Overview
It’s just a show car for now, but the Cadillac Celestiq has all the hallmarks of a true flagship luxury sedan—and on top of that, it boasts an all-wheel-drive electric powertrain with at least a 300-mile driving range. Shown at the 2021 CES trade show, the Celestiq is the sister car to the upcoming Lyriq SUV, but it promises even more groundbreaking technologies, including transparent glass roof panels. The cabin looks to be extra-spacious, and a huge infotainment display runs entirely the width of the dashboard. Cadillac says the Celestiq should launch by 2025 and is likely to be the launching point for General Motors’s latest and greatest tech.
What’s New for 2025?
The Celestiq is heading for production as an all-new model for the Cadillac lineup, but we won’t start seeing showstoppers like this for a few more years.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
It’s unknown if Cadillac will continue its contemporary trim levels into the future, especially as its lineup transitions to all-electric powertrains like the one in the Celestiq and the Lyriq. We do think the Celestiq will carry a price premium over the Lyriq, which is said to be targeting a base price around $60,000. A starting price closer to the six-figure range is more appropriate for a car with flagship potential.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Cadillac hasn’t released much information on the Celestiq’s powertrain yet, but we know it will be all-wheel drive and offer four-wheel steering. That likely means two electric motors—one per axle—and similar accelerative performance to the Tesla Model S and the Porsche Taycan. It will be awhile before we are able to test-drive the Celestiq, but when we do we’ll update this story with driving impressions and test results.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
The Celestiq will draw its electrons from an Ultium battery pack that could be as large as 100 kWh. Cadillac says driving range will be at least 300 miles per charge; if larger battery packs are offered as options, the car’s maximum range could be even better. For reference, the Model S’s longest driving range is a whopping 402 miles, and the Lucid Air sedan boasts a range of up to 517 miles.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
There’s no information yet about the Celestiq’s fuel-economy ratings, and we likely won’t know for some time just how efficient this all-electric luxury sedan will be.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Starting with a dashboard that is essentially one giant digital display, the Celestiq’s cabin will be a technological powerhouse where Cadillac will give buyers everything it’s got. Four bucket seats means each occupant will enjoy their own bubble of space. The roof is made from four glass panels that can be adjusted from transparent to opaque to somewhere in between, and each passenger can control their own little corner of the sky. We expect premium materials including genuine leather, open-pore wood, and real metal accents, as well as inviting and comfortable seats. We’ll have to wait for Cadillac to reveal more information about the Celestiq before we know exactly how this flagship will be outfitted. Despite what looks like a sedan body style, Cadillac says the Celestiq is technically a hatchback, which bodes well for cargo space.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Most luxury cars boast large infotainment displays measuring 10.3 or 12.3 inches in diameter, but the Celestiq is straight out of the future with a touchscreen that spans the entire length of the car’s dashboard. Rear-seat occupants can also enjoy their own large displays for watching movies, checking the internet, or controlling the car’s stereo system. Speaking of stereo, we expect Cadillac to continue its partnership with premium audio supplier AKG, and such a system could incorporate speakers inside each of the headrests like it does in the latest Escalade SUV.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Cadillac hasn’t given specifics on driver-assistance features yet except to say that its Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving technology will be featured on the Celestiq. We expect it to be standard by the time the car reaches the market. Other more basic driver-assists are likely to be standard, as well. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Like the rest of the Cadillac lineup, the Celestiq will come with a powertrain warranty that trumps that of other luxury sedans. Cadillac currently covers the first dealer maintenance visit, but rivals such as the BMW 7-series offer longer periods of free maintenance. We would expect that the Celestiq’s battery warranty will match that of the Chevy Bolt’s at eight years or 100,000 miles.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers six years or 70,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit
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