Final Cadillac Celestiq Teaser Released Ahead Of July 22 Debut
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GM is set to pull the veil from its highly anticipated Cadillac Celestiq show car later this month. In anticipation of this debut, the American automaker has released the final round of teaser images of the full-size electric luxury sedan, providing us with our best look yet at this future four-door.
The most revealing teaser image of the Cadillac Celestiq released this week shows the vehicle’s rearward sloping, liftback-style rear end, which features vertical LED taillights that are very similar to those seen on the Cadillac Lyriq show car. A separate image shows the Celestiq’s front driver’s side quarter panel and wheel, revealing a set of aerodynamically optimized rims and an LED-encrusted front grille/fascia that is also reminiscent of the Lyriq show car.
Two more images reveal a large portion of the Celestiq’s retro-inspired interior, which features four captain’s chairs, front seatback display screens and red leather upholstery – the latter of which we’ve seen in previous teaser images. This round of teasers also gives us a good look at the Celestiq’s large rear cargo area, which appears to feature a flat load floor with polished metal cargo rails. Other notable interior features include LED-adorned door panels, door-mounted electronic seat adjustment switches, a rear center console display screen/HVAC rotary dial controller and piano black trim.
The Cadillac Celestiq will be hand-built at the GM Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. The vehicle will be built-to-order and will be available with a wide variety of options for customers to personalize it. Tapping GM’s new Ultium lithium-ion battery technology and Ultium Drive electric motors, the Celestiq will come standard with all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-steering, and will also be the first GM vehicle to feature the automaker’s next-generation Ultra Cruise hands-free driver-assist system. Pricing is expected to start at around $300,000, which will likely make it the most-expensive Cadillac model ever offered.
The Celestiq will make its debut in concept-level “show car,” form on July 22nd, 2022 before the production-ready model is shown at a later date. In the meantime, be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Cadillac Celestiq news, Cadillac news, GM electric vehicle news, GM technology news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
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From what I can see it looks to be the absolute best exterior Design Cadillac has ever done.
Because everybody wants tail lamps on the side of the car. I guess the Lyriq customers are putting up with it.
The show is about to begin, ladies and gents…buckle up!!
This car is the real deal, unlike anything else Cadillac has ever built 😉
Modern-day version of the 1980’s Cadillac Seville “Bustleback”….
That’s an insult to Wayne Kady and the 1980 Seville. This is no where near the achievement of that famous neo-classical design.
It now makes sense why GM has been hiding this car for18 months, were so reluctant to show it, and why there was an internal corporate battle as to whether to build it. After seeing it, I’d say the wrong side won.
I thought they were hiding because you said it was cancelled? Hmm….
I never said it was canceled because i didn’t know. What I said was that the evidence suggested, and Cadillac’s history suggested, that it likely would be. Apparently it nearly was which explains why it was talked about and featured on the Cadillac website then it was totally removed and why it’s announced reveal dates kept being postponed. We’ve now heard that there was an internal struggle at GM going on about whether it should be built.
Of course I wanted it to be built but I also knew better than to get my hopes up based on how many times GM has disappointed their Cadillac fans before so I purposefully never allowed myself to believe it would happen.
Now, apparently it will reach fruition but I have many mixed feelings. I guess I’m glad it’ll be built but it isn’t what Cadillac needs in my opinion. They need an S-Class competitor. That’s as high as they should reach right now. Instead apparently they’ve deluded themselves into believing they can go after the vaunted Phantom. My opinion is: A) it’s way too expensive for a brand as damaged as Cadillac. B) it’s not a stunning design like I imagined it would be given the brilliance of Elmiraj and Escala. C) the interior is also tacky. D) It’s electric and likely using the same running gear as all the other Ultium products when it’s price point demands proprietary running gear.
It’s clear you didn’t know. You’ve been actively campaigning against this vehicle for some odd reason.
The vehicle that will be sold in extremely small numbers to only the obscenely wealthy and they will pull a profit on every model sold as it’s designed and engineered to.
Ever wonder why Tesla sells a $100,000K Model S Plaid with terrible build quality, shared exterior and interior design with the base model and no one bats an eye?
