Cadillac builds the Celestiq by hand,[1] having invested US$81 million to create a low-volume production line at its Technical Center (GMTC) in Warren, Michigan. Since it was completed in 1956, only concept and show cars have been assembled at GMTC. The Celestiq is the first vehicle sold to the public that was assembled at GMTC.[3]
Like the Cadillac Lyriq, an electric SUV which precedes it, the Celestiq uses GM's Ultium battery technology and BEV3 platform.[5][9]
Concept
The genesis for a flagship Cadillac sedan has been traced back to concept vehicles including the Sixteen (2003), Ciel (2011), Elmiraj (2013), and Escala (2016),[10] with the last being approved for production prior to Cadillac's pivot to selling electric vehicles exclusively. The Escala was reworked as a halo car for the marque's electrification efforts instead, and the Celestiq concept was derived from it.[11]
After a limited number of planned features and details were released in March 2020 and January 2021 at an "EV Day" event and CES 2021, respectively,[5] pictures of the concept vehicle were not available[7] until July 22, 2022, when Cadillac revealed the Celestiq Show Car,[12] planned for release as a 2025 model year vehicle.[3]The Wall Street Journal reported the Celestiq will be priced near US$300,000 and will enter limited production by late 2023, with fewer than 500 built per year.[13]
The designer of the Celestiq, Magalie Debellis, also was responsible for designing the Lyriq, and the two electric vehicles shared design elements such as the front grille and taillamps.[3] Overall, the concept drew inspiration from earlier Cadillac models, including the 1957 Eldorado Brougham and 1930–40 Cadillac V-16, as well as the architecture of Eero Saarinen, who designed GMTC and the Gateway Arch.[14]
At a press event on October 18, 2022, the production version of the Celestiq was introduced. It retained the overall design of the concept, with changes to the liftback design and the side-view cameras being replaced with conventional mirrors.[11][16]
The planned low-volume production process allows GM to reduce the cost of production by using additive manufacturing processes and soft tooling for flexibility. In some cases, the number of parts has been reduced to simplify assembly. For example, the main chassis is made from six large castings, manufactured in front/rear/central modules split left/right and welded together.[17] It is estimated that GM invested $81 million to create the Celestiq production line.[18]
Camouflaged prototypes were spotted in June 2023 while undergoing road testing in Michigan.[19] The car was exhibited again at Monterey Car Week in August 2023[20] and 2024, when final engineering validation vehicles were tested and demonstrated for the automotive press. Initial deliveries were expected to begin in the fourth quarter of that year; one year of production has already been sold.[21]
Specifications
Powertrain and battery
The Celestiq will be an all-wheel drive vehicle using two electric traction motors, one each for the front and rear axle, delivering an estimated combined output of 600 hp (450 kW) and 640 lb⋅ft (870 N⋅m) of torque, with an estimated acceleration of 0–60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.8 seconds. The motors draw from a high-voltage Ultium traction battery with a total capacity of 111 kW-hr.[11] The battery is composed of individual pouch cells laid horizontally in stacks of varying heights; under the footwells, for instance, the cells are stacked six high, while under the seats, the cells are stacked nine to twelve high.[11] It can be recharged at rates of up to 200 kW (DC).[11]
The headlamps use digital micromirror devices with 1.3 million pixels per side, displaying a startup sequence to welcome the approaching driver, including a projection of the updated Cadillac crest.[11]
Customization
Many aspects of the car will be customizable, including exterior and interior colors, trim materials, and finishes. As a starting point, Cadillac offers four "Design Inspiration" themes: Magnetic (dark black and blue colors inside and out), Vale (earth tones), Mist (silver exterior with brown leather seats), and Aurora (sporty red themes).[23] Prospective clients are invited to collaborate on the design with a concierge at Cadillac House at Vanderbilt,[24] a building on the GMTC campus designed by Saarinen and named for Suzanne Vanderbilt, a Cadillac designer between 1955 and 1977 who was responsible for the 1958 Eldorado Seville coupe "Baroness" and 1958 Series 62 "Saxony" convertible.[25]
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