As Caddy makes the transition to all-electric power across the board, it’s going to need something aspirational, something jaw-dropping, something so good, it’ll carry the automaker’s banner without breaking a sweat. Enter the Cadillac Celestiq flagship sedan, the brand’s forthcoming four-door superstar. The Celestiq was recently shown to select media at a special event earlier this month alongside the Cadillac Lyriq EV crossover, and now, we’re bringing you what we know about the Celestiq based on intel gathered by an attendee at that special event.
Escala concept
Exterior
Unfortunately, cameras were not allowed at the Celestiq debut, so we must instead rely on descriptions to get an idea of what it looks like. Word has it the four-door is similar to the Escala concept, so we have included pictures of the Escala throughout this post for reference.
“This car needs to be seen to be appreciated,” writes one attendee at the Cadillac Celestiq flagship sedan reveal. “Just could not take our eyes of it.”
The Celestiq is described as being simply enormous in terms of exterior dimensions, with very long and very wide proportions. The roof falls back at a fastback angle, creating a sleek profile, with an intricate, eye-catching design with tons of presence.
Escala concept
In addition to looking like the the Cadillac Escala concept from 2016, the Celestiq also mixes elements of the Audi A7 and Jaguar XJ. Behind the passenger compartment is a large C-pillar, possibly the biggest in Cadillac’s history.
The Cadillac Celestiq flagship sedan seen at the event was painted white, and was also equipped with 23-inch wheels that were pushed all the way to the corners of the vehicle thanks to a very long wheelbase. “If you thought the CT6 was big, think even bigger,” writes the attendee.
Cadillac EV concept
The front end is said to be similar to that of the Cadillac Lyriq, with an identical grille and both horizontal and vertical lighting elements similar to the unnamed Cadillac EV concept that debuted in Detroit early last year, plus illuminated Cadillac emblems. It should be noted that the Celestiq was actually designed before the Lyriq, even though the Lyriq will be the first to market.
Escala concept
Some of the lighting is integrated in the grille, without the typical mesh seen on a traditional internal-combustion car. The Cadillac Celestiq flagship sedan’s tail lamps are L-shaped, with the upper portion of the L wrapping into the C-pillar for the turn signals. The lower portion wraps into the rear bumper and house the brake light. “The new Escalade’s vertical lights look like Walmart toys by comparison,” write the attendee.
The Cadillac Celestiq flagship sedan also doesn’t come equipped with door handles or side view mirrors, while the roof is all glass, upping the four-door’s sleek look even further.
Escala concept
Interior
Although the interior below the belt line was hidden, a rendering showed what appears to be a 2+2 seating arrangement. That means four passengers, maximum. The trim included warm, luxurious wood, but the Cadillac Celestiq flagship sedan will offer a variety of choices for customers. The upholstery is high-quality leather.
The interior also comes with huge screens, as Cadillac Society was the first to report. The display stretches across the dash from pillar to pillar to serve as both the gauge cluster and infotainment system, and according to our attendee, “the large OLED screen in the 2021 Escalade would be jealous.”
Escala concept
The Cadillac Celestiq flagship sedan also has a touch screen between the two front seats with a few controls and a small storage area, and there are additional screens between the two rear seats and on the back of the front seats.
Escala concept
Production And Pricing Details
For now, there’s no indication when the Cadillac Celestiq flagship sedan will debut, or when it’ll hit the market. However, executives did indicate that the new four-door would launch by at least 2025.
As we covered previously, the new sedan will cost at least $200,000, and be mostly hand-built, outside of the battery packs and underlying platform, of course. That price tag and hand-built approach will also open up the possibility for high levels of personalization, hearkening back to the old days of coach-built Cadillacs. Production will be limited, taking place “very locally” according to Mark Reuss, president of Cadillac’s parent company, General Motors.
What do you think of the Cadillac Celestiq flagship sedan, dear reader? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to Cadillac Society for ongoing Cadillac news coverage.
Douglas Burke
No one will buy a $200K Cadillac. They don’t hold their value. I’ve owned five Cadillacs in the last 10 years.
Greg
Also, if Cadillacs are so bad in resale, why did you buy so many of them?