It’s the exclusivity. The same thing that will sell this.
I don’t understand people around here sometimes.
I’m on the younger side of the Cadillac fanbase, but I’ve been around long enough to hear ALL the complaints about the brand in recent memory, and chief among them was this: they need a halo vehicle, something to aspire to, something to lead it’s class and be the envy of both those who can afford it, and the many more who can’t. Because that was the Cadillac identity for a long, long time.
Now? These same damn people are saying how ridiculous it is that Cadillac is doing the exact same thing they have been endlessly clamoring for for 30 years. “No, they are shooting way too high, no, they don’t have a prayer of competing with Maybach, Bentley or Rolls, no, the brand is too damaged…” etc., etc. Huh??
Bottom line, people will find a way to whine and complain about anything because it gives them something to do. There is nothing that Cadillac can do to appease them. I, for one, am happy that they’re finally building the car they’ve so sorely needed for the last 60 years.
I agree. Cadillac thinks it can copy a Rolls Royce and won’t even come close but they’re not afraid to ask $300K+. Just take a look at their flagship Escalade now priced at $105K, nice design but with cheap plastic shared parts from Chevy.
I have to agree with @Ci2Eye. I think the Ciel and Elmiraj — had they been built — would have been homeruns.
This car looks meh.
But we’ll see what the full vehicle looks like when it’s fully revealed.
I just laughed when I saw the 1980 Seville, what an ugly POS.
You were looking in the mirror
More like a modern day version of a 1966 Dodge Charger or a Rambler Marlin from the same period.
If you must go there, this car is much more similar to the Jensen Interceptor. Exclusive, ultra high grade, shocking but not to everyone’s taste.
I see stripe patterns on the side windows similar to what we saw on the SmartGlass roof teaser years ago…do you think the side windows will be electrochromically tintable too? I also noticed that they’re frameless doors so I imagine they’re gonna need a snazzy alternative to the privacy curtains that Rolls Royce offers
@Side glass privacy:
That’s a really good observation, to be perfectly honest, I’m not sure. That would make sense for all the reasons you stated, especially since those windows look shaded just like the electrochromatic roof. Would be a really nice high-tech touch!
If that’s what it is, I wonder if it will be concept only or available in certain markets.
Sun shades serve as privacy shades as well and allow companies to bypass window tinting restrictions in some markets and even some US states.
given that it’s a real company developing this feature (Research Frontiers) I’d definitely expect at least a few markets to get it
I’m not disputing that. Just speculating as to if will even be a feature on the concept.
What a disappointment. What happened to the escala concept 5 years ago? That was good looking.
You answered your own question. It was 5 years ago lol
Ken:
It was 6 years ago.
You can buy a CT5. It’s smaller, but essentially the same design as the Escala.
interior is not up to RR or Bentley and the Rear is just horrible. Nothing says competitor with these luxury brands just says its a 300k caddy.
Of course, the used car buyers are the first ones to cry about it. Can’t wait for the details.
I like edgy design but this looks 1) retro 1980’s 2) angular like Hyandai or French design 3) no potential to become iconic.
Hopefully I’m wrong and it’s just the photos. Lucid Air is still my fav EV
Compared to this, a Lucid Air looks like a bar soap dropped in the shower that nobody noticed until the water started backing up. This car may be polarizing, but it’s evident the designers put their hearts into it. A little taste of Bitter SC/Ferrari 365 GT4 Croisette/Ferrari 400 Shooting Brake is more than alright with me.
Looks good. Hope they keep the 2+2 layout for the real car.
Hope they have the option of a five seater.
Candidly, that’s a negative. No five seater is coming.
Ken,
I agree. The Elmiraj was magnificent and the Escala was beautiful too. This is ugly and far too trendy. I kinda figured it must be unattractive as the journalists who saw it over a year ago simply described it as a large, wide, white hatchback with lights stretching from the back bumper to the roof. Although they were forbidden from saying much, none of them seemed at all impressed; none called it beautiful. Soon, we’ll all see why.
