- Cadillac’s newest ultra-luxury EV idea bows this week in Monterey
- No specifics printed on its EV powertrain
- It joins the Celestiq and Sollei in Cadillac’s portfolio of super-expensive EVs
- Will a Blackwing be a part of this mooted V-Collection?
The Cadillac Opulent Velocity idea, unveiled Friday at The Quail throughout Monterey Automobile Week, reveals the place GM’s world luxurious model may take its V-Collection efficiency line because it transitions to battery-electric autos.
First teased again in March, the Opulent Velocity is a 2+2 coupe whose most putting function is probably going the powered butterfly doorways. Cadillac has leaned right into a closely sculptured type with a aspect graphic that drops sharply; execs stated that makes the rear wheels extra distinguished to convey a “energy message” with out having to be “brutal.” These wheels have lighted spokes, a novel contact impressed by Formulation 1 that can even draw consideration to the automotive.
Inside, it’s a standard 2+2 efficiency coupe, with an inside that “cocoons, encapsulates, and hugs” the driving force and passengers. Not solely does it sport a future technology of infotainment and projection shows, however the automotive consists of biosensors to regulate its inside atmosphere to assuage or entertain occupants. Whereas the outside seems as if it may very well be constructed at present, lights and mirrors apart, the inside is clearly extra conceptual.
Cadillac Opulent Velocity Idea
Cadillac reaches for the ultra-luxury ambiance
The idea coupe is expounded each to the 2025 Cadillac Celestiq limited-production sedan (sure, the $340,000 one) and the Sollei EV idea unveiled in July. These autos are seemingly focused as a lot at China, the model’s largest marketplace for most of a decade, as they’re at North America.
GM’s Ultium battery structure underpins all of its new EVs, from the Celestiq all the way down to a coming replace of the standard Chevrolet Bolt EV. However the Celestiq platform may spawn quite a few high-end, very luxurious fashions. The intent is to “elevate the model” and “foreshadow” future autos, stated govt world design director Bryan Nesbitt throughout a media briefing earlier than the launch.
So whereas Celestiq is the primary ultra-luxury Cadillac in lots of many years, it’s seemingly not the final—simply because the Sollei EV idea demonstrated.
Cadillac Opulent Velocity Idea
Luxurious efficiency: greater than 0-60 mph
Cadillac execs talked at size concerning the idea’s twin persona, the “two dynamic extremes” mirrored in its title. They replicate the “suave integration of know-how, luxurious, and exhilaration” in each driving modes they envision.
Opulent is the one for regular, day-to-day journey, wherein the automotive pampers each driver and passengers. Meaning an “immersive expertise” in hands-free driving, with augmented actuality on a future technology of head-up shows and each sound and light-weight creating an atmosphere of rest. The objective is to ease driving effort in site visitors, assist drivers discover particular places, and different helpful info that will not distract drivers.
Cadillac stated its “autonomous drive” know-how can be a Degree 4 system that might enable drivers to look away from the highway offered they’re driving in a specified space, however they must take management when prompted. These prompts may very well be simple to identify as a result of the yoke-style steering wheel and pedals would retract throughout autonomous driving and current themselves when wanted.
Then there’s the Velocity mode, for sheer efficiency and even observe use, of the sort supplied by the Tesla Mannequin S Plaid, the Lucid Air Sapphire, the longer term Polestar 5, and different expensive EV efficiency sedans. Brandon Vivian, Cadillac’s govt chief engineer, stated the model even “aspires” to compete with the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Rimac. (Cadillac hypercar, anybody?)
Cadillac Opulent Velocity Idea
The V-Collection lives on in EVs
The V-Collection and Blackwing efficiency variants have given the previous luxury-only model a definite increase, its execs stated. Its consumers are youthful, they purchase a number of V-Collection fashions, and totally 80% of them are conquests from different manufacturers—not one thing that may very well be stated twenty years in the past within the days of the outdated Sedan de Ville.
Cadillac’s new racing efforts—its return to Le Mans, for instance—play into the high-performance picture of the model. Sturdy efficiency that has equaled and infrequently led a phase, racier appearances backed up by correct dealing with, and snarling exhausts have outlined the V-Collection for the gasoline age.
The issue is that, even when Cadillac has backed off its all-EVs-by-2030 pledge, its largest market will more and more demand EVs in all segments. For a lot of the previous 10 years, China has been the model’s highest-volume market. In July, greater than half the brand new autos offered there had plugs, and that pattern won’t reverse.
With homegrown Chinese language manufacturers now providing totally aggressive automobiles, gross sales of mass-market U.S. manufacturers within the nation are plummeting. So Cadillac will transfer considerably upmarket there, as GM CEO Mary Barra has stated a number of instances of late. The Celestiq is the opening shot in that salvo, and there might be extra.
Cadillac Opulent Velocity Idea
A Blackwing within the wings, too?
In the meantime, the model will clearly cling onto the V-Collection to burnish Cadillac’s new efficiency credentials. However what is efficiency in EVs?
“Deltas in 0-60 instances aren’t a differentiator” anymore in luxurious EVs, stated Vivian. As a substitute, the model feels it should surpass rivals in “the entire automobile expertise,” together with “when it’s driving itself as effectively,” to make its highest-end EVs stand aside from the group.
Responding to a reporter’s query, Vivian stated Cadillac was finding out “how finest to ship the efficiency elements” of V-Collection in a “model of Ultium but to come back sooner or later.” He hinted at the potential of a devoted Blackwing entry in its EV lineup as effectively.
Ah, however are its youthful, extra performance-minded V-Collection consumers prepared to go EV? Vivian appeared unfazed. He responded, “Authenticity is absolutely important to the V-Collection prospects, and the efficiency (supplied) might be large, excellent.” These prospects “look ahead to full electrical autos,” he stated, and what they will supply with each the facility of future onboard computing and the vitality to ship that efficiency.
In any other case, we all know just about nothing concerning the powertrain or mechanicals of the Opulent Velocity idea. Press supplies didn’t comprise the phrases “battery” or “energy” or “kilowatts” or “horsepower.” As a substitute, they targeted on the automotive as a pointer to a brand new technology of Cadillac: a “pure expression of the longer term” displaying how “Cadillac’s revered sense of opulence” can evolve whereas “envisioning a zero-emission expression of efficiency and fashionable luxurious.”
Extra is but to come back, clearly. Look ahead to future Cadillac EV ideas that transfer the model effectively upmarket from the Lyriq midsize SUV, which in July was, Vivian stated, the second best-selling luxurious EV within the U.S. As a result of GM now not releases month-to-month gross sales, we’ll have to attend till October to study simply how effectively Cadillac’s sole EV presently on sale is doing, V-Collection or not.