Greg
Cadillacs don’t hold their value? Have you noticed how cheaply you pick up a 2 year old Rolls or Bentley? Buyers in that range don’t give 2 hoots about resale.
I share your concern about the price and power of rhe Brand, but you should wait to see the thing before you dismiss it.
Pete Moss
It’s a beautiful car and when it gets to 50 to 70k I’ll certainly consider. Until then I’ll drive my 18 CT6 which we also love with 13k on the clock. We’ll wait it out.
David
It’s a nice looking sedan but, $200K? I dunno. I leased a ’19 CT6 Platinum for the Super Cruise. It’s nice but, notchy in turns and disengages periodically. The workmanship was questionable for a $100K car; numerous paint blemishes, heated steering wheel had to be replaced and leather and wood panels could have been aligned with more accuracy.
Greg
It’s nice looking? You’ve seen the Celestiq ???
matthew g coyle
those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it allante xlr 1958 brougham 1953 eldorado 1953 skylark 1953 fiesta 1989 chrysler tc playing out of your league ring a bell how much will this cost to bring to fruition north of 2-3 billion a kid running a lemonade stand would not make a business call like this.
Greg
It’s you that hasn’t learned from history. I know this because you include the first Eldorado and the Eldorado Broughams in your list. Eldorados, convertibles and/or coupes, were in production for 50 years. The Eldorado Broughams were never intended to sell in large numbers. They were “halos”.
You’re correct the XLR didn’t work. But it did run for a full 6 year model cycle.
matthew g coyle
and i suppose the celestiq is meant for mass production i was talking about low production cars that were halos that pushed far over their nameplate pricewise they had no resemblance to later mass production cars that used the same names when i spoke of the 1953 buick skylark i hope you did not think i was talking or comparing it to later skylarks i was speaking of cars that tried to reach higher and failed and had to sooner rather then later fall back into their already carved out position in motordom.
Christopher Huntley
First of all this sedan is absolutely gorgeous beautiful car and I was looking at the ad stating should you bring back the EXT yes you absolutely should it is seriously stunning a showstopper and it would be one of the first I would buy if I were to buy a Cadillac besides this particular new flag ship car Cadillac continues to lead the way in the American market great job keep knocking Lincoln out
Frank Ricciardi
I love Cadillacs…I’ve bought or leased 17 of them over the past 40 years, but this is a huge mistake. I just don’t see a market for a $200,000 Cadillac. Especially when you consider Cadillac’s poor track record of advertising support. My biggest concern is that Cadillac will build this car and keep it a secret just as it did with the CTS and the CT6. Both GREAT cars not advertised, both dead !!
Johnls_39
Ultra luxury coach-built cars are never advertised in commercials. Another type of advertisement is by word of mouth and social media.
Greg
Absolutely.
Greg
Advertising? For a $200k car??? When was the last time you saw a commercial for a Bentley??? Traditional print advertising is all but dead in a digital world. I see digital ads on line for Cadillacs all the time. The CTS and CT6 are dead because the market for them has shrunk so severely. Just because you love them does not oblige every one else to. It’s not 1985 any more. Get over it.
Tom
Cadillac had too many “leaders” the last half century. First thing each has done is raise prices and not address content. As for their design, someone should give them the “Make America Ugly” Award. And, lose the Black. Black Grills, Wheels and Trim are for Police Cars and Taxi Cabs.
(Past Owner of 8 new Cadillacs – Driving a new Audi A6 now.)
Vas L. Osmond
Those who don’t know history repeat how history repeats itself.
I live in Malibu. There IS a market for $200,000 cars. I see them all over town everyday. They are driven by rappers, rockers, bad boy bankers and their super model wives.
Cadillac aimed too low by going after BMW. They now are going after Tesla, Rolls and Bentley the same way they went after Duesenberg and Packard in the 1930s
How big was that market?
Alex Luft
I wouldn’t put Tesla in the same sentence as Rolls Royce or Bentley… not even close.
And Cadillac is still very much a mainstream luxury brand, and it aims to be that. The goal of the Celestiq is to significantly improve brand image in a way that can’t be done with cars that are in mainstream luxury classes.
