The 2001 Cadillac Cien concept car was named after the Spanish word for hundred.
“Cien” means “one hundred” in Spanish, a fitting name for a Cadillac concept created to celebrate the brand’s 100th anniversary. Cadillac presented the car at the 2002 Detroit Auto Show, although it is commonly identified as the 2001 Cadillac Cien because development and publicity began earlier.
Designed by Simon Cox, the Cien was a dramatic two-door, rear-mid-engine sports car. Its 7.5-liter Northstar XV12 engine was claimed to produce 750 horsepower, and the car used advanced features including direct fuel injection and displacement on demand. Its carbon-fiber construction and sharp styling emphasized Cadillac’s interest in high technology and performance.
A common mix-up is confusing “cien” with “mil,” the Spanish word for thousand, or with “cent,” a related Latin-derived root used in English words such as “century.” The name’s numerical reference is specifically one hundred, not a production model designation.