The upcoming Cadillac Celestiq is framed as the luxury automaker’s new all-electric flagship sedan, with a hand-built, top-shelf demeanor, sumptuous, high-tech interior, and powerful EV powertrain. The Celestiq is slated to carry the Cadillac banner as the brand moves towards its all-electric future, but interestingly, the Celestiq was originally planned to have an internal combustion engine.
Cadillac Escala concept, which is said to influence the design of the Celestiq
That’s according to Cadillac exterior design director Brian Smith, who smoke with Automobile recently about the new Cadillac Celestiq and its development. When asked about the decision to make the next Cadillac flagship an EV, Smith said that it was originally planned as something else entirely.
“An internal-combustion vehicle was underway that would’ve caught the tail end [of the pre-electric era],” Smith told Automobile. “That’s when the company took a turn and said, ‘Hey, wait a minute, are we doing the right thing here?’ [We did] a set of scale models, one of which was a standout with a really wild silhouette. It very quickly became a vision not only for that vehicle itself in the lineup, but for the rest of Cadillac.”
Although the new Cadillac Celestiq has yet to be revealed, select media have had an opportunity to see it in person, and so far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Taking after the Escala design study that was shown in 2016 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Celestiq is said to be quite large in terms of exterior dimensions, with long, wide proportions, a fastback roof, and a sleek profile.
Cadillac Lyriq EV crossover
The front end is said to be similar to that of the Cadillac Lyriq, the brand’s upcoming all-electric crossover, which Smith confirmed in the Automobile interview. Smith also indicated that the Cadillac Celestiq was designed before the Lyriq and influenced the EV crossover’s design, although the Lyriq will be first to market ahead of the Celestiq.
Subscribe to Cadillac Society for more Cadillac Celestiq news and around-the-clock Cadillac news coverage.
Frank Ricciardi
The Celestiq is a beautiful car with a dumb name. Why not call it Escala?? Build it with a conventional power train and I get in line to buy one, this is unless it actually costs $200,000 as reported recently. Cadillac has tried several times to build and market very expensive cars such as the Allante and the XLR, both beautiful cars, but neither was successful. I was one of the 3400 people who bought an Allante. I bought it in 1988 and kept it for 13 years. I loved it. I think Cadillac needs to take a half step back and maintain their current loyal customer base. Electric cars may expand the current base, but abandoning Cadillac traditionalist won’t work. It will take too long to build a new base of loyalists. Price is also an important component. The CTS was not an inexpensive car, but it was an excellent value especially when compared to the 5 Series BMW and Mercedes E-Class. The CT6 was also and a good value vs. the German competition, but both are dead leaving the CT4 and CT5. I’m not sure about the CT4, but the CT5 is definitely not a good value.
Johnls_39
The Escala is more of an S Class competitor in concept form. Escala would not make sense as a exotic halo product if the car is being planned as an EV model to compete below the Celestiq.
The Cadillac Escalade, mostly for the second generation model, quickly brought in new buyers to the showroom same as for the CTS for its first generation.
It will not take Cadillac a long time to bring in new base as long the future vehicles are showstoppers like the current Escalade and before them. But I will wait till the Lyriq, Celestiq and EV Escalade debuts as far design is concerned.
Felix
Frank I could had said it better. To abandon many for a few does not sound like good business sense to me. IMO the reason the two vehicles were not successful is Cadillacs tendency to take a vehicle and make it better then cancel it. Take the CT6 as a good example of that.
Frank Ricciardi
I agree, Felix, Cadillac builds a good car improves it but keeps the improvements a secret then they stop advertising it, sales drop off and they kill a great car. The CTS and CT6 were prefect examples.
Greg
Frank:
How do you know the Celestiq is beautiful?
Mike ondre
Want to hear more about the XT6!!! How to personalize your vehicle!
Thanks,
Mike
BigFootRunner
“That’s according to Cadillac exterior design director Brian Smith, who smoke with Automobile recently about the new Cadillac Celestiq and its development.”
Cadillac is really about that life, smoking one with a magazine writer! 😂
Greg
Mike ondre:
http://www.cadillac.com
Steve
Cadillac is putting all of their chips in the middle of the table by going 100% EV in a geo-political environment that’s uncertain at best. I’ve got a bad feeling that they’re again zigging when they should’ve zagged.
Greg
In what way do Geo-politics weight on a line of electric vehicles? Please explain.