Cadillac has revealed the production version of the CELESTIQ concept we saw in July this year. But I think it’s more appropriate to call this a near-production version because Cadillac is not yet ready to send this to production. The company is hoping to commence production in December 2023 (no, not December 2022). And, apparently, the starting MSRP is gonna be north of $300,000.
Just like the Lyriq production model, the Celestiq (near) production model retains most of the styling elements from the concept, including the complicated-looking front and rear fascias. That shooting brake-like rear-end is gonna be a love-it-or-hate-it situation for a lot of people, but I guess the styling will grow over time.
Cadillac is yet to release full technical details, but one thing is for sure: the Celestiq is a full-size luxury automobile, meaning, you’ll have a massive footprint on the roads plus you’ll need a bigger parking space at your place. But anyway, the example shown here is riding on gigantic 23-inch aerodynamic wheels wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport EV tires. Cadillac is also happy to share that the Celestiq contains 115 3D-printed parts; these would include structural components under the vehicle floor, window switches, grab handles, console decor, steering wheel center, and seat belt adjustable guide loop.
Other key highlights include Adaptive Air Suspension, Magnetic Ride Control 4.0, Active Rear Steering (up to 3.5 degrees), Active Roll Control, Active Rear Spoiler, and of course, Power Open and Close Doors. The steering wheel is electrically assisted and the ratio depends on the vehicle speed.
As you probably know, that complicated-looking front fascia contains lights that perform choreographed animations. The choreography begins when the owner is approximately 15 feet away (with the key fob, of course). The vehicle welcomes the owner by illuminating the Cadillac Crest, before light cascades from the middle of the black crystal shield grille to the headlamps, creating the impression the vehicle is powering up and preparing for the journey.
The roof is branded as Fixed Smart Glass Roof. It employs something called suspended particle device (SPD) technology that allows you to control the amount of light entering the cabin—in four zones—one for each passenger area. It is also treated with infrared reflective and low-emissivity coatings that help retain heat and prevent sunlight from raising the cabin’s temperature. Furthermore, acoustic laminated glass is used extensively throughout the exterior of the vehicle, including all windows, to maximize sound isolation.
On the inside, things look just as jazzy as they looked in the concept. Key highlights include a dashboard full of display (55-inches); a 11-inch touchscreen on the centre console; two 12.6-inch displays for the rear occupants; another 8-inch touchscreen on the rear centre console; Google built-in; Gentherm ClimateSense four-zone microclimate system; heated armrests; heated, cooled and ventilated seats; neck scarf for all seats; Active Road Noise Cancellation tech; a 38-speaker AKG Studio Reference Audio System; Ultra Cruise hands-free driving tech, and Remote Auto Parking.
Moving on to the juicy bits of the story, the Celestiq packs a two-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain estimated to offer combined figures of 447 kW (600 bhp/608 metric hp) and 868 Nm (640 lb-ft) of torque. A 111-kWh battery pack is estimated to offer a range of up to 483 km (300 mi) on a full charge. Cadillac claims that the Celestiq’s 11.59:1 front and 11.63:1 rear gear ratios were specially calibrated to optimize range and performance. The company also claims a 0-60 mph (96.5 km/h) sprint time of 3.8 seconds.
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