Practically three years after unveiling the idea model of its flagship Celestiq EV, Cadillac has lastly launched the actual factor: a $300,000 electrical car 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 “Normal 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 comfortable seat, which is adjustable in each manner after which some. The match and end is exact and elevated like a Richard Mille watch and all the things 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, nevertheless, offered sure design challenges.
The modules within the Celestiq’s battery pack aren’t uniform. Not like the Lyriq, which has a flat battery pack, the Celestiq has totally different configurations of modules within the battery pack which can be totally different heights. The modules underneath the entrance seats are about 9 inches tall, however the ones underneath the rear passenger footwell are solely six inches in peak. The rear seats are introduced up with modules which can be 12 inches tall.
Engineers wanted to position some modules underneath 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
The appears I acquired whereas piloting the Celestiq, made up for that teeny middle console storage. There’s nothing on the highway that appears this sleek, with its dancing LED gentle 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 automobile and the pavement usually leads to a harsh experience, however the Celestiq sports activities a compliant air suspension that retains all of it in examine. Greater occasions like potholes definitely make their presence recognized, however metropolis driving is quiet and easy.
Make no mistake, this automobile is a bigun. The Cadillac Celestiq has a bigger footprint than a two-door Chevrolet Silverado, made barely extra nimble with rear steering. Certain, it’s a bit exhausting to seek out avenue parking on this dangerous boy, however this automobile is extra more likely 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 highway. Right here the Magnetic Experience Management shines, reacting rapidly to the highway in addition to the automobile’s weight switch to supply a assured feeling of management. Aided by energetic roll management, the automobile feels flat via the turns regardless of its zaftig proportions.
The steering here’s a bit numb, however it’s weighted properly and the brake regen offers 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 similar time.
I adore it.
I crank up the Dolby Atmos sound system pouring out of 38 inside AKG audio system– there are 4 exterior the automobile 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 help system is right here, so I take my palms off the wheel and let the automobile take over for some time in visitors.
Cadillac Celestiq’s huge drawback
And therein lies the most important drawback with the Celestiq. I’m not essentially mad that every one GM electrical autos run Google Constructed-In over Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Google Maps is nice on this car, precisely predicting my vary once I arrive at a location, providing up charging stations and pre-conditioning 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, typically I’ve to reconnect if I flip off the automobile and some occasions it simply refuses to inform me I’ve an incoming textual content.
Excessive-end prospects demand simplicity and ease of use. This sensible telephone integration system is neither.
Cadillac Celestiq inside
However at the very 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 under the sprint.
I’d give my kingdom for some bodily HVAC buttons, however on a automobile like this I’ll accept a separate display screen the place at the very least I don’t must scroll via a bunch of menus simply to activate the air con.
Massaging seats are right here, after all, and so they appear to remain on a bit longer than in different luxurious autos I’ve pushed. There isn’t a heated and cooled cup holder, an omission I feel is tantamount to forgetting to serve creme fraîche together 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 particular person within the automobile can customise how a lot gentle they need to let into their a part of the car.
I’m not 100% offered on the facility doorways as my thoughts simply goes to the worst-case state of affairs of being caught contained in the automobile within the Complete Meals car parking zone or one thing. Nonetheless, it’s form of cool to only press the brake pedal and have my door shut robotically. There’s additionally an icon on the decrease display screen that may shut the doorways, so passengers can get in on the high-tech, low-effort bandwagon.
Bespoke EV expertise
Every Celestiq can be made by hand at Basic Motors’ World Technical Middle in Michigan.
I acquired just a little style of what prospects will expertise as I labored with a designer to pick out my favourite colours and supplies. Selecting from what might need been fifty shades of all the things was a bit overwhelming, however I walked out with my dream Celestiq in Kingfisher Tricoat, a superb blue that I feel goes nicely 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 certain I all the time 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 area logistics requests and never request copious quantities of carbs and caffeine, the purpose is that they’ll 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 major competitors could be the Rolls-Royce Spectre EV with its cool starry-night headliner. Nonetheless, the Celestiq largely sits alone within the extremely luxurious, 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 will get a Maybach EQS SUV.
If you need one in your storage, nicely, good luck. Cadillac will produce a restricted run of 25 autos for 2025 and practically all are spoken for. The corporate received’t give particular numbers for 2026, solely saying that manufacturing can be capped at lower than two Celestiqs a day.