The recent GM EV Day event was overflowing with new info on the automaker’s upcoming line of all-electric offerings, including the announcement of a new flagship luxury sedan from Cadillac called the Celestiq. Now, according to media in attendance at the event, the upcoming Cadillac Celestiq will cost at least $200,000.
If true, that price tag will make the Cadillac Celestiq the most-expensive production vehicle ever sold with a Caddy badge, catapulting the sedan into the realm of European heavy-hitters from the likes of Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and Mercedes-Maybach.
Granted, that’s probably where a flagship model should be – at the top of the pile, waving the brand banner and raining down premium, aspirational associations across the make’s entire stable. The question, though, is this – what will the Cadillac Celestiq offer to justify the eye-watering price tag?
For now, Caddy is keeping its cards close to its chest on that front, merely stating that the upcoming sedan will be the “ultimate expression of Cadillac design and technology, with a bold, dramatic presence, and unparalleled refinement and innovation.” Sounds promising, but how about something a little more concrete?
Well, we know that the Celestiq will most likely adopt GM’s next-gen BEV3 electric platform for underpinnings, and could offer both RWD and AWD drivetrain configurations. We also know that the sedan will likely take styling cues from the gorgeous Cadillac Escala concept that debuted in 2016 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Finally, we expect the four-door to arrive sometime between 2023 and 2024, following the launch of the Cadillac Lyriq crossover slated for 2022.
Furthermore, it’s entirely possible the Cadillac Celestiq will offer some hugely impressive output figures. We already know that GM isn’t shy when it comes to making high-powered all-electrics, as evidenced by the 1,000-horsepower claims of the upcoming GMC Hummer EV, and given the Celestiq’s price tag, we think something near four-figures for motivation would be entirely justified. In addition, the Celestiq will be hand-built in the United States.
Then, of course, we have the tech offerings. Perhaps the Cadillac Celestiq will offer the highly advanced next-gen version of the Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system called Ultra Cruise, something which will get closer to full autonomy than the systems currently in use with the Cadillac CT6, CT5, CT4, and next-gen 2021 Cadillac Escalade.
We’ll follow this story as it develops, so make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Cadillac Celestiq news, Cadillac news, and 24/7 GM news coverage.
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$200K and people thought Cadillac's CT6 was overpriced.
Cadillac at the EV day has said this car will be hand made and have a limited run. I'm guessing say 500 units?
It makes you wonder, GM talk a good game. But two or three years for a flagship car,the rest of the world would still be ahead of them.I say fire them all I thought GM was a business.
Cadillac has a hard time pushing a $100k vehicle. They sold very few CT6-Vs, CTS-Vs and Escalade Platinums. But somehow they’re going to push a $200k one? No chance in hell. They’ll be lucky to sell a dozen of these in China. Probably won’t move a single one in the US. They haven’t proven to us that they can build vehicles that are worth anywhere close to that. I bought a $73k CTS-V in 2011. From day one, the thing rattled from the dash and sunroof. Rented a 2019 CTS last summer. It also rattled, from the sunroof and dash. Eight years, two generations, and they can’t fix a problem. Inexcusable for a company trying to move upmarket.
If Mary Bara is in charge it will be a complete flop. She knows as much about cars as Obama did about the police department.
Mary is an engineer who came up through the GM ranks. She knows a hell of a lot more about cars than you do.
She's a 35 year lifer, as was her father, and she says she wants to change the culture. Sure she knows "GM" but when I met her she was in Human Resources... she's not qualified to be there, she was appointed by Barry Soetoro and she's ruining this company. Oh and bubbaq knows a hell of a lot more than you do about everything... knowitallbutthead...
Remember the GM HYPE about the Omega platform? CT6 was first, then a unspecified CT7 or 8, Elmargej and Esclade on Omega... Remember all that? What happened next? The cheapskates at GM panicked and canceled this NEW direction to cut costs. Cant help but to think after two or three years of dithering GM will come out and BOLDLY announce cancellation of this next new way for Cadillac and expect accolades for there cost cutting efforts. This of course after a internal program to massively cut costs and fatally cheapen the end result will come first, then the natural GM reaction of canceling it.. HYPE IT, HYPE IT, HYPE IT, CUT IT, CUT IT, CUT IT. KILL IT! DONE!
This is pretty cool. even if they only sell five a year.
It seems when it comes to low volume niche market cars Reuss is taking the wheel. I say that's a good thing because he has a passion for great cars. At least he does not come across like a beancounter.