$650,000 for a Cadillac? Absurd. $650,000 for a hand-assembled, fully-custom, one-of-one, electrical Cadillac with cutting-edge know-how and improvements that eclipse even that of Bentley and Rolls-Royce? Now that’s extra prefer it.
That is the Cadillac Celestiq (pronounced sell-ess-tick), a built-to-order four-door hatchback that harks again to the longroof wagons and private luxurious vehicles that after dominated the North American market. Because the Basic Motors VP of World Design places it, they wish to ‘reinvent American automotive luxurious’. For a reasonably penny, clearly, however whenever you view it from the lens that it is a uncommon, American-made piece of avenue furnishings that wouldn’t look misplaced at Pebble Seaside, we’re extra inclined to agree.
The proportions are nearly farcical. The Celestiq measures 5,516 mm in size and stands only one,452 mm in top, making it longer than a regular-wheelbase Escalade, however simply wanting a Rolls-Royce Phantom. It’s not a fantastic automotive within the conventional sense, however the imaginative rear finish impressed by Cadillac’s idea vehicles exudes street presence and makes us optimistic about their new design course. Frankly, we nonetheless suppose the Celestiq appears like an idea automotive, however it’s now a full-production automobile – that’s how far-fetched its angles and dimensions seem, particularly when parked subsequent to extra conventionally styled sedans just like the Toyota Camry or Acura TLX. Adorned in Siku Tricoat Metallic paint, this pearlescent hue additional accentuates its silhouette, shimmering with faint cerulean tones like sunshine bouncing off the information of an Arctic glacier.
Rarity is all however assured. Solely six dealerships in Canada are allowed to promote the Celestiq, and solely six vehicles have been allotted to our market this 12 months. Order one and it’ll take a couple of 12 months to construct. Why so lengthy? As a result of it isn’t like ordering a mainstream Cadillac, equivalent to an Escalade or Lyriq. The Celestiq is a completely customizable automobile the place the sky’s the restrict (truly, your pockets measurement dictates that ceiling), or as Cadillac proclaims, ‘it’s the artwork of individuality’. The acquisition expertise mimics that of different coach-built automobiles. Patrons are assigned a private design concierge who can deliver their dream to actuality by selecting materials, supplies, and designs for the Celestiq. Would you like sure forms of wooden supplies embedded into the cabin, or maybe a particular, significant paint color? Cadillac says that nothing is off the desk. Sources even point out that one American purchaser custom-made theirs for as much as $1.3 million USD, which gives a tough estimate of what we’re coping with.
Some may scoff at that value, however a more in-depth have a look at the posh items market reveals the identical practices. Think about if Hermès got here as much as you, a loyal patron and collector of limited-edition Birkins and Kellys, and requested should you wished a {custom}, one-of-a-kind purse that may very well be personalised with any supplies or colors, and charged you $1 million. I’m certain most of those high-net-worth people wouldn’t even bat a watch and switch the funds to Paris instantly. The issue with Cadillac comes all the way down to model affiliation and high quality, however spending a while with the Celestiq may make you a believer.
The inside dazzles with each top-shelf supplies and visible drama – no expense was spared. What seems to be metallic is certainly metallic. Genuine supplies are current all through, from the buttery leather-based seats to the felt-lined cupholders and the suede headliner. Even the metallic window switches and door latch really feel dearer than on the brand new S-Class. We are able to’t discover a shared GM panel anyplace that we are able to dissect and penalize, nor are there any low cost, shiny black panels in sight. Each touchpoint is immaculate, as you’ll anticipate at this value.
The crystal rotary dial is our favorite contact – it sparkles and is so vibrant that we are able to catch our reflections in it. And that emblem within the heart? Cadillac have resurrected its mascot from the Nineteen Thirties, the Cadillac Goddess, the sister, if you’ll, to Rolls-Royce’s Spirit of Ecstasy. Again then, it was frequent to have a hood decoration. Mercedes had one too.
The variety of Easter Eggs you’ll discover contained in the Celestiq surpasses even that of Jeep. There are hidden Cadillac logos within the metallic door panels, ‘Commonplace of the World’ scripts on the coat hooks and leather-based strap hinges, coordinates of its hometown on the dashboard, and even an illuminated Cadillac crest behind the dashboard going through ahead, so oncoming visitors is aware of exactly what you might be driving. Moreover, whenever you open the middle console cowl, you’ll discover the silhouettes of Cadillac’s lineage etched into the metallic, showcasing the Eldorado by way of to the Celestiq.
