Just a few months after unveiling the prototype that preceded it, Cadillac has revealed the production version of its new electric flagship, the statuesque Celestiq. This shooting brake breaks with the aesthetic canons of the F-segment (representative sedans) and is presented as a very personal proposal that seeks to underpin the role of the American firm in the competitive premium sector.
The model has a drive unit made up of two motors (one on each axle), which provide total traction, 608 CV (447 kW) of power, and 867 Nm of torque. It can complete 0-100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds, an amazing figure for a vehicle of its size that reminds us of the wild performance that electrification allows.
Its 111 kWh battery pack allows it to homologate an approximate autonomy of 483 km EPA. As for the load, it can reach a maximum of 200 kW in direct current, taking 10 minutes to recover 126 km EPA. Although these figures are not bad, they are far from the models with 800-volt electrical systems.
At the chassis level, the adaptive pneumatic suspension, magnetic damping, steering rear wheels capable of turning up to 3.5º, active roll control, and progressive electric power steering should be highlighted. Although the vehicle uses General Motors’ Ultrium technology, its platform has been developed specifically for it.
The Cadillac Celestiq will be built by hand
Following in Tesla’s footsteps, some castings are used in its structure to simplify production (the underside of the vehicle employs six large aluminum parts, each replacing 30-40 typical stamped components). On the other hand, the Celestiq also uses 115 3D printed parts (window controls, handles, decorative pieces…). Its assembly is, yes, completely handmade.
The cabin marks Cadillac’s return in style to the most opulent luxury, distancing itself from the sobriety of its German and Japanese rivals. And it is that although the minimalist design of the dashboard disappoints a little for its lack of originality, the use of truly striking color combinations such as the blue upholstery in the photos takes us back to the glamorous Cadillac of the 50s of the last century.
The Cadillac Celestiq features power-opening and -closing doors, a four-zone intelligent panoramic roof that uses suspended particles to adjust the level of light coming in, four-zone climate control, a 38-speaker AKG audio system, heated and ventilated seats, ambient lighting with 450 LEDs…
The dashboard is dominated by a gigantic 55-inch panoramic panel that occupies the entire width of the cabin. It is divided into three sections: instrumentation, infotainment system, and passenger display. In the console, there is an 11-inch control center, while in the second row of seats we find another 8-inch. In addition, the rear passengers also have 12.6-inch screens.
Another interesting point is the Ultra Cruise “hands-free” semi-autonomous driving system, which includes automatic lane changes. At the time of its launch, it will work on more than 3.2 million kilometers of highways in the United States and Canada, reaching 5.5 million later. The Cadillac Celestiq will likely arrive later in the European market as part of General Motors’ expansion plans for the brand.
