977, [[General Motors|GM]] significantly downsized their full-sized cars. The Fleetwood Brougham lost its exclusive longer wheelbase and now rode on the same new shorter 121.5" wheelbase as the [[Cadillac DeVille|DeVille]]. Both Fleetwood and DeVille models were powered by the {{convert|425|cuin|L|1|abbr=on}} V8s. This engine was basically a de-bored version of the 472/500 (7.9&nbsp;L/8.2&nbsp;L) V8 of previous years.

1977 was Cadillac's 75th anniversary and saw the introduction of the downsized DeVille coupes and sedans. The redesigned Fleetwood Brougham was now similar in appearance to the lesser Sedan de Ville. Other than the name, there were only subtle exterior differences between a Fleetwood Brougham and Sedan de Ville. The interior of the Fleetwood was plusher and offered more features as standard. These new cars featured a higher roofline, resulting in a vehicle that was more than nine inches shorter, four inches narrower, and half a ton lighter than the previous year, but with a larger trunk and more headroom and legroom. These were also the first DeVilles to be marketed without [[fender skirts]] over the rear wheels. The 500 in<sup>3</sup> V8 (which produced 190 horsepower) was replaced for 1977 by a 180-horsepower 425 in<sup>3</sup> V8 variant of similar design. The reduction in size and weight was implemented to improve fuel economy and emissions as a result of the United States Federal Government passage of [[Corporate Average Fuel Economy]] regulations.

For 1977, the lineup included the two-door Coupe de Ville ($9,654) and the four-door Sedan de Ville ($9,864). The $650 d'Elegance package, an interior dress-up option carried over from the previous generation of DeVilles, continued for both models. Three-sided, wrap-around tail lamps were a 1977 feature only (although they would re-appear in 1987). Coupe de Ville's popular "Cabriolet" option, priced at $348, included a rear-half padded vinyl roof covering and opera lamps. An optional electronic fuel-injected version of the standard 7.0-liter powerplant, adding {{convert|15|hp}}, was available for an additional $647. Sales figures were 138,750 Coupe de Villes and 95,421 Sedan de Villes for an all-time sales record of 234,171 DeVilles sold.

With these downsizings, fuel economy and handling improved. In 1979, Cadillac's flagship Eldorado coupe would downsize. The 1980s saw further downsizing of many models including the DeVille, Fleetwood, Eldorado and Seville. Cadillac brought out a dramatic redesign for the Seville in 1980 featuring a bustle-back rear-end styling theme and a move to the same front-wheel-drive chassis as the Eldorado. In 1982, the [[Cadillac Cimarron|Cimarron]] was introduced as the brand's first compact car. The Cimarron's market failure is one in a series of events throughout the 1980s and 1990s which sullied Cadillac's reputation and caused the division's share of the US market to fall from 3.8% in 1979 to 2.2% in 1997;<ref>{{cite book |first1=James M. |last1=Flammang |first2=Ron |last2=Kowalke |title=Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1976-1999 |year=1999 |publisher=Kraus Publications |pages=149–189}}</ref> it is routinely cited as the nadir of GM's product planning. Automotive journalist [[Dan Neil (journalist)|Dan Neil]] included the Cimarron in his 2007 list of the "Worst cars of all time", saying "everything that was wrong, venal, lazy, and mendacious about GM in the 1980s was crystallized in this flagrant insult to the good name and fine customers of Cadillac."<ref name="time">{{cite magazine |title=The 50 Worst Cars of All Time |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |author=Dan Neil |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/0,28757,1658545,00.html}}</ref> He added that the Cimarron "nearly killed Cadillac and remains its biggest shame".<ref name=time/>

