One of Cadillac’s most famous concepts, the imposing ‘Sixteen’ sedan from 2003, will be the highlight of a special showing of past concepts from the American luxury brand at next month’s Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.

In case you’ve forgotten, the Sixteen gets its name from the unique V-16 engine under its long hood.

The engine, which displaces a monstrous 13.6 liters, delivers a Bugatti Veyron-rivaling 1,000 horsepower and 1,000 pound-feet of torque, though all 16 cylinders would only fire under full throttle.

That’s because the Sixteen was a technological preview of General Motors’ improved cylinder deactivation technology; in normal driving, only 12 of the cylinders would be used.

Part of Cadillac's then-new ‘Art and Science’ design theme, the Sixteen, it was widely rumored, came very close to achieving production status. One thing it did very well was to influence and flavor Cadillac's product planning, as even the latest Cadillac models share a resemblence with the 10-year-old concept.

As Wayne Cherry, retired chief designer of General Motors Company [NYSE:GM], explains: “We wanted it to be the ultimate expression of Cadillac; to reinstate Cadillac as a world leader in design and technology and a reminder of the heritage of Cadillac.”

If you're contemplating attending the

Amelia Island Concours this year, we hope the announcement of the Cadillac Sixteen's appearance will help sway your decision. Dates for the show are March 8-10, 2013.

While a car exactly like the Sixteen is unlikely to ever see the light of the day, one similar to it may be launched as Cadillac’s new flagship sedan. The last we heard, Cadillac bosses had given the green light for the development of a full-size sedan aimed at rivals like the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S Class.

The car is expected to be based on a new rear-wheel-drive platform dubbed Omega and arrive on the scene in 2015.