Cadillac has such a celebrated design history with many iconic designs, including the recent CT6, so this is truly a letdown. I don’t know who would pay $300,000. for this. If Cellistiq represents Cadillac’s last chance as Ruess said, I’d say the hour of their demise is drawing near.
Lately Cadillac never fails to disappoint me.
Ci2Eye:
The CT6 was “iconic”? Very nice, yes. But hardly that. It was a scaled up CTS……which was a scaled up ATS. Would you call either of those “iconic”?
Megeebee,
I didn’t phrase that well. I actually meant Cadillac has had many iconic designs through the years that are today celebrated and most recently the CT6 was a very well designed vehicle. I don’t think enough time has passed for the CT6 to be iconic and based on its sales and how it was discontinued, it may never be described that way as iconic cars are usually universally loved. Still, I think it has excellent proportions, beautiful surfacing, and plenty of Cadillac DNA imaginatively reinterpreted for today and, importantly, it’s completely free of strange design gimmicks. It’s the best looking Cadillac in many years to my eyes. Not quite iconic though; you’re right on that.
While usually in agreement with you, I would posit that the CT6 was banal at best. A totally forgettable Cadillac. Cimarron and Catera will long outlive the memory of CT6 albeit for all the wrong reasons. Even its name (if you could call it that) was boring. Had they built Elmiraj, Cadillac would already be back on top today. But that ship sailed a long time ago.
The Celestiq is bold and it’s taking names. And it’s got a name! The curse of alphanumeric gulag ID’d, milquetoast Cadillacs is finally broken. A flagship that elicits strong love/hate reactions is much better than a flagship consigned to oblivion from the start.
Regards to Bentley, RR, Maybach, etc? None of those cars are exceptionally attractive. In fact, most all of them are controversial in their own right and hard to look at from many angles. From what I see here, this Celestique is more elegant and svelte than any of today’s uber-luxury behemoths styled by Luden’s.
Idiot Boy,
Likewise, I generally agree with you and I do concur that the CT6 name was banal: I never cared for the CT/XT naming convention at all. Further, Cadillac got much wrong with CT6 including the parts-bin powertrains and the cheaply-appointed and uninspired interior design. The exterior design, however, was excellent. With the CT6, Cadillac finally had proper proportions in their largest sedan after the horrid XTS period and the many long years with only FWD-proportioned sedans . With the CT6, the hood was long but the front overhang was refreshingly tidy, the rear deck was somewhat short and coupe-like but not so much so as to convey a hatchback configuration. The surface detailing was complex and interesting but it was minimalistic and completely devoid of extraneous gimmicks. As a connoisseur of design, I promise as time goes by, the CT6 will be appreciated for its simple elegance, classic proportions and for its design restraint. It is a design that will age well. That will be fitting as it is slated to become the last of the archetypal full-size, RWD, gasoline powered Cadillac sedan. A CT6 Blackwing with its extremely limited production but perfect-sized 4.2 L V8 will be very sought after some day.
The Cellistiq appears to be as the Lyriq is with an over reliance on truly odd and trendy lighting elements and severe, flat surfaced angularity akin to an 80’s era Aston Martin Lagonda. Automobiles of taste and dignity never follow trends nor are they in a constant state of reinvention. I find all those odd and of-the-moment lighting elements inappropriate. Everybody’s doing the LED light show thing right now and Cadillac too has gone all-in and that’s the point. It’s tacky, it’s trendy and they shouldn’t.
I totally loved the Elmiraj and really liked the Escala too. I found those to be beautiful but clearly evolved from Cadillac’s past. I always felt every logo could be removed from the Elmiraj and it would still be instantly recognizable as a Cadillac. It was at once both thoroughly modern and yet classically Cadillac. I was expecting a more complex but restrained design for the Celistiq like those two concepts demonstrated so, as I’ve said, I’m underwhelmed so far.
The first time I ever saw a CT6 on the road was from the rear and that “2.0T” badge just killed it for me. Like what is this – an Audi? A VW?? “WTF??” was literally what I was thinking at the time. Like, have they no pride?! Can they not think an original thought?? It’s supposed to be a Cadillac ferchrissake!