Greg
Alex: I think Vas is correct in pointing out Cadillac is attempting to compete with Tesla. Not with Celestiq obviously, but the “charge” (pun intended) into electrification across their mainstream products.
Alex Luft
I don’t paint the scenario as “competing with Tesla” as much as it is about skating where the puck is going, rather than where it is and was.
Tesla as a business doesn’t have much of a future outside of the immediate/medium term. It’s more of a fad, with an unsustainable business model, than anything else.
matthew g coyle
cadillac is no bentley or rolls pierce arrow packard and peerless are not here because they didnt have a chevy or ford to support them or the british government or vw or bmw dusenberg 480 models total if youve noticed even bentley is lowering its flagships price just like maybach had to remember the 2003 v16 cadillac floated nobody else does either.
RONNIE ROOT
As a Cadillac owner of a CT6 I am concerned about the hole this leaves in their line up. In 1 year I’m afraid I’ll have to go foreign for the first time in my life for a large sedan. I am not looking forward to it.
I also have a XT6 and my mother can’t get into it. Hasn’t anyone thought through demographics?? Older folks can’t get into SUV’s and need sedans. There will be more of us then the millennials soon enough.
Truly weird.
Johnls_39
The Celestiq halo is hard to visualize based on the description w/o photos. If majority of the onlookers were amazed at the looks, perhaps this car will sell in decent numbers, albeit in limited numbers matching $200K.
The question is does this car aim at the Ghost/Flying Spur or Phantom/Mulsanne? Or does it fit between the two, Ghost and Phantom? I’m optimistic and looking forward to this car. Will the general public w/ buying power accept an EV coach-built car over a traditional coach-built car w/ a V12 engine?
IMO, Cadillac needs a coach-built $200K Large EV crossover to compliment the car. An EV version variant of the Escalade may not be halo enough.
And regards to some on here, Cadillac will have a successor or two between the CT5 and Celestiq. I don’t see Cadillac not filling the space or two between the two cars.
Greg
It has been stated it will sell in the hundreds. Apparently GM has crunched the numbers and they can make it work for that.
Product like this require different sales efforts. Traditional forms of advertising would be wasted. It will be marketed to the few that can/will buy such costly specialized vehicles. I think Celestiq will be successful globally. Maybe even in Europe. The “novelty” of its advanced electric powertrain should make it attractive to people in that market, the same way that Tesla has done so well in the $60-80k market.
For Cadillac, it’s all down to the execution. Yne car itself, of coarse. And in Marketing. Not advertising. Marketing.
They’re going to have to look seriously at the dealers and how they sell it. I think not every dealer will be authorized to sell it. A hugely expensive car like this won’t be ordered by dealers for “stock” to sit on the showroom floor umtil someone buys it. This is a genuine bespoke product. Most of the usual issues around selling a vehicle don’t apply.
charles vrana
it should have a quality v-8 or v-6 powerplant alternative,i HATE ELECTRIC,NOT FOR EVERYONE!
Dodger
$200,000 is not a “hugely expensive car.” It is a luxury car at a volume luxury price, 1/2 to 40% of the cost of a competitor from VW or BMW, and less by 20% than a Maybach. If Cadillac can build a true luxury car and sell it at that price, its halo could revitalize the entire lineup. The halo car does not itself have to be profitable for it to help the overall cause.
Randy Reneau
Well Cadillac will become a dinosaur. The $200,000 price tag is just stupid. I guess Cadillac is selling a lot of cars. The heads of Cadillac are trying to get a market that I don’t see. I think that if you get a car much above the Chevrolets and Buick you lose. I look for GM to be Chevy and that alone. The heads of Cadillac should look at the over priced cars in the past.If Tesla can make a $40,000 car and cheaper cars coming up. These fools at Cadillac head will lose.Just because yourself a Cadillac, it will not fly because of the price. I guess I wanted to wait, but a Tesla or some other electric car price?
Dodger
This is not a middle class car and is not aimed at the middle class which would not understand it. Unfortunately, it is an EV and really should be a 12 cylinder internal combustion.