GM officially unveiled the 2024 Cadillac Celestiq this past Monday, showing off Cadillac‘s most advanced and luxurious car yet, as well as one of the most important vehicles the luxury marque has ever offered. Today, we’re taking a deep dive into the suspension characteristics of Cadillac’s new ultra-luxury halo car.
For the past several years, Cadillac has been pursuing a set of driving characteristics that it refers to as Isolated Precision. The Celestiq follows that ethos, delivering a luxurious driving experience while still delivering a level of connectedness to the road. The range-topping Caddy realizes this concept through a suite of cutting-edge, next-gen technologies to provide customers the sophistication they expect.
Doing that required starting with a new platform. Riding on an all-new dedicated architecture that’s technically a variant of the BEV3 platform, the Celestiq integrates the propulsion system’s battery pack and serves as a structural element of the vehicle, contributing to its overall strength, durability and performance. With the architecture out of the way, the next step was the suspension.
The Cadillac Celestiq uses a five-link front and rear suspension design, with the geometry tuned to minimize any disturbance from the road reaching the cabin, yet still allowing proper road feel and handling response. Additionally, this suspension design is optimized specifically for the high torque output from the Ultium battery architecture.
Next up, the Cadillac Celestiq uses the latest iteration of GM’s Magnetic Ride Control system, version four. Originally developed for the track-focused Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, the Magnetic Ride Control system is the fastest-reacting suspension technology in the world. As its name implies, the system uses magnetorheological fluid to enable greater responsiveness, enhanced isolation, and immediate reaction. Though Cadillac has yet to confirm this, we would imagine that the Celestiq would have different damping settings or modes, adjustable via a setting within the vehicle.
Working hand-in-hand with Magnetic Ride Control is Adaptive Air Suspension. Unlike a more traditional suspension system, like coiled springs, air ride offers more isolation for a better and softer ride quality. From what we can tell at this time, this appears to be a different system from the Magnetic Ride Control and Air Ride Control setup offered on the GM T1 platformed full-size SUVs.
Joining those technologies is Active Rear Steering, offering up to 3.5 degrees of out-of-phase rear steering, in which the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front wheels for greater maneuverability at low speeds. At higher speeds, the rear wheels will turn in-phase with the front wheels.
From there, Active Roll Control – Cadillac’s first use of the feature – significantly contributes to the vehicle’s nimble handling. It employs stabilizer bars embedded at the front and rear of the chassis to mitigate the rolling force exerted on the vehicle during turns and other maneuvers, enhancing the feeling of stability, control and occupant comfort.
Electric Power Steering handles the steering functions. It features a variable ratio front electric power steering system, similar to that found on the Cadillac Blackwings but calibrated specifically for the Celestiq. It works in coordination with active rear steering to automatically adjust to the ideal steering ratio depending on vehicle speed, resulting in an engaging and intuitive driving experience.
All of those suspension, chassis and steering advances wouldn’t mean be of much use if their contact to the pavement was not ideal. To that end, the Celestiq will feature available with 23-inch forged aluminum wheels with 23-inch summer-only Michelin Pilot Sport EV tires. GM states that this combination will offer strong rolling resistance performance and precision steering. Designed specifically for Cadillac, the tires’ tread pattern, self-sealing technology and foam inserts will enable a quiet tire for greater ride isolation.
“Celestiq offers responsiveness and athleticism typically associated with smaller performance vehicles,” said Tony Roma, Celestiq chief engineer. “We have incorporated Cadillac’s expertise developing advanced chassis and suspension systems into an entirely new experience for the client.”
As a reminder, the 2024 Cadillac Celestiq uses a dual motor, Ultium drive system, producing a GM-estimated 600 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque.
Under the skin, the Cadillac Celestiq rides on the GM BEV3 platform. The Celestiq will be built in extremely low numbers, and will be assembled by hand at the GM Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. Production is expected to kick off in December 2023.
Pricing starts north of $300,000. Availability will be by waitlist only.
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Comments
This is CADILLACS “EDSEL”. Homer Simpson designed his dream car and Danny Devito gave it to him.
You have never seen the Ford Edsel. I have and it was a big car with plenty of luxury. Its only bad point was the strange grille up front. My neighbor had a blue one which I saw in 1964. It was never a bad car but had few sales numbers, so it was called a failure. Pontiac made less Fieros than the Ford Edsels so is that a GM failure?
GM Fan, you missed his point entirely. This thing is ugly. And anything in the auto industry that is ugly is called an Edsel. That’s what they do. It’s not about sales figures and Fieros. It’s about ugly, straight simple ugly. Get it?
This is the worlds first hatchback station wagon and it is ugly.
Say it with me…$300,000. Wonder if it comes in his and hers. Like a matching towel set.
I have to agree with Reality Check…I’ve been a Cadillac owner and enthusiast for over 40 years and I hate to say it, but this thing is U-L-G-Y. I also think GM and Cadillac are kidding themselves if they think anyone is buying a $300,000 Cadillac. Cadillac couldn’t sell the Allante, the XLR or even the CT6 because they were expensive. This car is OUTRAGEOISLY expensive. Why not focus on a product they can sell like a competitor to the Mercedes S Class or EQS or even a Tesla model S.
It’s not only UGLY, it’s unrealisticly priced for what it is. Thank GOD, that I am still trying to keep it real in my life.
I don’t know who is in charge of GM design these days, but they need to make a change. Competitors are rolling out some really good looking cars.
GM with their misguided wisdom thinks it can hand build a vehicle, call it a Celestiq and be better than a Bentley. Wrong, the only similarity is the price $300,000.00. China will buy them so they can copy the Technology. Meanwhile GM has focused all it’s time and money trying to design and build EV’s. And failed again and again, anyone remember the Volt and Bolt? And speaking of building, their flagship the Escalade, you might find 1 or 2 at their dealerships and they have marked up 15 to 30K (market adjustment) to add insult to injury, MSRP $105K to $135K, or order one and wait over a year, good way to build customer loyalty.
Sorry Mary, GM deserves better management. Maybe when GM needs another government bailout Elon Musk will buy it. After all, he knows how to build vehicles, make all the parts in house and run a successful corporation.
If they’re smart, they’ll give the owner the option of having it rise when he approaches. It’s so low, regular SUV drivers aren’t going to like bending down to get in. The young, supercar set aren’t likely to be interested in a Cadillac.
The Celestiq should prove a successful endeavor.