The most effective elements of being at Monterey Automobile Week is simply driving across the peninsula and carspotting. You’ll see all the pieces from Ferrari 250 GTOs and unrestored pre-war Bugattis to model new hypercars and one-off ideas casually sitting in site visitors or in parking heaps. It’s actually unbelievable. However this 12 months, the automotive I noticed that had me probably the most excited was a metallic yellow electrical Cadillac.
I used to be driving by means of Pebble Seaside with a buddy once we handed by a parking zone hooked up to some sports activities fields, the place this Cyber Yellow Celestiq was sitting within the shade beneath some timber. I yelped and pulled a completely authorized U-turn so I might park and test it out, and fortunately the driving force, a member of the Normal Motors design crew, graciously opened the automotive up and chatted with us about it.
I’ve been obsessive about the Celestiq since the near-production prototype was unveiled in 2022. I simply suppose it’s an outstanding piece of design, particularly after recognizing a vibrant pink one (with a white and blue inside!) in my lodge valet at Automobile Week final 12 months, the primary time I had seen one in individual. Many individuals say the Celestiq simply seems to be like a stretched Lyriq — that’s simply how a design language works, guys — however in individual you’d by no means mistake one for the opposite. The Celestiq is large, about half a foot longer than an Escalade, and it has dramatic proportions and exaggerated lights and particulars. I really like that lengthy rear overhang, fastback form and glass hatch; the entire thing has whole French vibes. The drama is enhanced by an outrageous coloration like this metallic yellow, although the Celestiq additionally seems to be nice in darker, classier shades.
Sadly, this Celestiq had a really tame inside, with black leather-based and accents of aluminum and heat matte-finish wooden. I believe the cabin nonetheless seems to be fairly particular even on this fundamental spec, nevertheless it’s significantly better suited to a brighter coloration scheme with extra distinction. You actually need the screens to be on to get the complete impact, too. However at the same time as a prototype in a less-than-ideal spec and setting, all of it seems to be very properly completed.
The Celestiq additionally sounds very cool. I’m all for EVs getting synthetic noises, whether or not they be aping an inner combustion motor or a sci-fi spaceship, and at low speeds the Celestiq emits a pedestrian-warning sound that’s distinct and recognizable. It’s form of like a sound bathtub, or a frequency made by a theremin, and I believe it fits the design ethos of the automotive properly.
Sadly, I’ve solely seen this yellow one and that pink one final 12 months, regardless of Cadillac having almost half a dozen driving round Monterey this 12 months and others getting proven off at varied occasions over the previous few years. Earlier in the summertime I missed a neon inexperienced check automotive in downtown Detroit by 5 minutes, and that data almost ruined my journey. It’s exhausting to consider the final new automotive that I’ve yearned to identify this a lot.
As soon as deliveries of the $340,000 Celestiq begin later this 12 months, it’ll stay a uncommon sight, although hopefully residing near Beverly Hills I’ll see greater than most individuals. Cadillac says it might solely hand-build a pair Celestiqs per day at its Technical Middle in Warren, Michigan, understanding to just some hundred annually. Every one might be completely bespoke when it comes to spec, too. For example of the customization potential, one buyer, an expert athlete, had their participant quantity engraved all through the automotive, based on Automobile and Driver. And earlier than you say “who’s gonna spend that a lot on an costly electrical Cadillac,” the primary 18 months of manufacturing had been already bought out by the tip of 2022.
Again within the Fifties by means of the ‘70s, Cadillac was identified for gigantic, ostentatious automobiles like the long-lasting Eldorado Biarritz, which was slathered in chrome and wild design components like tail fins and rocket-esque bumpers. The 1959 Biarritz value $7,401 when new, nearly 4 instances the common value of a brand new automotive that 12 months. I see the Celestiq as being in the identical vein as these classics. It’s massive, it’s controversial, it’s costly, it’s showy, it’s inconceivable to mistake for the rest — therefore why Cadillac introduced again its Goddess mascot for the automotive. Positive, I want Cadillac would have made automobiles like the Sixteen and Ciel, however we needs to be completely satisfied the Celestiq exists. It’s an idea made actual, precisely the kind of flagship that I believe Cadillac wants.
The Celestiq isn’t the one such flagship car that Cadillac is engaged on, both. At Automobile Week it unveiled the Sollei, a two-door convertible based mostly on the Celestiq with an inside made out of mushrooms. Whereas billed as only a idea, it seems to be like Cadillac might simply put it into manufacturing — one of many advantages of utilizing a skateboard EV platform. Past simply with the ability to, it looks as if Cadillac needs to begin promoting limited-run automobiles just like the Sollei, as evidenced by it being introduced across the peninsula to impress potential consumers. One morning, it was proudly parked in my lodge’s valet, getting simply as a lot consideration because the Bugattis throughout from it.