I would not call myself a connoisseur of design, but it was immediately obvious to me the Elmiraj was not only a Cadillac, but a Grande Cadillac. Impossible not to make the connection to Eldorado – even Ed Welburn stated that. That didn’t detract from it then or now. That car was so spectacular, they could build it today and instantly rearrange the world order of fine automobiles. And it’s not just the elegant exterior, but the interior is still the one to model future uber-luxury interiors after. As I said previously, the fine watch-like gauges and metal knobs and switches speak way louder than a panoramic touchscreen ever could. True luxury is the absence of digital anything (that can be seen at any rate). The cursed touchscreen is both a thorn in driver’s sides and the lazy way out from a manufacturing standpoint – not to mention a segue way for Big Tech and more overreaching government infringement into our lives.
I don’t see the subtle elegance in the CT6. I see a total lack of guts. It’s the automotive equivalent of political correctness or non-alcoholic beer. They edited out the passion. They edited out the Cadillac in pursuit of pleasing the Eurocar worshiping masses. Which is why they came with “2.0T” pinned to their a$$es. The designers have proven their capabilities with the showcars from Sixteen to Ciel to Elmiraj to Escala (albeit to a slightly lesser degree). But gm trounced those visions in fear of rocking the boat which was quite the opposite of Daring Greatly. This car is finally breaking free. Everything about it says “We’re done trying to be everything to everyone and everything we’re not and we’re ready to try building Cadillacs again!” And it’s about damned time.
If you think historically about Cadillac, you’ll remember they have a long history of pushing the envelope. From the 1957-‘58 Eldorado Brougham to literally everything they made in ’59, to the “8.2 Liter” of 1970 to the V16 of the thirties. There were probably a lot of Cadillac faithful in 1959 reviled by its bodacious, overstyled whalelike lineup, but wouldn’t they’ve been damned if those cars didn’t go on to become some of the most iconic automobiles ever produced?
The angularity of the new car isn’t trendy. Lozengelike blobness with incongruous cutlines is trendy. The razor sharp Aston Martin Lagonda was one of my favorite cars as a kid and remains so – and this is coming from a kid who was obsessed with musclecars – and still is. My ’70 Chevelle SS 396 is iconic. That car was and will always be sex on wheels. As was the ’69/’70 Grand Prix. And the Renault Alpine A310 – and others a few of which I mentioned elsewhere when the stars aligned and the manufacturers dared to let the designers do their thing unencumbered – and just went with it – or the aftermarket coachbuilders took the liberty to shape their wildest passions. Aside from the frilly and totally unnecessary lightshows inside and out, the pics of Celestiq show an angular, confident, unique and unmistakably Cadillac speaking automobile that stands a very good chance of shaking up the luxury car hierarchy and restoring some glory to the much maligned Cadillac marque. Godspeed!
Idiot Boy,
Beautiful post. I agree with your thoughts entirely on the Elmiraj; it should’ve set the tone for future Cadillacs both inside and out. I too would like to see fine instruments, accompanied by the now-obligatory massive screen, in any $300,000 Cadillac. I also loved the beautiful use of veneered wood on the seat backs and throughout the Elmiraj interior. That, to me, conveys far more elegance than panels with cut-outs and LED lights peeking through.
For the exterior, I suppose I was expecting, or hoping, that Cellistiq would expound upon Ciel, Elmiraj and Escala surfacing that represented, especially in Ciel, a revival of more classically Cadillac details rather than embarking upon a revival of 80s European minimalism as exemplified by the Lagonda.
I too wish Cadillac luck. They’ll need it. This will be a high hill to climb and one I would’ve recommended be undertaken in stages.
😭😭😭.
Surely you jest right?
No, I didn’t jest. CT6 is not quite iconic….yet. Perhaps it never will be but it’s a great design like so many that are now iconic. See also my two comments above and then get back to me in 40 years.
… see already in a pic, to whom clients the car is for, so … better not to look at
If we would change the car, we look here for good options of € 7000 Gasoline, in which the EVs ignorance had killed. Now, hope the car does not break down, but we remained without options. And for an EV, do not mind if they ask US$ 3,000,000.00 for the thing. It is an EV, it is for the woman type of pic, so not for us
Taken as a whole, and especially when you zoom in on the details, I’m sure that even jaded auto critics will find this to be a very, very impressive effort.
