DETROIT DREAMS.(News)

Byline: BOB GRITZINGER

Sixteen. Whether you're talking candles or cylinders, there's no question the number carries significant meaning. In this case, Sixteen refers to General Motors' audacious attempt to rocket Cadillac into the supercar stratosphere with an ostentatious rear-wheel-drive sedan powered by a 13.6-liter V16 engine producing more than 1000 horsepower and 1000 lb-ft of torque. GM's super-sedan is one of nearly 40 vehicles being displayed for the first time, ever, at Detroit's 2003 North American International Auto Show ]]]]]]

]]]]]] Jan. 11-20. On the car side, highlights include the first Rolls-Royce produced under BMW ownership (AW, Jan. 6); the Aston Martin V8 that you've seen on these pages as AM305 or the ``baby Aston''; the Chrysler Crossfire due later this year; concept versions of the next-generation Ford Mustang due in 2004; and a Lamborghini Murcielago roadster.

The 50 percent of the buying public that prefers trucks and truck-like vehicles will be interested in the Dodge Durango R/T Hemi concept (the next production Durango); Ford's next-generation F-150 and an F-150 SVT Lightning concept; the Titan, Nissan's first foray into big trucks; GM's next-gen midsize trucks, the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado; and crossovers such as the Audi Pikes Peak concept, Cadillac SRX luxury sportwagon, Mitsubishi's upmarket Endeavor, the Saturn Vue-based Chevrolet Equinox, BMW xActivity concept (read: X3), Volkswagen's Touareg and the Lexus RX 330. It's enough to make you think you'd need more than one day to take in this entire show.

In addition, Ford and Chrysler have invested big bucks in new stands to show off their products, and GM has redone its already elaborate two-tiered exhibit space. Some other highlights:

* If you like your motors big, a peek at the aforementioned Cadillac Sixteen is a must. In cylinder count, it's matched only by Bugatti's EB-16 Veyron, but both BMW and Mercedes are showing fresh V12s. Check out BMW's 6.0-liter 445-hp V12 in the 760i and 760Li, and Mercedes' 6.0-liter V12 SL600. Then spend some time around the Rolls-Royce Phantom-at least until ...