Yahoo Autos 2024 Cadillac Celestiq Exudes Tranquility in First Ridealong
The over-$300,000 Celestiq is Cadillac's entry into the super-premium space where Rolls-Royce and Bentley play, a segment Cadillac hasn't occupied since it built V-16 behemoths in the 1930s. Not only will the Celestiq compete with Bentley and Rolls-Royce on price, but the electric 18-foot-long hatchback will also be an exclusive, highly bespoke affair with an involved build process. While only a select few will get to own the Celestiq, we got a chance to hop in for a short ride in an engineering validation prototype earlier this year during Monterey Car Week, and we came away impressed with the serene, albeit brief, experience.
The Celestiq has a commanding presence in person, its length accentuated by the gradual slope of the rear hatchback and the 23-inch wheels creating a planted stance. The hatchback also distinguishes the Celestiq from more traditionally shaped ultra-luxury sedans from British and German automakers, while the taper of the roofline has a certain nautical, yacht-like essence. At the push of a button the massive rear door swings open on its own, and we were thankful for the powered operation since the door looks hefty.
The cabin feels distinctly Cadillac, with the full-width screen layout on the dashboard bearing a strong resemblance to the setup in the upcoming electric Escalade iQ. In the rear, the leather-shod seat wraps around you in a cosseting manner. While legroom is ample, the relatively low roofline—compared with a Rolls-Royce Phantom or one of the luxury vans that are popular in Asia—makes it feel more like you're traveling in a decadent missile than a luxurious lounge. Still, headroom for this 5-foot-11-inch writer was sufficient. The seat is surrounded by rich materials, such as the cool metal speaker grilles and wood trim.
Each rear passenger is treated to a 12.6-inch screen mounted to the back of the front seats, with a crisp resolution and intuitive interface. The screens can stream video content, connect to the internet, and control the audio system. There is also a menu showing vehicle information, including vehicle speed, range, efficiency, and how much juice each system in the car is sapping up. Not all of the functions were operational on the screen of the prototype vehicle we rode in, but it felt responsive.
A third screen lives on the rear-seat center console, controlling the wide array of climate settings and activating the heated or ventilated seats. The armrests are also heated, with a ghost-pepper level of strength. The massage functions provided a nice respite for our back after a long day.
It was nighttime when we rode in the Celestiq, making it difficult to get a sense of our surroundings to evaluate just how bumpy the roads we drove on were. Still, very few disruptions reached our seats and overall the ride seemed smooth, the Celestiq gliding along silently. The panoramic glass roof, which features five degrees of electrochromic tinting in four distinct sections for each passenger, illuminates in a striped pattern at night, creating a futuristic vibe.
While our time in the Celestiq was short, we enjoyed its comfortable environs and were pleased with the material quality. Initial deliveries of the Celestiq are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year, with Cadillac's Artisan Center capable of building around 400 highly bespoke Celestiqs per year. We hope to get another, longer experience in the Celestiq soon, next time from the driver's seat as well.
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