CLASSICALLY CLEAN

Combining rich history and bold futurism, this new Cadillac reaches for the stars.

With over a century of history, Cadillac spent a very long time known as the pinnacle of automotive luxury, and while many of us still colloquially refer to the “Cadillac of (something that isn’t a car),” the automotive world has changed, and the luxury car arena is saturated with stiff competition. It’s been quite a while since Cadillac has stood alone at the top, but with the new Celestiq, the American luxury legend seeks to regain its throne.

Even among Cadillac’s luxury peers, the Celestiq isn’t just any flagship model. It’s a halo car, the likes of which haven’t worn a Cadillac badge in a great number of years. Using General Motor’s Ultium platform, the Celestiq is all electric, and boasts 600 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque with dual-motor all-wheel drive for a smooth and powerful ride and a driving range of 300 miles. Despite its immense size and presence, and its luxury focus, it can still accelerate from a standstill to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds.

The performance is just the beginning of what makes the Celestiq impressive. Sold at a staggering price above $300,000 and limited in production number, each example will be personally commissioned, and the design and building process will be an involved and memorable collaboration between the owner and Cadillac’s artisans. Acting as a canvas for each owner’s personal tastes, every Celestiq will use unique materials and finishes based on what the owner desires. Cars will be crafted by a small team of artisans at the

Eero Saarinen–designed Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, where GM made an $81 million investment.

Placing faith in the Celestiq to transform the Cadillac brand, designers took inspiration from some of Cadillac’s most famous cars, such as the 1933 V16 Aerodynamic Coupe and the 1957 Eldorado Brougham. They even brought back icons like the Cadillac Goddess, which is encased in the central rotary dial of the car. With ambitious features like the Smart Glass fixed roof with four individual zones, doors that open and close electroni - cally, and the bespoke construction of the car itself, the Celestiq promises an ownership, configuration, and driving experience that is irreplicable.

The new Cadillac Celestiq and its production process involves 300 patented and patent-pending technologies. Coupled with its exorbitant appointments, personalization potential, and incredible craftsmanship, Cadillac is betting on the new flagship to take the brand — and American automotive luxury as a whole — not just to its former glory, but to a futuristic level beyond that.