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Cadillac Celestiq

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Cadillac Celestiq
Cadillac Celestiq Concept
Overview
ManufacturerGeneral Motors
ProductionJanuary 2024 – present
AssemblyUnited States: Warren, Michigan (Global Technical Center)
DesignerMagalie Debellis
Body and chassis
ClassFull-size luxury car
Body style5-door liftback
LayoutDual-motor, four-wheel-drive
PlatformGM BEV3
RelatedCadillac Sollei
Powertrain
Electric motor2x Permanent Magnet Electric Motors
BatteryUltium lithium-ion battery
Dimensions
Wheelbase130.2 in (3,308 mm)
Length217.2 in (5,517 mm)
Width81.9 in (2,081 mm)
Height57.2 in (1,453 mm)
Chronology
PredecessorCadillac CT6 (US)

The Cadillac Celestiq (/səˈlɛstɪk/ se-LESS-tick) is a battery electric car made by the Cadillac division of General Motors.[1] It is the brand's flagship sedan, replacing the Cadillac CT6.[1] Production commenced in 2024.[2]

Overview

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General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan (2020), where the Celestiq will be built

Cadillac builds the Celestiq by hand,[1] having invested US$81 million to create a low-volume production line at its Technical Center (GMTC) in Warren, Michigan. Since it was completed in 1956, only concept and show cars have been assembled at GMTC. The Celestiq is the first vehicle sold to the public that was assembled at GMTC.[3]

One of the vehicle's distinct features is its smart glass roof, manufactured by Research Frontiers.[4] Other reported features include a dashboard-width touchscreen, all-wheel drive and four-wheel steering.[5] It is expected to use more than a hundred 3D printed components.[6] It is anticipated the Celestiq will be fitted with GM's next generation "Ultra Cruise" advanced driver-assistance system, running on Qualcomm's Snapdragon Ride platform.[7][8]

Like the Cadillac Lyriq, an electric SUV which precedes it, the Celestiq uses GM's Ultium battery technology and BEV3 platform.[5][9]

Concept

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The genesis for a flagship Cadillac sedan has been traced back to concept vehicles including the Sixteen (2003), Ciel (2011), Elmiraj (2013), and Escala (2016),[10] with the last being approved for production prior to Cadillac's pivot to selling electric vehicles exclusively. The Escala was reworked as a halo car for the marque's electrification efforts instead, and the Celestiq concept was derived from it.[11]

After a limited number of planned features and details were released in March 2020 and January 2021 at an "EV Day" event and CES 2021, respectively,[5] pictures of the concept vehicle were not available[7] until July 22, 2022, when Cadillac revealed the Celestiq Show Car,[12] planned for release as a 2025 model year vehicle.[3] The Wall Street Journal reported the Celestiq will be priced near US$300,000 and will enter limited production by late 2023, with fewer than 500 built per year.[13]

The designer of the Celestiq, Magalie Debellis, also was responsible for designing the Lyriq, and the two electric vehicles shared design elements such as the front grille and taillamps.[3] Overall, the concept drew inspiration from earlier Cadillac models, including the 1957 Eldorado Brougham and 1930–40 Cadillac V-16, as well as the architecture of Eero Saarinen, who designed GMTC and the Gateway Arch.[14]

The concept was shown to the public at Monterey Car Week in August 2022, including the annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.[14] It was awarded for Best Concept and Best Use of Color, Graphics, or Materials at the EyesOn Design awards in September 2022.[15]

Production

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At a press event on October 18, 2022, the production version of the Celestiq was introduced. It retained the overall design of the concept, with changes to the liftback design and the side-view cameras being replaced with conventional mirrors.[11][16]

The planned low-volume production process allows GM to reduce the cost of production by using additive manufacturing processes and soft tooling for flexibility. In some cases, the number of parts has been reduced to simplify assembly. For example, the main chassis is made from six large castings, manufactured in front/rear/central modules split left/right and welded together.[17] It is estimated that GM invested $81 million to create the Celestiq production line.[18]

Camouflaged prototypes were spotted in June 2023 while undergoing road testing in Michigan.[19] The car was exhibited again at Monterey Car Week in August 2023[20] and 2024, when final engineering validation vehicles were tested and demonstrated for the automotive press. Initial deliveries were expected to begin in the fourth quarter of that year; one year of production has already been sold.[21]

Specifications

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Powertrain and battery

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The Celestiq will be an all-wheel drive vehicle using two electric traction motors, one each for the front and rear axle, delivering an estimated combined output of 600 hp (450 kW) and 640 lb⋅ft (870 N⋅m) of torque, with an estimated acceleration of 0–60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.8 seconds. The motors draw from a high-voltage Ultium traction battery with a total capacity of 111 kW-hr.[11] The battery is composed of individual pouch cells laid horizontally in stacks of varying heights; under the footwells, for instance, the cells are stacked six high, while under the seats, the cells are stacked nine to twelve high.[11] It can be recharged at rates of up to 200 kW (DC).[11]