For the 1981 model year, the long-running "Standard of the World" slogan was changed to "An American Standard of the World". For the 1982 model year, the slogan was changed to "Best of All&nbsp;... It's A Cadillac", which was used until 1986.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=148578.0 |title=What year did Cadillac stop being the "Standard of the World"? |work=Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum |location=US |date=February 7, 2018 |access-date=December 2, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-09-23-fi-9358-story.html |title=Marketing: Cadillac Shifts Marketing Gears With Allante |first=Bruce |last=Horovitz |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=September 23, 1986 |access-date=December 2, 2019}}</ref>

Due to a delay in the production of the new front-drive DeVilles (which were now scheduled for release as 1985 models), 1984 was a re-run for the rear-wheel-drive Coupe de Ville ($17,140) and its four-door companion, the popular Sedan de Ville ($17,625). It was also the last time DeVille used the "V" emblem below the Cadillac crest, as 1985 models and on would use the crest and wreath emblem—formerly a Fleetwood and Eldorado exclusive. For 1984, sales figures show a total four-door production of 107,920 units, and an additional 50,840 two-door units (figures include de Ville and Fleetwood models). The new front-drive 1985 Coupe de Ville and Sedan de Ville arrived in Cadillac showrooms during the spring of 1984, about six months earlier than most new-car introductions, so both the 1984 rear-drive and 1985 front-drive models were selling and being produced (due to separate assembly plants) at the same time for nearly half a year.

1985 saw the new front-wheel-drive DeVille and Fleetwood models released after quality delays prevented a planned 1984 model year introduction. 1986 saw new downsized Eldorado and Seville models. In 1987, the all-new [[Pininfarina]]-bodied Allanté roadster came to market featuring the HT-4100 V8 engine. The Sixty Special returned in 1987 as the top owner-driven Cadillac in the [[front-wheel-drive]] GM [[GM C platform (FWD)|C-body]] lineup, with a planned production run of just 2,000 cars. The 1987 and 1988 Sixty Specials were unique, custom-crafted automobiles, which featured a five-inch (127&nbsp;mm) longer wheelbase over the DeVille/Fleetwood on which they were based. Also in 1987, [[Detroit Assembly]] on Clark Street in [[Detroit]], where Cadillacs had been made since 1921, was closed.

The 1980s also saw the introduction of new, technology-assisted luxury features. Among these was the return of the memory seat option, not available since the 1958 Eldorado Brougham. 1981 brought standard digital heating and air conditioning controls to all models. In 1982, the High Technology engine was introduced. It was originally scheduled for a 1983 release, later delayed to 1985, with its intended applications being the downsized front-wheel-drive models Cadillac would introduce that year. 1983 saw the introduction of the Delco/Bose stereo system option, a US$895 cassette stereo system available only on the Eldorado and Seville. This Bose system would eventually become available on the DeVille and Fleetwood models on their 1985 FWD editions. The trip computer, available for Eldorado in 1979 and Seville in 1978 and 1979, was replaced in 1981 with the availability of digital instrumentation with some Trip Computer functions being replaced by the new digital heating and air conditioning control panel. Digital instrumentation would become available for the new FWD DeVille and Fleetwood series in 1985.

<gallery>
File:1978 Cadillac Sedan de Ville -- 06-18-2011.jpg|1978 [[Cadillac DeVille]]
File:Cadillac Seville (11695707603).jpg|1980 [[Cadillac Seville]]
File:Cadillac_Sedan_de_Ville_2012-07-15_15-12-36.JPG| 1984 Cadillac DeVille
File:1984-85_Eldorado_Convertible.jpg|1984 [[Cadillac Eldorado]]
File:85-88 Cadillac Coupe de Ville.jpg|1987 Cadillac DeVille
File:Red_closed_Cadillac_Allante_fl.jpg|1988 [[Cadillac Allanté]]
File:257773_2030637598504_1021034280_2383948_6570269_o.jpg|1988 [[Cadillac Brougham]]
File:Cadillac_Cimarron_2_--_07-01-2009.jpg|1988 [[Cadillac Cimarron]]
File:'88 Cadillac Seville.jpg|1988 Cadillac Seville
</gallery>