My concern – based on the teaser images – is that the front and rear styling look too similar to Lyriq. The rear end especially looks like a Lyriq was squashed and flattened a bit. That rear design on the Lyriq is among the few divisive things talked about in what are otherwise almost universally glowing reviews. The design is growing on me, I guess.
Had Celestiq been shown first, it would be the Lyriq that took its design cues from the flagship. But with a strong family resemblance, instead of next-level exclusivity like Rolls or Bentley, Celestiq could have the outward appearance of fitting in to the Cadillac family like S-class/A8/7-series/Panamera. That’s not a bad thing by itself, but it gets in the way of justifying a price tag on par with cars that share no design cues with anything less than themselves.
The Celestiq will almost surely be a home run, but price point (& styling, for some) could determine whether it’s hit out of the park, or just into the upper deck.
@Eric
You get it! Product cadence is so important in the perception of the vehicle. New tech and design should filter DOWN. Particularly at certain price points, or segments.
“Baby Caddy” will always sound better than “Tarted up Chevy, or Chevrollac.”
this one was actually supposed to be revealed before/around the same time as the Lyriq but the extreme SUV hunger forced the Lyriq to be moved up and supply chain issues/short periods of infighting pushed the Celestiq back
Back end is trying to be “French”.
Screams 1970 Citroen SM and 1984 Renault Encore hatchbacks.
Looks awkward and unfinished..with a level of utility incongruent with a $300K vehicle.
Blue Potato:
“..with a level of utility incongruent with a $300K vehicle.”
Since you think you know about such things, just what level of utility should a $300k (that figure hasn’t been confirmed, BTW) vehicle have? Does this car have too much utility, or not enough? Which is it?
The base price of a Rolls Royce Culligan is $350k. Does that vehicle have too much utility, or not enough?
@ Megeebee
Your tripping dude
He’s right. It’s a miracle that Cadillac didn’t go the Culligan route with their flagship. Any sedan – let alone a sleek shooting brake – is a calculated risk in a world obsessed with vehicular cinder blocks. At least Cadillac’s trying to right the ship.
I’ll wait to see more before passing full judgement of course, but so far I must admit I’m a little underwhelmed. First of all, it doesn’t look as big as I was imagining it would be. The journalists who had seen it in a private event said it was massive, but it doesn’t appear to be. Thought it was going to be Rolls-Royce Phantom sized, but appears to be closer to an S class in proportions.
And secondly, this is the problem with them rolling out the Lyriq first. The flagship, halo product is always supposed to debut the new design language first, and then it trickles down to the lesser cars. Cadillac of course did that ass backwards. As beautiful as the Lyriq is, we’ve been looking at it for 2 years, so some of the shock and awe has worn off. And since this has the same design language as the Lyriq, the shock and awe is not nearly what it would have been if this came out first.
Pics don’t do its justice.
Its huge. And you wont see anything as special on the road among the f/f+ segment cars as this car.
Believe me. It’s truly number one flagship. You just have too see in person or at least wait for the full pics.
C:
Have you seen the production model? If so, can you say how it differs from this show car?
No, he hasn’t. And I only know that because the production version doesn’t exist yet, it’s not finalized. But it’ll look almost identical to what you see here, just as the Lyriq show car looked nearly identical to it’s production form.
The fourth picture has a hatch to the show car. Will the production version have a trunk for production instead?
The interior looks like a cheap brothel.
A RR competitor it is not.
Tasteless by gm it is..
Yeah, okay, Yoda.
Why do you get so offended when someone says they don’t like this vehicle? You are the only person on this website that responds to almost every single person who doesn’t like it.
If that were even remotely true, there would be over 120 comments on this story, not 64.
And I don’t care if people like the car or not, what does strike me as weird is how people can look at teaser shots of ANY car (which are, by definition, not supposed to show you any real details of the car), and instantly decide they know everything about it, or at least enough to make total judgment calls. This guy has seen 4 vague pictures, and somehow he can declare the car can’t compete with Rolls Royce. Huh?
