1996 Cadillac DeVille Concours Northstar verve in a velvet glove. By Bob Markovich, New Car Test Drive .com

Think of the words "luxury car," and what comes to mind? A strong-yet-silent V8?

Undoubtedly. Glove-soft leather and exotic wood? Yup. How about lavish space and a

boulevard ride? If you're a traditionalist, those last two perks probably top your

list.

While even Cadillac has made most of its models smaller and sportier, both the

DeVille and its uplevel Concours twin are aimed squarely at folks like you. Both are

big, roomy, soft-riding, leather-laden paeans to what luxocars--American luxocars--have

always been. Yet the front-drive Northstar-powered DeVille and DeVille Concours are

also a techno-leap beyond the soon-to-be-gone Fleetwood--the rear-drive car both will

replace as Cadillac's most conservative model.