The 2024 Cadillac Celestiq will strive to take the American luxury brand forward in the future and regain its past ‘Standard of the World’ glory.
The ultra-luxury electric flagship will go into production in December 2023 and will be priced at US$300,000 (AU$476,115).
For context, Cadillac’s most expensive model is currently Escalade-DRAW, starting at US$149,695 (AU$237,616). Celestiq’s price puts it between the V8 and W12 versions of Bentley Flying Spur Mulliner United States.
Cadillac hasn’t taken over this stratosphere since the 1957-58 hand-built Eldorado B Rouham, which cost more than a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud.
When equipped with such an expensive flagship, no two Celestiq models will be alike. Each model will be ordered individually, with the customer working with the instructor to create their model.
Each model will be manufactured at General Motors’ Global Engineering Center in Warren, Michigan in a high-security “clean room” environment known as the Artisan Center. No more than six vehicles will be assembled at any one time.
It will be the first vehicle built at the Engineering Center, with GM investing US$81 million (AU$128.96 million) in the facility to support production.
The company says Celestiq will receive the most ambitious quality program in its 120-year history.
It’s underpinned by GM’s Ultium Platform, with a full-time two-wheel drive system and a 111kWh battery pack.
It produces 447kW power and 868Nm torque, with a 0-60mph (0-96km/h) time of 3.8 seconds.
It has a confirmed range of 483kmand supports DC 200kW fast charging. Cadillac claims it will take only 10 minutes to increase the range of 125 km.
It’s the only Ultium-based car with a gear ratio of 11.59:1 front and 11.63:1 rear, which Cadillac says has been specially calibrated to optimize range and performance. It’s undeniably a luxury EV, with regenerative braking and single-pedal steering.
It uses adaptive air suspension with a five-link setup front and rear, and features Magnetic Driving Control 4.0.
This is the latest version, also found on CT5-V Blackwingof the magnetic damper technology that the brand debuted on the Seville STS 2002.5.
Other hardware includes Active Rear Steering, which provides up to 3.5 degrees of out-of-phase rear steering, plus Active Roll Control and an active rear spoiler.
It also rides on large 23-inch wheels in ‘numerous’ different colors, wrapped in specially labeled Michelin tires.
Cadillac says the Celestiq will offer “ultimate driving refinement without sacrificing”, with “individual precision” allowing drivers to “experience luxurious driving while still feeling connected”. with sugar”.
It also features six large precision sand-cast aluminum components on the bodywork, with each die-casting reduced part count from 30 to 40 components, while the interior and exterior feature extensive use of 3D printed pieces.
It will feature GM’s new Ultra Cruise Level 2+ autopilot technology, along with a remote parking feature that lets you park from outside.
The 48V electrical system supports the vehicle’s various creature comforts and convenience features.
Inside, a 55-inch screen runs from column to column, housing two separate screens under a single pane of glass.
A crystal multifunction controller can be used for home screen navigation and Google built-in infotainment with Google Assistant and Google Maps.
The driver-side display has a claimed pixel density equivalent to that of an 8K display, while the passenger’s screen – which can play media and access the internet – is blurred out of the driver’s field of vision using Digital technology. Blinds Active Privacy.
Additional screens in the cabin include an 11-inch front panel-mounted ‘Command Center’, an 8.0-inch display on the rear panel, plus 12.6-inch screens per row of seats. before.
There is a fixed glass roof with no sunshade, however it features suspended particle device technology with four adjustable zones, multicolored ambient lighting and ‘light choreography’.
Hand-finished metalwork and hand-painted leather adorn the interior, while soundproof laminated glass helps block out sound.
Standard equipment includes a four-zone climate control system, with heating, cooling and ventilation for all four seats along with heated armrests and a “necklace” feature.
There are 41 speakers in all, including the 38-speaker AKG Studio Reference Audio System for the interior and three for the outside providing “arranged push sound”. There’s also active road noise cancellation for the cabin.
Exterior styling based on new design themes launched in Lyriq cross, but culminated in Celestiq’s overwhelming proportions.
There’s a scale from the dash to the long axis, while every exterior metal surface is real metal, including the brushed aluminum body side border and die-cast aluminum grille.
The ‘Goddess’ fender has a unique crystal unit with ‘premium’ LED lighting elements in it, while carbon fiber is also used on the exterior.
There are no physical door handles. Instead, the doors are electrically operated and open and close at the touch of a button.
The headlights and taillights also provide charge status indicators, as seen on the GMC Hummer EV.
A staged sequence of lights, radiating from the top of the Cadillac ahead, occurs when you’re about five meters from Celestiq with the key.
As an ultra-luxury, full-size flagship fastback, the Celestiq is essentially unrivaled.
Rolls-Royce’s first electric car, The spectrewill be a coupe and debut in 2023, while Bentley will introduce its first electric car in 2026.
Like Bentley, Cadillac will only sell electric vehicles after 2030.