It’s poking fun at people who open themselves to that kind of ridicule. Sorry if that bothers you.
It doesn’t bother me but it’s obvious it bothers you because whoever told you small bits and pieces about this vehicle anytime someone says anything you respond. I really believe you think In your head somehow you helped push this car along. And sorry 120 responses is false this barely has 65 comments on this article so that’s false. As I said before you are the only person on this website that anytime anything is said about this vehicle you try to defend it vigorously, sorry Cadillac isn’t going to hire you.
Couple things for ya there, Jake.
One, if I’ve said it once I’ve said it a thousand times, I do not work for Cadillac, nor do I want to. I have had nothing to do with this car whatsoever, nor have I ever said that. Just because I’ve gotten information about it, doesn’t make me a Cadillac employee, or even some kind of insider. When I hear anything, I share it for fun, because people like to hear about future cars.
Two, I didn’t say the article has 120 comments, I said it would have if I responded to every negative comment already left here like you claimed I did. That was pretty clear.
And lastly, as I just said, if people don’t like this car, more power to them, I don’t care. But if you’re going to make stupid comments judging the entire vehicle by a couple teaser images, you open yourself up to criticism. Not sure why you care so much what I say. I don’t care about you enough to know or keep track of what you’ve said on dozens of articles lol, in fact I’ve never even noticed you before, so why do you care so much about what I’ve said in the past?
Again that’s false their are 71 comments 60 of them are not negative so again you lied. I always notice the simps on this website who cry when someone says something about there beloved brand. Once it is unveiled you will still be on here crying about people who don’t like it.
Whatever, dude. And I’m sure you’ll be following me around like a puppy dog in those comments, too. Believe whatever you will.
No need to follow you anywhere I’ll sit back and watch you do exactly as I said.
I’d call it a high-end brothel and what better place to be if you can afford it?
The interior exudes modernity without sacrificing warmth. There’s a Bauhaus look to it which is fittingly modern Cadillac. My main criticism is their obsession with all these goofy light displays. Get rid of the lighted panels and substitute fine wood or metal panels. Spare the plastics, complexity and kitsch. And put some real jewel-like instruments in front of the driver alongside metal buttons and switches. Moving forward, true luxury should be defined in the analog realm.
And just how long before GM pulls the plug on this one?
When it reaches full charge, lol.
😂🤣
How does it not meet or exceed what RR offers?
If you have to ask then it’s not even worth someone explaining it to you since you obviously have never seen any RR in person.
So please detail how the Celestiq doesn’t exceed a RR. I’m sure I’m not the only one who would like to see this list.
Or are you too busy driving your RR to actually provide that detail.
Please don’t speak for the rest of us on here or act like you know what we care about thanks.
I care about hearing whatever answer Luke has. That’s what online forums are about. Don’t be so easily offended, boss.
That rear end and rear three-quarter view definitely have hints of the Cadillac Innerspace concept.
It’s the same as suv’s, wagons and crossovers.
Fantastic.
Rr has dated interiors. Good materials yes, but not the design.
This will have both. Great materials /modern design.
Rolls Royce went so down the Hill, that it could be
Like most recent cars, it relies too much on giant, busy wheels to catch the eye.
Like the Lyriq, the rear door opening looks a bit narrow. How will that window go down?
The worst thing about this car is that it probably means they won’t be offering another large sedan under $150k in the foreseeable future. That part of the market was the vast majority of their sales for a hundred years. Importing the next CT6 from China won’t cut it.
On second thought, since it presumably shares mechanical and electronic components with the Lyriq, after a few years, they might move production to Spring Hill and sell a non-bespoke, lower falutin’ version for a lot less and maybe recoup some of their investment.
I don’t think the production version will have knee-crushing wooden front seat backs.
Does the Lyriq have rear wheel steering? I haven’t seen any mention of it, but it seems like a no-brainer for the long wheelbase.
The CT6 is still for sale (albeit not in America) so the $60-160k market is covered. I hope the CT6 returns here soon as the filler between CT5 and Celestiq.