First, let’s talk its design. From some angles, the Celestiq is breathtakingly beautiful. From others, it’s kind of frumpy and weird. There’s a lot to look at and take in, question, and ponder. It grows on you. From the outside it’s just as interesting as any Rolls-Royce or Bentley. Inside, there’s enough ambient lighting inside to spot it from space, the materials all seem lovely, and it features a ton of tech but it’s not too in your face. It also seems to have a retro-futuristic design, as if it was a 1930s interior car designer’s vision of the future.

However, does it really scream Rolls or Bentley-beater? We’re not so sure. Mercedes S-Class-beater? Definitely in the conversation. But it’s going to take actually sitting inside of it, touching the materials and feeling the ambience, to determine whether it can truly take on the best in the world. I do like the “Hand Built Detroit” badge, though.

Under that very pretty skin is a 111 kWh battery pack that powers two electric motors to make 600 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque. Cadillac claims a 0-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds and a range of around 300 miles. That’s about on par with the Rolls-Royce Spectre, even better in some ways. However, and this includes cars like the Spectre, it’s quite amazing how far legacy automakers are behind Lucid and Tesla. The Lucid Air uses a similarly sized battery, makes almost double the power in its top-end Sapphire spec, and gets hundreds of miles more range.

That being said, a car like the Celestiq isn’t designed for brutal performance or handling. It’s designed to be incredible to look at and wonderful to be in. While it’s impossible to judge the latter, as we haven’t driven it yet, we think the Americans nailed the former. So can the Cadillac Celestiq really take on Rolls and Bentley? Just based on its design, we think it has a real chance.

[Photos: Cadillac]

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According to the report, Cadillac originally had planned to introduce the Celestiq as early as April, but the debut has been delayed to either July or August. It’s important to mention the zero-emissions luxury sedan is going to be unveiled only as a showcar or concept. GM’s high-end brand is far from being done with the EV’s development considering the production model won’t hit the market until late 2023 or early 2024.

When the Celestiq will debut in production form, expect a steep asking price of somewhere in the region of $200,000. The styling will likely take after the already revealed Lyriq SUV and the stunning Escala concept. Meanwhile, the teaser campaign has given us an idea of what to expect from the avant-garde EV, which will have a full-glass roof and a wide digital display stretching across the entire width of the dashboard.

From the little details released so far by Cadillac, we know the Celestiq will be underpinned by GM’s new BEV3 platform and is going to be among the first recipients of the Ultium batteries promising to offer as much as 450 miles (724 kilometers) of range in some vehicles. The stately zero-emissions sedan is said to have a range of at least 300 miles (483 kilometers), and much like the forthcoming Mercedes EQS, will boast a rear-wheel-steering system to lower the turning circle and make the big sedan feel more agile.

GM officials have already announced the Celestiq is going to be assembled by hand and production will be limited, although an exact number has not been provided. It will be built at the GM Tech Center in Warren, Michigan at a rate of just 1.2 cars per day.

Source: Cadillac Society

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Teased during the digital-only CES 2021, the Celestiq is being described by GM as a “stunning vehicle with a dramatic presence, a low profile and rearward proportions.” We also know some of the goodies it will pack, including all-wheel drive and a four-wheel steering system. The teaser video also shows a massive four-quadrant glass roof manufactured from suspended-particle-device smart glass, providing selectable levels of transparency.

There’s more to the interior than the gargantuan glass as Cadillac also provided a glimpse of the ultra-wide screen dominating the dashboard, extending from one pillar to the other. Unlike other all-digital setups we’ve seen lately (Mercedes EQS, Honda E), it appears the Celestiq will have one giant screen rather than several displays arranged side by side.

Speaking of displays, the tech-laden EV will also have console screens between seats in the front and back, each incorporating separate comfort settings. By the looks of it, it appears the number of conventional buttons will be kept down to a minimum considering the generous use of screens throughout the cabin.

Hand-assembled in limited volumes, the hugely promising Cadillac Celestiq will ride on the same BEV3 architecture as the Lyriq SUV and could cost as much as $200,000. The two high-end electric models will share the newly developed Ultium batteries, which promise to offer enough juice for up to 450 miles (724 kilometers) of range between charges.

Beyond the two zero-emissions Cadillacs, GM is also working on the GMC Hummer EV pickup truck and its SUV sibling. Chevy will update the Bolt and introduce its crossover counterpart, along with an electric pickup. Buick will freshen up its Velite models for China with new EVs, and there should also be something for performance enthusiasts. Some say it could be a Corvette electric SUV, but that remains to be seen.

Source: Cadillac

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