It’s been awhile since we’ve heard about the Caddy EV that zaps. According to Car and Driver, the publication heard it from a bird that the Cadillac Celestiq should have a base price of around $340,000. That’s a lot of clams for a Caddy, but let’s revisit the Celestiq and see what will make it desirable.
We still don’t know how to pronounce the Celestiq (there’s an impulse to use a French accent) but, considering the Lyriq SUV comes off as more gringo, “seh-leh-stick” it may be. There will be other “iq” suffixes for the future so, notwithstanding pronunciation, it’s better than the alpha-numeric style currently on Cadillac’s roster.
In real terms, this is likely the most expensive Cadillac ever. Most coach-built Caddys from the mid-1930s cost $7-8,000, while $15,000 in 1935 would be close to the Celestiq’s price today. Like the bespoke cars from an era gone by, the Celestiq is hand-built and built to order.
Cadillac is planning on running only on batteries by 2030, and Celestiq is the torchbearer of those plans. Follow the fancy Caddy and you’ll discover what the Standard of the World has in store in a few years. Will cheaper Cadillac EVs also have a 200-color palette? No idea, but the Celestiq has that and more, if you have the need to match your ash tray a la John DeLorean’s wife (which led to Pontiac’s Verdoro Green).
Car and Driver describes the Celestiq as “stunning,” having dramatic proportions that make it look longer and underslung. Carbon fiber body panels create a smooth surface devoid of trim or even door handles. In fact, to enter the car, you must touch a button on the B-pillar, upon which a power-operated door will swing out to greet you. A light show will ensue as well.
Inside you’ll find 55 inches of glass (a single piece, no less), from pillar to pillar, in what we used to call a “dashboard.” There also is a console-mounted 11-inch touchscreen so you don’t have to get your muggy prints on the beautiful glass.
If you ever had a ride in a Toyota Venza, you may be aware of the glass-dimming feature for the roof. The Celestiq’s “smart glass roof” will do that several degrees better: four sections will allow different passengers to control the amount of light entering the vehicle.
Each axle will be powered by an electric motor that is expected to offer a combined 600 horsepower and offer an estimated range of 300 miles. We hope, as the car nears production, that it’ll be more — a car of this stature deserves a more leading-edge range. Considering production was slated to begin in December 2023, the next few months will be an interesting time for confirmation on the Celestiq’s vital stats.
What an UGLY rear end !!! Side view looks Citroen-ish. No thanks.
Its battery operated you can keep it. Also, who do they think is going to fix this over price bag of bells and whistles. can’t find someone to mount a tire right these days.
Clearly you are not their target customer.
Do you consider the Celestiq to already be a classic car? Why are you touting it in this space?
Nowhere in the article does it suggest it’s a classic.
I like the idea of a button on the B pillar to open the car. I realize there is probably limited information available for the article, but it would be nice to have a tour of a the controls and how the driver interacts with them. Overall the car doesn’t do it for me. I think they are trying too hard to catch up and find a place in the expanding EV market place. The price is a bit too much. It should fly for that amount of money. Some of the flying cars promised have a similar price point. The tail lights are confusing. What is the purpose of them wrap around the side of the car. It is also interesting that they are staying with rear view mirrors when a lot of manufacturers are going with video screens in place of mirrors. Placing cameras in strategically outside the car can eliminate blind spots all together by giving the driver the ability to see what is going on outside of the car while driving. While most companies are focused on developing EVs that are more affordable to make them available for more drivers they are putting one out there that is out of reach for most drivers. The old saying comes to mind. Work for the rich and eat with the poor, work for the poor and eat with the rich.