The Cadillac Celestiq is chock-full of interesting details and high-end tech – as well it should, considering the $340,000 price tag (and that’s before options). Interestingly, the Celestiq isn’t equipped with a roof-mounted antenna. Rather, that fin-shaped element in the rear is used as a back-up camera. Now, GM Authority is diving into why the Cadillac Celestiq doesn’t have a roof-mounted antenna.
During an interview, Celestiq chief engineer Tony Roma provides a few insights into the matter. When asked about the “300 patents” that were poured into the Celestiq’s development, Roma mentions the luxury sedan’s lack of a traditional “antenna farm.”
“And so that was one of the elements, that little chevron on the back there is actually the camera for the mirror. It’s not an antenna,” Roma points out.
So, where are the antennas?
“And so we’ve embedded all of the antennas in the glass. Every antenna, for 4G, 5G, GPS, everything, they’re all embedded in the glass,” Roma states.
Small elements in the Celestiq’s windshield provide a hint as to what’s at work here, with the copper antenna outlines visible inside the glass.
“I forget how many patents there are in that area, but all of the antennas are spread out in laminated glass around the car,” Roma says.
Check out the full interview below. Roma discusses the antennas and glass around the 16-minute, 40-second mark:
It was previously expected that the rear-mounted fin was indeed for the antennas, as GM Authority covered before. However, as Roma confirms, the fin is just for the rear-facing camera, and not the antenna farm.
Also to note, the “patents” that Roma refers to don’t actually provide the Celestiq with a sleek, fin-less roofline, as the ultra-luxury sedan still needs a spot to mount the rear-facing camera. Additionally, with so many antennas embedded in the windshield, replacing the glass is likely quite expensive – not that any Celestiq owner can’t afford it.
Comments
The more whistles and bells the more expensive the insurance will become. Time to get back to basics. Cheers!
If you’re worried about insurance costs, you probably shouldn’t be buying a $340k vehicle.
It looks like a new Honda Accord on steroids! GM has done something stupid AGAIN.
The 2026 Mercedes AMG luxury sedan is absolutely stunning . A 2 door is also available. I have waited long enough for a CT 6 . M B has it .
Absolutely nothing new!!! I owe a 1979 Chevy Malibu Classic and the car has from the factory the antenna embedded in the winshield.
There´s nothing spectacular about this. It´s a technology that is at least half a century old.
Your car was able to receive 4G/ 5G and satellite signals in 1979? Amazing. /s
It’s not the same and you know it.
Honestly, some of the people on here are so dumb, he/she might not know it’s not the same.
Sleek and clever way to hide the antenna through the glass to make the car more sleeker as is. There is probably more to this car technically what the press release had not fully provided.
Broke jokers whine about a car purposefully not made for the masses. Pad Cadillac’s pockets by getting a CT4/5 XT5 or even Optiq for less than $60k…
This thing is getting real close to being dated / looking old…
What they needed was this car with fewer widgets for 150K. And please, give us some pretty colors. No slime green or blood orange.
The Chief Designer said it herself about the colors.