Almost three years after unveiling the idea model of the flagship Cadillac Celestiq EV, GM has lastly launched the true factor: a “mid-$300,000” electrical automobile that oozes luxurious and a come-gawk-at-me exterior designed to lure in passersby.
However is that this bespoke EV sufficient for Cadillac to regain its place because the “Customary of the World”? I spent a day navigating this behemoth round Los Angeles in a bid to seek out out.
Sliding behind the steering wheel of the brand new flagship fastback is an efficient begin.
I’m surrounded by buttery leather-based — my rear finish comforted by the soft seat, which is adjustable in each manner after which some. The match and end is exact and elevated like a Richard Mille watch and the whole lot I contact has that distinct honed-by-hand aesthetic. And but in 115 circumstances, these elements have been 3D printed, together with the middle of the steering wheel, window switches, elements of the console decor, and even some structural items.
Cadillac clearly wished to construct an EV with zero compromises. The battery pack format, nonetheless, offered sure design challenges.
The modules within the Cadillac Celestiq’s battery pack aren’t uniform. In contrast to the Lyriq, which has a flat battery pack, the Celestiq has completely different configurations of modules within the battery pack which might be completely different heights. The modules beneath the entrance seats are about 9 inches tall, however the ones beneath the rear passenger footwell are solely six inches in top. The rear seats are introduced up with modules which might be 12 inches tall.
Engineers wanted to position some modules beneath the middle console to get to a 111 kWh battery with 303 miles of vary. The result’s a shallow storage compartment that’s hardly sufficiently big to suit my pockets and glasses.
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Cadillac Celestiq EV: The drive
Picture Credit:Emme Corridor
The appears to be like I obtained whereas piloting the Celestiq made up for that teeny heart console storage. There’s nothing on the street that appears this sleek, with its dancing LED mild signature within the entrance, lengthy nostril, and sculpted rear finish. In a city filled with manufactured magnificence, the real-deal Celestiq stands out.
I begin off on the tough streets of Hollywood, the place I deliberately goal for damaged pavement and manhole covers. My tester is shod with 22-inch wheels — though 23-inch wheels can be found — and Michelin Pilot Sport EV tires with little or no sidewall.
Having this little rubber between the automotive and the pavement typically ends in a harsh journey, however the Celestiq sports activities a compliant air suspension that retains all of it in test. Larger occasions like potholes definitely make their presence identified, however metropolis driving is quiet and easy.
Make no mistake, this automotive is a biggun. The Cadillac Celestiq has a bigger footprint than a two-door Chevrolet Silverado, made barely extra nimble with rear steering. Positive, it’s a bit arduous to seek out avenue parking on this dangerous boy, however this automotive is extra prone to discover itself on the valet.
Leaving Hollywood, I head to the hills to see simply what 655 horsepower and 646 pound-feet of torque can do on a curvy street. Right here the Magnetic Experience Management shines, reacting rapidly to the street in addition to the automotive’s weight switch to supply a assured feeling of management. Aided by energetic roll management, the automotive feels flat by the turns regardless of its zaftig proportions.
The steering here’s a bit numb, nevertheless it’s weighted properly and the brake regen supplies a brand new talent to beat. I discover that at max regen, if I can time my throttle lifts proper, I by no means must hit the mechanical brakes earlier than heading right into a nook. The load nonetheless transfers to the entrance so I’ve the grip to show, however I’m additionally getting free electrons on the identical time.
I find it irresistible.
I crank up the Dolby Atmos sound system pouring out of 38 inner AKG audio system — there are 4 outdoors the automotive that produce cool EV sounds for these unfortunate sufficient to be strolling — and head out to the freeway. After all, GM’s Tremendous Cruise superior driver-assistance system is right here, so I take my fingers off the wheel and let the automotive take over for some time in visitors.
