The Cadillac Celestiq full-size electric luxury sedan is expected to be the last of six Cadillac EV models to go on sale by the end of 2025, and it has been reasonable to assume that it will become available in that year. However, it would seem that the Celestiq will actually come to market quite a bit earlier than that.
The first Cadillac EV model, the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq crossover, was originally scheduled to arrive at the end of 2022. But now, it will go on sale nine months earlier, in the first quarter of the 2022 calendar year.
Cadillac attributes this change to being able to pull ahead both the development and launch of the “modular and highly flexible qualities of the Ultium [battery] system”, as well as “engineering advances in battery technology, use of virtual development tools and lessons learned during the Hummer EV development process”.
In the case of the Cadillac Celestiq, Cadillac Society now has reason to believe that it will go on sale earlier than 2025, specifically in either late 2023 or early 2024 calendar years, most likely as a 2024 model. If this is true, and the Cadillac Celestiq proves to be the last of the projected EVs to become available, electric vehicles will make up half of Cadillac’s vehicle portfolio two years earlier than previously thought.
Other electric Cadillac models outside of the Lyriq and Celestiq are two more crossovers called Optiq and Symboliq, as well as an electric version of the Escalade plus a sedan/coupe cross so far referred to only as the “low-roof” EV.
Expected to have a starting price around $200,000 the Celestiq will be Cadillac’s flagship sedan. With the exception of the platform, panels and electric drivetrain, final assembly of the Celestiq will be conducted by hand. The full-size model will offer up Cadillac’s latest features and technologies, headlined by a large horizontal display spanning the entire width of the dash along with a glass roof divided into four quadrants whose transparency can be individually adjusted by the occupants sitting directly under them.
Until very recently, the only clue as to the outer appearance of the Cadillac Celestiq has been the Cadillac Escala concept, which was displayed at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Further clues were revealed earlier in January via a teaser video.
Want to stay up to date on all things Cadillac during the electric revolution? Then be sure to subscribe to Cadillac Society for more Cadillac Celestiq news and around-the-clock Cadillac news coverage. We also invite you to join the latest discussions in our Cadillac forums.
Wall Street Willie.
Whats with all these made-up names for the models? $200,000.00 for a full-size sedan? I don’t think so. Who are these people that are going to be running out to be first in their neighborhood to have one?
Raymond Ramirez
The imports sell even more expensive models in the U.S. yet NOBODY complains about those costs! If you complain about the Celestiq price, you cannot afford it. Unfortunately for you, there are many millionaires that can. Personally, I am waiting for the Lyriq.
Wall Street Willie.
Cadillac is not an import. In the past, they have always gone their own way. They were luxury cars that were more attainable for most average people. I might remind you of the Eldorado Broughams of the past which also had price tags and what a failure they were.
Randy Reneau
Well one thing about price is if you overprice a product it will not sell. Only look at the 2014 ELR. I bought one of the first ones and told the dealership that they wouldn’t sell because of the price. And they didn’t. I still got it. You can’t tell me that a $200,000 car will sell. Maybe there’s people that will buy them, but these same people are not looking at Cadillacs in that price range. Where the Olds, the Pontiac’s at? And how about Tesla? And the the others? I still think fuel cells makes more sense. Where is all the sells at. Now you have certain Cadillacs priced just above Chevrolets. These dealers that took the buy out knew something. Price matters, maintaining them will be different.
Wall Street Willie.
We are in a completely different era of the automobile experience. Everything has changed from top to bottom. From manufacturing to the final sale. In days gone by. There was a big difference between a Chevy and a Cadillac. Chevy was the working mans and entry-level brand. Not so much anymore. Sure Chevy still offers models at the low end. They also offer high-end models that when nicely optioned out will give the same feeling of convenience and comfort as most low-end Cadillacs and at a much cheaper price.
Chris Cummings
Cadillac has a lot of convincing to to to persuade moneyed customers that a Cadillac (no matter how elaborate, sophisticated or well styled) is worth $200,000. Cadillac has not operated in that level of the industry since the days of the V-16s and perhaps the Eldorado Brougham (even adjusting for currency values over time). That’s a big jump with no preparation or groundwork – target customers have no experience to enable them to trust that Celestiq will be worth their while.
