1987
The front-wheel drive Allanté roadster had a transverse multi-port fuel injected variant of GM's aluminum 4.1 L HT-Cadillac 4100 V8, along with roller valve lifters, high-flow cylinder heads, and a tuned intake manifold. The suspension was independent strut front and rear, with Bosch ABS III four-wheel disc brakes. A removable aluminum hardtop, Delco-GM/Bose Symphony Sound System (a $905 option on other Cadillacs), the industry's first power retractable AM/FM/Cellular Telephone antenna, and a complex lamp-out module that substituted an adjacent lamp for a burned-out bulb in the exterior lighting system until the dead one could be replaced were all standard. The only option was a cellular telephone installed in a lockable center console. The base price was $54,700 ($0 in dollars ).
1988
The 1988 model year Allanté featured revised front seat headrests and a power decklid pulldown as standard equipment. Analog instruments, in place of the standard digital dash cluster, were now available as a no-charge option. The base price was raised to $56,533, with the cellular telephone still the only extra-cost option. In a comparison test by Popular Science magazine, the 1988 Allanté was ranked behind the Mercedes 560 SL, but ahead of the brand new Buick Reatta.[16]
1989
The 1989 model year base price rose to $57,183. Allanté's engine, the new 273ci (4.5 L) V8, produced 200 hp, and with 270 lbft of torque. Unlocking the trunk also unlocked the side doors if the key was rotated twice – similar to Mercedes-Benz and BMW. As a theft-deterrent, Allanté added GM's Pass Key (Personal Automotive Security System), using a resistor pellet within the ignition key to render the fuel system and starter inoperative if an incorrect ignition key was used. Allanté also received a new speed-sensitive damper system called Speed Dependent Damping Control, or SD²C. This system firmed the suspension at 25 mph and again at 60 mph. The firmest setting was also used starting from a standstill until 5 mph. Another change was a variable-assist steering system.
1990
For the 1990 model year, a lower-priced ($53,050) companion model with a cloth convertible roof and without the removable aluminum hardtop was available. This version, including the hardtop, was $58,638. By midyear, prices were dropped to $57,813 for the hardtop/convertible and $51,500 for the convertible, including a $650 Gas Guzzler Tax and a $550 destination charge. The fully integrated cellular telephone, equipped from the factory on just 36 cars this year, was available for an additional $1,195. Allanté's bumper-to-bumper new car warranty, seven years and 100000 mi, was three years longer than other Cadillacs, and an additional 50000 mi of coverage. Allanté owners also received a unique toll-free number for service or concerns. Headlamp washers and dual 10-way Recaro seating remained standard. A driver's side airbag was added to the leather-wrapped steering wheel, eliminating the telescoping steering wheel — which retained its tilt feature. The analog instrument cluster – introduced the previous year – was standard on the convertible (available at no extra cost on the hardtop/convertible), with 358 cars equipped with the analog cluster.
The power mirror control moved from the right of the steering column on the instrument panel to a new location on the upper end of the driver's door armrest. The power seat switches (previously mounted on the face of the seat base) were relocated to the lower side trim of the seat base facing the door panels. The 3-channel garage door opener base mounted on the header panel above the windshield was eliminated with introduction of a revised sun visor design. Traction control was added – the first front-wheel drive automobile with a V8 to be equipped as such. The system was designed to cut fuel to four cylinders to reduce power and optimize traction.
The electronically controlled shock absorbers were re-tuned to remain in "soft" mode up to 40 mph, up from 25 mph. A revised audio system allowed a CD and a cassette player to be added as standard equipment. Of the 2,523 built for 1990, five were exported – four to Canada and one to Germany.
1991
For the 1991 model year, a power-latching mechanism was added for the convertible top, and redesigned the top stowage cover mechanism to address customer complaints. The Bose stereo system was upgraded to 200 watts, and the digital instrument cluster, featured in all but 275 Allanté models this year, was repriced (it was now a $495 option for the convertible model). Prices began at $57,260, although a midyear price drop brought the Allanté convertible down to $55,900 and the hardtop/convertible down to $61,450 (from $62,810). Allanté had 16.3 cubic feet of storage (when using the pass-through compartment into the cabin area). Of the 1,928 models produced for 1991, seven were manufactured for export – five to Canada, one to Italy, and another to Puerto Rico. Canadian models offered a kilometer-based instrument cluster, daytime running lamps, and an engine block heater as standard equipment. In contrast, the Italian model featured a list of European-mandated modifications, including breakaway side mirrors, specific European headlamps and turn signals, a front tow hook, rear fog lamps, deletion of the deck-lid mounted center brake light, a wet-arm windshield washer system, coolers for the power steering and automatic transmission fluids, and a revised steering column to compensate for the removal of the driver's airbag.
1992
The Allanté for 1992 was priced at $58,470 for the convertible and $64,090 for the hardtop/convertible. Both prices included the mandated gas guzzler tax, now $1,300. As it had been the custom for a few years, price drops were announced midyear: $57,170 for the convertible and $62,790 for the removable hardtop. The optional digital cluster was priced at $495 (available at no charge on the removable hardtop model). However, only 187 cars were equipped with the standard analog cluster this year. Also available on the convertible at extra cost was a pearl white paint group (option YL3) priced at $700 (a total of 443 made during 1992). 1992 was the last year of the multi-adjustable Recaro seating design. Four of the 1,698 produced this modelyear were exported to Canada. As with the previous year, the most popular exterior was 47U – Euro Red with 549 units, while the least popular was 49U – Light Blue Metallic with 15 finished in that color. Three shades of leather were available for the interior, the colors and their production totals: Charcoal (859), Natural Beige (652), Maroon (187), (50) Polo Green, and one Pearl Flax (O4U).
1993
For the 1993 model, Allanté was offered in a single model configuration: as a soft-top convertible priced at $59,975 (not including a mandatory $1,700 gas guzzler tax for vehicles sold in the United States). Options included the removable 60.5 lb aluminum hardtop, LCD digital instrument cluster ($495) in place of the standard analog instruments, pearl coat paint option ($700, in Flax or Canyon Yellow, with Hawaiian Orchid added midyear) and chrome squeeze-cast aluminum wheels.
The 1993 models received the significantly more powerful 4.6 L Northstar DOHC V8 engine rated at 295 hp at 5600 rpm and 290 ftlb of torque at 4400 rpm. A new unequal-length control arm rear suspension was introduced, shared with the Seville and Eldorado. To offset increased costs, the 200-watt Bose stereo was dropped in favor of GM's Delco "Premium Symphony Sound System"; the intelligent lighting module was eliminated; and 1993 models featured less expensive Lear-designed eight-way dual power seats, replacing the previous Recaro seats. Interior changes included the addition of an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a revised shifter grip. Other model year changes included Road Sensing Suspension, an active damper management system, revised disc brakes, revised variable-assist power steering rack, deeper front spoiler, and single-piece side windows, which eliminated the stationary forward vent window.
The 1993 Allanté was also chosen as the 1992 pace car for the 76th Indianapolis 500. The pace car was driven by Bobby Unser. Three modified 1993 Pace Cars had only the seat belts, lighted roll bar, and air intake modified from a stock production Allanté's. In addition to the official Allanté Pace cars provided for the race, thirty stock 1993 Allantés used as Festival/Pace Cars and 58 stock 1992 Allanté Festival/Pace cars used by drivers and crews at the opening parade and the race's closing.
