Among the finest elements of being at Monterey Automotive Week is simply driving across the peninsula and carspotting. You’ll see every part from Ferrari 250 GTOs and unrestored pre-war Bugattis to model new hypercars and one-off ideas casually sitting in visitors or in parking tons. It’s actually unimaginable. However this yr, the automobile I noticed that had me essentially the most excited was a metallic yellow electrical Cadillac.
I used to be driving by Pebble Seashore with a good friend after we handed by a car parking zone connected 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 may park and test it out, and by chance the driving force, a member of the Common Motors design crew, graciously opened the automobile 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 exceptional piece of design, particularly after recognizing a brilliant purple one (with a white and blue inside!) in my lodge valet at Automotive Week final yr, the primary time I had seen one in particular person. Many individuals say the Celestiq simply seems to be like a stretched Lyriq — that’s simply how a design language works, guys — however in particular person you’d by no means mistake one for the opposite. The Celestiq is big, 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 complete French vibes. The drama is enhanced by an outrageous colour 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 feel the cabin nonetheless seems to be fairly particular even on this primary spec, but it surely’s significantly better suited to a brighter colour scheme with extra distinction. You actually need the screens to be on to get the complete impact, too. However whilst a prototype in a less-than-ideal spec and setting, all of it seems to be very nicely completed.
The Celestiq additionally sounds very cool. I’m all for EVs getting synthetic noises, whether or not they be aping an inside 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 sort of like a sound tub, or a frequency made by a theremin, and I feel it fits the design ethos of the automobile nicely.
Sadly, I’ve solely seen this yellow one and that purple one final yr, regardless of Cadillac having practically half a dozen driving round Monterey this yr and others getting proven off at varied occasions over the previous few years. Earlier in the summertime I missed a neon inexperienced take a look at automobile in downtown Detroit by 5 minutes, and that information practically ruined my journey. It’s laborious to consider the final new automobile that I’ve yearned to identify this a lot.
As soon as deliveries of the $340,000 Celestiq start later this yr, it’ll stay a uncommon sight, although hopefully dwelling near Beverly Hills I’ll see greater than most individuals. Cadillac says it may solely hand-build a pair Celestiqs per day at its Technical Middle in Warren, Michigan, figuring out to just some hundred annually. Each can 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 automobile, in line with Automotive 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 have been already bought out by the tip of 2022.
Again within the Fifties by the ‘70s, Cadillac was identified for gigantic, ostentatious automobiles like the enduring Eldorado Biarritz, which was slathered in chrome and wild design parts like tail fins and rocket-esque bumpers. The 1959 Biarritz value $7,401 when new, nearly 4 occasions the typical value of a brand new automobile that yr. 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 automobile. Certain, I want Cadillac would have made automobiles like the Sixteen and Ciel, however we ought to be completely satisfied the Celestiq exists. It’s an idea made actual, precisely the kind of flagship that I feel Cadillac wants.
The Celestiq isn’t the one such flagship car that Cadillac is engaged on, both. At Automotive Week it unveiled the Sollei, a two-door convertible primarily based on the Celestiq with an inside created from mushrooms. Whereas billed as only a idea, it seems to be like Cadillac may simply put it into manufacturing — one of many advantages of utilizing a skateboard EV platform. Past simply having the ability to, it looks like 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.