The Cadillac Celestiq EV has an issue
Picture Credit:Emme Corridor
And therein lies the largest drawback with the Celestiq. I’m not essentially mad that every one GM electrical automobiles run Google Constructed-In over Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Google Maps is nice on this automobile, precisely predicting my vary once I arrive at a location, providing up charging stations and preconditioning the batteries if wanted. It’s simply that I can’t reliably get the system to hook up with my telephone for hands-free texts and telephone calls.
And it’s not simply within the Celestiq. In each the Optiq and the Escalade IQ, the method was persnickety. There are a number of settings on my iPhone that must be appropriate, generally I’ve to reconnect if I flip off the automotive, and some instances it simply refuses to inform me I’ve an incoming textual content.
Excessive-end prospects demand simplicity and ease of use. This smartphone integration system is neither.
The Cadillac Celestiq EV inside
Picture Credit:Emme Corridor
However at the least the screens look nice.
Stretching throughout the width of the sprint, there are 55 inches of high-resolution goodness. The passenger will get their very own display screen for streaming media and web shopping and all local weather controls are on a smaller display screen beneath the sprint.
I’d give my kingdom for some bodily HVAC buttons, however on a automotive like this I’ll accept a separate display screen the place at the least I don’t must scroll by a bunch of menus simply to activate the air-conditioning.
Massaging seats are right here, in fact, they usually appear to remain on a bit longer than in different luxurious automobiles I’ve pushed. There isn’t any heated and cooled cup holder, an omission I feel is tantamount to forgetting to serve crème fraîche along with your caviar, however Cadillac advised me it might add the characteristic if somebody actually wished it.
I dig the glass roof that may dim as much as 20% opacity in any of the 4 zones. Every individual within the automotive can customise how a lot mild they wish to let into their a part of the automobile.
Picture Credit:Emme Corridor
I’m not 100% bought on the ability doorways, as my thoughts simply goes to the worst-case situation of being caught contained in the automotive within the Complete Meals car parking zone or one thing. Nonetheless, it’s type of cool to simply press the brake pedal and have my door shut robotically. There’s additionally an icon on the decrease display screen that can shut the doorways, so passengers can get in on the high-tech, low-effort bandwagon.
Bespoke Cadillac EV expertise
Picture Credit:Cadillac
Every Celestiq might be made by hand at Common Motors’ International Technical Heart in Michigan.
I bought a bit style of what prospects will expertise as I labored with a designer to pick my favourite colours and supplies. Selecting from what might need been 50 shades of the whole lot was a bit overwhelming, however I walked out with my dream Celestiq in Kingfisher Tricoat, an excellent blue that I feel goes effectively with the lengthy wheelbase and fastback profile, and an inside of Sheer Grey and Bahia Orange with Phantom Blue Accents. What can I say? I dig blue and orange.
Because the day progressed, I used to be handled to the Cadillac concierge service that prospects will expertise as they undergo the shopping for course of. Somebody made positive I at all times had a chilly Food regimen Dr Pepper in my hand and lunch choices had been tailor-made to my immature culinary tastes. In different phrases, I had tater tots for lunch and I’m not even embarrassed about it.
Whereas Celestiq prospects will probably use their concierge to subject logistics requests and never request copious quantities of carbs and caffeine, the purpose is that they may have somebody to cater to their each car-buying whim.
There isn’t an excessive amount of on the market within the uber-luxury EV market. The Cadillac Celestiq’s main competitors may be the Rolls-Royce Spectre EV with its cool starry-night headliner. Nonetheless, the Celestiq principally sits alone within the ultra-luxury, battery-electric sector.
Bentley doesn’t have a full battery-electric providing but, simply hybrids, and even Mercedes hasn’t totally electrified the Maybach S-Class sedan, though you may get a Maybach EQS SUV.
If you would like one in your storage, effectively, good luck. Cadillac will produce a restricted run of 25 automobiles for 2025 and almost all are spoken for. The corporate gained’t give particular numbers for 2026, solely saying that manufacturing might be capped at lower than two Celestiqs a day.
