Cadillac Celestic electric vehicle flagship unveiled.

Cadillac has finally begun work on a true flagship, a modern standard of the world so to speak, called the Celestiq, based on General Motors' Ultium electric vehicle platform. It was unveiled Friday as a large fastback hatch.

While the version unveiled is officially a "show car," the production version, scheduled to go on sale in 2024 as the 2025 model year, should be nearly identical to what you see here. Cadillac's 2023 Lyric was also previewed by an almost identical show car.

The Celestic is not a mere successor to the former flagship CT6 sedan. It was designed to compete with cars from Rolls-Royce and Bentley, and will likely be priced accordingly. Rumors have it starting at around $300,000.

Don't look for the old-world luxury found in cars in this price range. The Celestic's modern design includes a four-panel glass roof with individual transparency settings for driver and passengers, a 55-inch with active elements (called digital blinds) that can dim part of the screen to prevent driver distraction, a This is combined with state-of-the-art technology such as a dash-wide digital display.

Cadillac has also confirmed the addition of GM's upcoming "Ultra Cruise" autonomous driving assistance feature. Like the current Super Cruise system, Ultra Cruise requires the driver to constantly monitor the situation and take action when necessary. Otherwise, it will stop. In other words, it would still rank as Level 2 on the SAE automated driving capability scale. To rank above Level 2, the automated driving system must function in eyes-off mode.

Striking details will serve as another calling card for the Celestic. In developing the Celestic, the design team looked to the bespoke options of early Cadillac models, such as the prewar V-16-powered coach and the 1950s Eldorado Brougham.

To support production of the Celestic, Cadillac is investing $81 million in GM's sprawling Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. The center is where GM designs and develops vehicles, and has recently expanded its battery R&D center.

The bulk of Celestic's investment in the site will be used to add equipment for low-volume production, including a 3D printer. Cadillac stated that Celestic will feature the most 3D printed parts (structural and aesthetic) of any GM product to date. Cadillac stated that the Celestic will be produced at a rate of only 1.2 units per day and less than 500 units per year.

As for the mechanicals, all we know is that both all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering will be used. We also know that GM's Ultium platform will support a range of over 400 miles and up to 1,000 horsepower.

Cadillac plans to release more details on the Celestic later this year.