Ted P
One problem with tying your brand’s models names to a novelty format is a lack of control. Cadillac will have a Lyriq, Celestiq, Optiq and Symboliq, but Hyundai already has an Ioniq.
Wall Street Willie.
According to Hyundai, the name Ioniq is a portmanteau of ion and un iq ue . Ions are electrically charged atoms and an essential component of batteries, especially those required in hybrid and other electrified vehicles.
PETER CHUMAS
I think tying too many or all names to novelty format can be overkill. All of the Alphanumeric names like CT4,CT5,XT4,etc. were too many of the types that confused the customer and it becomes harder to tell which is which model. What Cadillac needs to do is to also back into the archives and its old names and revive a couple of Classic names like Eldorado and Fleetwood and use those names on a few of their cars. For example, the CT6 can be replaced by a car bearing the Fleetwood name. And Cadillac needs to make a Coupe and a Convertible out of either the CT4 or CT5 and call it an Eldorado.
PETER CHUMAS
Cadillac needs to resurrect names from its past like the Fleetwood and Eldorado and rename some of its CUV’s with Alphanumeric names and replace them with proper names like the XT6 should be renamed the Escala when it comes to redesign it. The next generation CT5 should be renamed the Seville with a Coupe and Convertible models bearing the venerable Eldorado name. They can keep the CT4 sedan and maybe the XT4 Crossover to keep their names but the XT5 could be kept or renamed something else like the Elmiraj or Anthem or something like that.
Merrick
U can do better and stop over pricing the cars
Raymond Ramirez
See my previous post. Prices depends on values. No other vehicle in the world has those values, nor can compete with the Celestiq. So the price is justified.
Wall Street Willie.
You are delusional and out of your mind.
Randy Reneau
Is that the reason they lost their value. I have two Cadillacs. And depreciation is bad.Look at the auto magazines. What their opinion? Price matters, and the car name isn’t the answer. I have a Mercedes and I wouldn’t recommend people buying one. And who knows the problems with the new models.And it will a new ballgame for Cadillac when the electric come out. How many are they selling now?ZERO
Greg
It’s amazing to read all these posts. The pervasive ignorance is staggering.
If GMC can sell a $100k+ electric Hummer pick up truck, Cadillac can offer a $200k sedan.
It has been stated by GM that the Celestiq is intended as a very low volume specialty car. They will be built largely by hand by a small dedicated group of people at a rate of about 1.5 a day +/-. About 500-600 or so a year. The Lions-share will go to China (And yes, all Celestiqs will be built in the US). It will be a very exclusive, bespoke product. They will NOT be seen sitting in dealer stock waiting for a buyer or advertised with lease deals. They will be MADE-TO-ORDER only. Exactly the kind of car that so many on boards like this have chided Cadillac so harshly for NOT offering!
It is not intended for the likes of WALL STREET WILLIE, RANDY, or FRANK. None of you understand it, nor can you afford one even if you did.
Such products are as much Marketing excersises as vehicles. As such, the Celestiq is also intended to elevate the Cadillac name in the public eye. This it will do, no matter how many are sold.
Wall Street Willie.
Hey asshole, I will simply say that you don’t know me or my financial situation and let it go at that. I understand two things. Money and business and throw in an extensive knowledge of Cadillac’s failures. Cimmaron, erratic downsizing in the mid-’80s that resulted in a drastic and dramatic decline in sales, HT4100 and Northstar engines, Allante, coming late to the table with producing an SUV, the Escalade. Essentially little more than a badge-engineered GMC Yukon Denali, the SUV’s aesthetics were similar to the Denali and the final vehicle was smaller than the Navigator. The Escalade’s underpinnings were borrowed from the Yukon Denali line, with the GMC logos on the center caps replaced with Cadillac’s crest. The Escalade also used the same 5.7 L Vortec 5700 V8 at 255 hp. The list goes on, but I think you get the idea. Someone needs to tell Cadillac that they aren’t the luxury car leader anymore and they need to concentrate on just selling cars. Not image.
Frank Ricciardi
I’m sorry, but I think a $200,000 Cadillac sedan is a very big mistake.
Dique M Cannon-Finley
I have purchased at least 5 Cadillacs in my lifetime, I am the typical middle class buyer, so count me out of the $200,000 model unless it looks like a Rolls Royce with a Caddy emblem setting high on the front I can’t imagine it moving up top! As for the names I like the sounds of the names, kudos for that!