There aren’t any door handles right here; a spherical button within the B-pillar prompts the automated entrance and rear doorways. The person rear bucket seats are cossetting and supportive, every complemented by its personal part of glass roof. Via the middle touchscreen, you’ll be able to modify the quantity of sunshine that shines by way of every of the 4 sections, and it morphs from opaque to clear in lower than a second, making you are feeling cocooned inside your individual particular person pod. Those that have flown in first or enterprise class know this sense effectively. And whereas Asian and European airways have distilled this section all the way down to a science within the skies, this American service seems to be getting its mojo again once more.
The Celestiq is a rolling piece of artwork that additionally occurs to go like stink. Using GM’s Ultium structure that consists of a 111-kWh lithium-ion battery and two electrical motors, the Celestiq produces 655 hp and 646 lb-ft of torque by way of single-speed gearboxes on every axle. That places it squarely in opposition to the Porsche Taycan Turbo and Audi e-tron GT quattro, however Cadillac’s claimed 0-100 km/h time of 4.0 seconds makes it clear that pace isn’t the first objective.
As a substitute, it’s about consolation, street compliance, and being outfitted with each piece of know-how identified to humanity, together with an energetic air suspension with magnetorheological shocks, rear-wheel steering, energetic anti-roll bars, adaptive all-wheel drive, and energetic aerodynamic components on the rear spoiler and entrance grille shutters.
Throughout our temporary drive of the Celestiq on acquainted roads, we got here away impressed by its low-speed maneuverability and agility. Regardless of its appreciable width on the street and the truth that you continue to have to be cautious of its footprint, the Celestiq rotates on a dime and is straightforward to manage. There’s a sure deftness to the steering, and it’s heavy by EV requirements, but it surely’s stuffed with really feel and you’ll precisely place the entrance wheels the place you need.
The Celestiq shifts its weight effectively, with nonetheless a little bit of physique roll pushing you into the leather-based aspect bolsters when carrying an excessive amount of entry pace, but it surely’s not unwieldy. It rides effectively, however to not the extent of a Continental GT or Spectre. The Cadillac rides busier with extra vertical oscillations filtering into the driving force’s seat, and there’s extra undesirable motion in the best way it settles after negotiating damaged roads, however there’s no straightforward repair for working such a heavy electrical automobile. On that notice, our driving yielded a pc estimate of 470 km on a full electrical cost.
We did uncover a couple of minor factors of concern, all of which could be simply forgiven because of the rarified air that the Celestiq breathes in, however are value mentioning nonetheless. The driving place isn’t well-suited for my tall, lanky determine, as you sit fairly excessive up because of the battery placement below the floorbed. The pedals are additionally positioned fairly shut, so somewhat than feeling built-in into the automobile, you are feeling like you might be sitting on high of it. The B-pillars are ridiculously thick and eat into blind spot visibility, and the view out the rear bunker-slit windshield isn’t nice both. The rear home windows don’t roll all the best way down, constrained by the door form. There’s additionally a entrance trunk, but it surely’s comparatively small.
Half 1,000,000 {dollars} goes a great distance within the higher echelons of automotive luxurious, an area that Bentley and Rolls-Royce have lengthy established as their very own, catering to VIP shoppers with databases that stretch in direction of the moon. However each model has to begin someplace, and Cadillac, with a protracted and storied historical past, lastly desires to struggle again and set up model cache the place it issues most with a hand-built, fully-commissioned EV.
Incorrect time with the unsuitable product? Au contraire. With Cadillac returning to the highest step of motorsport in Components 1 and its competitiveness in sports activities automotive racing with the fan-favourite V-Collection.R LMDh, now could be the proper time to return to teach constructing and market the Celestiq as a halo product that the model deserves. Whether or not it turns into profitable or not doesn’t actually matter. If the design, engineering feats, and, extra importantly, the emotional draw of the Celestiq trickle all the way down to Cadillac’s extra typical fashions, then everybody takes the chequered flag.
(Particular because of Antonio Chan at Markville Cadillac for loaning us their Cadillac Celestiq for evaluate)
Specs:
Mannequin: 2025 Cadillac Celestiq
Paint Sort: Siku Tricoat Metallic
Value as Examined: $650,000 (estimated)
Wheelbase(mm): 3,307
Size/Width/Peak (mm): 5,516 / 2,080 / 1,452
Powertrain: 111 kWh lithium-ion battery, two electrical motors
Horsepower: 655 hp
Torque: 646 lb-ft
Drive Configuration: Twin electrical motors, AWD
Noticed Vary: 470 km
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport EV; 285/35R23
