Yahoo Autos Cadillac Opulent Velocity Gazes into the Future of Performance EVs
The Cadillac Opulent Velocity is a radical concept that peers into the future of electric performance cars.
While the concept is capable of Level 4 autonomous driving, it retains a steering wheel and pedals.
When on the track, the concept projects a "ghost car" onto the head-up display and helps coach the driver on how to improve lap times.
Cadillac made its name in the 1900s with decadent luxobarges, but the 21st century has seen Cadillac emerge as a force in the performance sector with its V-series cars, most recently with its Blackwing-badged manual-transmission sports sedans. With the Opulent Velocity concept, unveiled today at The Quail, Cadillac casts its vision into the future of luxury performance to imagine what V-series vehicles might become in the electric age.
The Opulent Velocity has serious presence. It's long, low, and wide with a sleek fastback silhouette and finished in a graceful Gilded Pearl paint. The hood dives downward to create a shield-shaped piece of metal in place of a grille, meant to emulate Cadillac's logo, and surrounded by a frenzy of ornate LED lights. The same "crystal fluting" signature appears at the rear, where the LEDs flow across the fascia in a U shape.
Large butterfly doors extend upward to reveal the cabin, which exudes a simple, pared-back elegance. Thin lighting elements wrap around from the dashboard into the doors, while the rear bench seat flows seamlessly into the door panels. A widescreen display atop the dashboard is complemented by a secondary screen on the center of the yoke-shaped steering wheel. Cadillac boasts of "an intuitive infotainment system" that can be activated via voice commands. Almost the entire cabin is finished in a deep Selene Blue hue, with the interior trim fashioned using 3D printing. The seats are crafted from flax fibers under a layer of silver pearl flakes.
Cadillac was tightlipped about powertrain details other than the fact that the concept uses a future iteration of the Ultium battery platform, but the automaker described the driving experience in flowery detail. The Opulent Velocity's name hints at the duality that Cadillac envisions for performance EVs. The "Opulent experience," as Cadillac dubs it, centers around relaxation and tranquility. In this mode, the concept operates as a hands-free Level 4 autonomous vehicle, with an augmented reality head-up display immersing the driver in "multisensory" experiences using light and sound. The aura created by these elements adjusts based on the time of day and weather.
In the "Velocity experience," Cadillac compares the fastback's performance with a hypercar's. The mode is activated via a multifunctional controller on the center console, and when prompted, the steering wheel and pedals unfurl from their hiding spots for the driver. The front seats, which have a lightweight, floating look, attach directly to the door to keep the driver secure during hard cornering.
The Velocity mode also utilizes the head-up display, projecting a "Ghost Car" ahead of you to serve as a guide when on track, paired with a "competitive driving course" designed to help drivers shave time off their laps or compete against fellow racers. The head-up display can also show road overlays and provide information about road conditions, and drivers can adjust active aero and suspension damping.
Cadillac describes the Opulent Velocity as a design study. Between its low-slung stance and its otherworldly lighting elements, it's clear that this concept isn't destined for production any time soon. Cadillac says it aims to use the concept to elevate the brand and test public reaction. While the concept's flourishes may feel far-fetched, we expect hints of the Opulent Velocity to trickle into Cadillac's sportier EVs in the coming decade.
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