This feels like Cadillac’s boldest move yet - not only into the electric age, but into a level of craftsmanship and design ambition that positions it next to Europe’s finest. But not to imitate them. It seems that the brand is aiming to do something else entirely.
A handcrafted statement on wheels
Calling the Celestiq an “ultra luxury” sedan is not just branding fluff. This vehicle is not mass produced. Each unit is built to order inside GM’s new Artisan Center in Michigan, which doesn’t come across like a traditional assembly plant. It is more of a creative studio, a place where craftspeople assemble vehicles by hand, one at a time, with the kind of precision that usually belongs to Paris ateliers and Swiss watchmakers.In fact, 115 elements of the car are 3D printed, a striking contrast to its other wise incredibly elevated aesthetic - a fusion of cutting-edge technique and timeless presentation.
The official videos lean into that narrative.Soft-focus visuals. Gloved hands arranging fine leather. Metal details brushed to within an inch of their life. There’s an almost meditative quality to the whole thing - and an unmistakable message: this car is about craft, not just performance.
Visually, the Celestiq is hard to ignore. It leans into Cadillac’s legacy design cues while still pushing the aesthetic forward - long hood, sweeping fastback, full-width lighting. On the road, its long nose and sculpted rear make a striking silhouette, and despite its size, rear-wheel steering helps it feel more nimble than expected. Still, good luck squeezing into city street parking. Though let’s be honest, cars like this tend to valet themselves into place.
Inside, it’s more spaceship than sedan: a55-inch dashboard display, reaching from door to door, four individual seats, and a smart glass roof where each passenger can dial in their own level of tint. This is personalisation in its most literal form. The cabin is also sonically immersive - a Dolby Atmos sound system delivered through 38 AKG speakers, including four on the exterior that generate custom EV sounds. It’s a symphony for both the driver and the pedestrian that has the (mis)fortune of walking by.
Performance with poise
And yet, performance is there. The Celestiq delivers 655 horsepower, rides on GM’s Ultium battery platform, and features dual motor all-wheel drive. Magnetic Ride Control and 22-inch wheels (23s are also available) ensure a poised experience on most roads, although larger impacts like potholes do make themselves known, they are gently absorbed by the compliant air suspension. A 111 kWh battery pack gives it an estimated range of about 300 miles. It’s not revolutionary, but the intent seems clear: this isn’t a drag racer. The mission behind the car appears to be about elegance, not ego.
That being said, getting to that 111 kWh wasn’t exactly straightforward. Unlike the Lyriq, the Celestiq’s battery pack doesn’t have uniform modules. Instead, different-sized modules - about 9 inches tall under the front seats, and 12 inches under the rear - were used to accommodate the design. Some modules even had to be wedged under the center console, which unfortunately results in an extremely shallow storage compartment. Forget tossing in your sunglasses - you might struggle to fit your wallet, let alone the key to the $300,000 sculpture you’re driving.
Even with all that polish, clarity takes aback seat when it comes to the numbers. The way Cadillac presents technical details feels, at best, a little murky. Kilowatt-hours vs. kilowatts, charging speed vs. capacity - even seasoned EV-watchers may find themselves pulling outa calculator and a strong coffee. TechCrunch, for example, flagged this very issue, pointing out that while the Celestiq dazzles with design, it leaves room for improvement when it comes to clarity around battery specs. A fair point, considering the price.
American prestige, rebooted
So who is this for? Certainly not the masses.The Celestiq seems aimed at a very specific kind of buyer, someone who might already be browsing Bentleys or Rolls-Royces, but is now tempted by the idea of something distinctly American, electric, and unlike anything else. It is not about outperforming Tesla or Lucid. It is about creating a new tier altogether.
Add in Google built-in (not Apple CarPlay, daring decision), Google Maps with range-aware routing and battery preconditioning, plus the GM’s hands-free Super Cruise system, and it’s clear the Celestiq is designed to offer a break from the ordinary, including the occasional break from the steering wheel itself.
So, what’s the verdict?
The Cadillac Celestiq is not trying to blend in. It seems to represent a deliberate shift, toward slower, more intentional design, toward rarity, and toward reclaiming a space that American cars once owned without question:prestige. Whether it becomes a new icon or just a bold one-off, Cadillac is clearly dreaming big again. And in today’s EV landscape, that alone feels like progress.
Copyright Images: Cadillac
