Almost three years after unveiling the idea model of the flagship Cadillac Celestiq EV, GM has lastly launched the actual factor: a $360,000 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 “Standard 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 approach 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 instances, 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, introduced 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 totally different configurations of modules within the battery pack which can be totally 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 peak. The rear seats are introduced up with modules which can be 12 inches tall.
Engineers wanted to put 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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June 5
Cadillac Celestiq EV: The drive
The appears I acquired whereas piloting the Celestiq, made up for that teeny middle console storage. There may be nothing on the highway that appears this sleek, with its dancing LED mild signature within the entrance, lengthy nostril, and sculpted rear finish. In a city stuffed with manufactured magnificence, the real-deal Celestiq stands out.
I begin off on the tough streets of Hollywood, the place I deliberately intention 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 typically leads to a harsh journey, however the Celestiq sports activities a compliant air suspension that retains all of it in verify. Greater occasions like potholes definitely make their presence identified, however metropolis driving is quiet and clean.
Make no mistake, this automobile is a biggun. 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 arduous to seek out road parking on this dangerous boy, however this automobile 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 highway. Right here the Magnetic Experience Management shines, reacting shortly 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 by means of the turns regardless of its zaftig proportions.
The steering here’s a bit numb, however it’s weighted properly and the brake regen supplies a brand new ability to overcome. 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 burden nonetheless transfers to the entrance so I’ve the grip to show, however I’m additionally getting free electrons on the similar time.
I like 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-assistance system is right here, so I take my arms off the wheel and let the automobile take over for some time in visitors.
The Cadillac Celestiq EV has an issue
And therein lies the largest 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 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, typically I’ve to reconnect if I flip off the automobile, 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
However not less than 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 searching 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 automobile like this I’ll accept a separate display screen the place not less than I don’t must scroll by means of 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 autos I’ve pushed. There isn’t any heated and cooled cup holder, an omission I believe is tantamount to forgetting to serve crème fraîche together with your caviar, however Cadillac instructed 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 mild they wish to let into their a part of the automobile.
I’m not 100% bought on the ability 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 mechanically. There may be 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 Cadillac EV expertise
Every Celestiq can be made by hand at Basic Motors’ International Technical Heart in Michigan.
I bought just a little 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 believe 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 at all times had a chilly Weight loss plan Dr Pepper in my hand and lunch choices have 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 possible 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 is likely to be the Rolls-Royce Spectre EV with its cool starry-night headliner. Nonetheless, the Celestiq largely 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 absolutely electrified the Maybach S-Class sedan, though you may get a Maybach EQS SUV.
If you’d like 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.
