Founded in Detroit in 1902, the Cadillac brand has long been closely associated with luxury and opulence. And while the Wreath and Crest company has consistently set the standard for American-made luxury vehicles, it’s always trailed behind the likes of elite European marques. As the GM-owned outfit continues to shift toward an all-electric future, however, the company is taking the opportunity to employ some even bigger changes, restructuring its manufacturing infrastructure to deliver an ultra-top-shelf luxury car that takes aim at leading luxury carmakers like Bentley and Rolls-Royce.
Rumored to be priced north of $250,000, Cadillac’s upcoming game-changer of an EV model is known as the CELESTIQ. Individually built by hand, the CELESTIQ’s production is more in line with the six-figure models from Bentley and Rolls-Royce than any traditional mass-produced Caddy. Cadillac has yet to reveal any details on specs or performance, above and beyond confirming that the CELESTIQ will be constructed around GM’s Ultium Platform. Featuring more 3D-printed parts than any GM vehicle program to date, the CELESTIQ utilizes more than 100 components — both structural and cosmetic — that are created through the use of additive manufacturing, thanks to breakthroughs that allow Cadillac to 3D print metals and polymers.
Riding on an ultra-sleek set of turbine-style seven-arm wheels, the Cadillac CELESTIQ also features a futuristic-looking exterior design with LED lighting all around. The CELESTIQ’s insanely plush interior features a meticulous level of detail that’s previously been reserved for ultra-high-end European models. On top of a front seat, pillar-to-pillar freeform display, and a rear-seat entertainment system, the CELESTIQ also boasts a four-quadrant suspended-particle-device smart glass roof that allows each passenger to independently set the transparency levels of the quadrant above their head — an automotive industry first.
In order to deliver the CELESTIQ, Cadillac has invested a whopping $81 million into its Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, purchasing the 3D printers and other cutting-edge equipment needed to hand-build the CELESTIQ. The CELESTIQ will also mark the first new model to be built at the Warren facility. Cadillac plans on revealing additional teaser images of the forthcoming luxury model in the coming weeks, prior to the CELESTIQ’s official launch in late July.