Chassis

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The Celestiq is built on the General Motors BEV3 platform using an aluminum spaceframe with carbon fiber body panels; the door panels are sheet molded composite (SMC) to accommodate embedded sensors.[11] The multilink adaptive air suspension has magnetorheological dampers and the rear wheels are steerable.[11][22]

Lighting

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The headlamps use digital micromirror devices with 1.3 million pixels per side, displaying a startup sequence to welcome the approaching driver, including a projection of the updated Cadillac crest.[11]

Customization

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Many aspects of the car will be customizable, including exterior and interior colors, trim materials, and finishes. As a starting point, Cadillac offers four "Design Inspiration" themes: Magnetic (dark black and blue colors inside and out), Vale (earth tones), Mist (silver exterior with brown leather seats), and Aurora (sporty red themes).[23] Prospective clients are invited to collaborate on the design with a concierge at Cadillac House at Vanderbilt,[24] a building on the GMTC campus designed by Saarinen and named for Suzanne Vanderbilt, a Cadillac designer between 1955 and 1977 who was responsible for the 1958 Eldorado Seville coupe "Baroness" and 1958 Series 62 "Saxony" convertible.[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c DeBord, Matthew (March 4, 2020). "GM just revealed the Celestiq — an all-electric flagship Cadillac sedan that will be built by hand". Business Insider. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  2. ^ "Cadillac Celestiq Production Has Begun". GM Authority. January 18, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Dorian, Drew (July 22, 2022). "2025 Cadillac Celestiq, a Dramatic EV Flagship, Is a Bid to Return to Standard of the World Turf". Car and Driver. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  4. ^ Tarantola, Andrew (January 22, 2021). "Cadillac's upcoming Celestiq flagship EV has a tint-shifting smart roof". Engadget.com. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Hawkins, Andrew J. (January 12, 2021). "GM teases Cadillac Celestiq EV with adjustable glass roof and full-width touchscreen". TheVerge.com. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  6. ^ Richie, Sasha (June 16, 2022). "Cadillac Celestiq EV Will Be Hand-Built in Michigan". Car and Driver. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Hawkins, Andrew J. (June 8, 2022). "GM offers more glimpses of the electric Cadillac Celestiq show car". The Verge. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  8. ^ Hawkins, Andrew J. (January 6, 2022). "GM says Qualcomm's computer chips will power its next-gen 'hands-free' driving mode". The Verge. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  9. ^ Priddle, Alisa (January 12, 2021). "Cadillac Teases Celestiq Flagship EV at CES 2021". Motor Trend. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  10. ^ Evans, Scott (August 19, 2016). "Cadillac Escala Concept First Look: A Picture Window Into Cadillac's Future". Motor Trend. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h Priddle, Alisa; Lim, Brandon (photographer); Pham, Steven (photographer) (October 18, 2022). "2024 Cadillac Celestiq Hands-On First Look: the $300K Cadillac Must Be Seen To be Believed". Motor Trend. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  12. ^ Valdes-Depena, Peter (July 22, 2022). "Cadillac thinks its hand-built electric car can take on Rolls-Royce". CNN Business. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  13. ^ Colias, Mike (June 24, 2022). "Cadillac Plans to Price Its Future Celestiq EV Around $300,000". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Burstein, Laura (August 3, 2022). "Why Cadillac's New All-Electric Celestiq Grand Tourer Concept Could Reinvent the Marque". Robb Report. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  15. ^ Payne, Henry (September 14, 2022). "Cadillac Celestiq turns heads at EyesOn Design Awards". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  16. ^ Lekach, Sasha (October 17, 2022). "2024 Cadillac Celestiq Opens Waitlist For $300,000 Ultra-Luxe EV". Forbes Wheels. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  17. ^ Mihalascu, Dan (October 18, 2022). "Cadillac Takes A Page From Tesla's Book, Uses Mega Castings On Celestiq". Inside EVs. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  18. ^ McElroy, John (November 14, 2022). "Cadillac Celestiq a Manufacturing Masterpiece". Wards Auto. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  19. ^ Truett, Richard (June 12, 2023). "Cadillac Celestiq spotted testing in Michigan". Automotive News. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  20. ^ Tracy, David (August 18, 2023). "I Never Thought I'd Say It But: The $340,000 Cadillac Celestiq Is The Car Cadillac Needs Right Now". The Autopian. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  21. ^ Markus, Frank (August 30, 2024). "2024 Cadillac Celestiq First Ride; Worth Rolls or Bentley Money?!". Motor Trend. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  22. ^ Hawkins, Trey (October 21, 2022). "2024 Cadillac Celestiq And Its Advanced Suspension System: Feature Spotlight". GM Authority. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  23. ^ Lopez, Jonathan (October 25, 2022). "Check Out The Cadillac Celestiq Aurora Design Inspiration". GM Authority. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  24. ^ Stafford, Eric (May 26, 2024). "Cadillac Gives Us an Inside Look at Building a Bespoke Celestiq". Car and Driver. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  25. ^ Johnson, Gena (April 18, 2023). "Suzanne Vanderbilt leaves her mark on Cadillac's Celestiq". Warren Weekly. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
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