2024 Cadillac Celestic production model revealed, priced at over $300,000.
Cadillac will find out if there are buyers willing to spare Rolls-Royce's money for its large electric hatch, the Celestic, which will go on sale in 2024.
After teasing us with the concept in the summer, Cadillac announced a production version of its flagship EV on Tuesday and confirmed that prices will start at $300,000 and up.
This is far more expensive than any car Cadillac has offered in the past, but the Celestic is unlike any car ever to wear the crest badge. Ignoring the cutting-edge technology that goes into this car, the Celestic will be hand-built like a coachbuilt car, allowing for a high degree of personalization. As such, buyers will have a concierge on call and access to Cadillac designers and other services. As a result, it is expected that no two Celestics will be identical.
The hand-built nature of the production will limit production to just 1.2 cars per day, scheduled to begin in December 2023, and annual production will be well below 500 cars. To accommodate production, Cadillac has invested $81 million in parent company General Motors' sprawling Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. The bulk of the funds went toward equipment for low-volume production, including a 3D printer, Cadillac said. [Cadillac global vice president Laurie Harvey said in a statement, "The Celestic is unlike anything Cadillac has ever done, and the customer experience is equally exceptional. Cadillac's global vice president of sales, Laurie Harvey, said. Each vehicle is an expression of its owner's personality and utilizes state-of-the-art technology that makes the driving experience personal and rewarding." [Powering the Celestic is GM's Ultium platform and battery set, consisting of a 111kwh battery, dual motors, and an all-wheel drive powertrain with 600 hp, 640 lb-ft of torque, and an estimated 0-60 mph acceleration time of 3.8 seconds The Celestic's gear ratios are as follows. The Celestic's gear ratios are unique among Ultium-based vehicles. This gear ratio is tuned to achieve the optimum balance between performance and range, with the latter estimated at 300 miles of charge.
GM's Ultium Charge 360 app allows owners to easily find and pay for power on the go. The car also has a built-in 200kw fast charging system, so a DC fast charger can add about 78 miles of range on a 10-minute charge. An adjustable regenerative braking system is also included to enable one-pedal driving.
For comfort, there is an air suspension with magnetic dampers and active roll stabilization. All-wheel steering is also provided. The wheels are 23 inches and are equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport EV tires designed specifically for this car. These tires have low rolling resistance, but are classified as summer tires. The Celestic also features an active rear spoiler.
Compared to the earlier concept, the production Celestic differs in that it has conventional side mirrors instead of the slim rear-facing camera of the concept. While this technology is being evaluated in the U.S., it has not yet been legislated in the U.S., so the Celestic will use conventional mirrors when it is launched. In addition, a charging port, which was not present on the concept, is now located on the driver's side front fender, and the front mask intake has a simpler design. Also new are sensors in the grille. You will notice that there are no door handles. To open and close the doors, you push a button. According to Cadillac, the exterior also features carbon fiber and rear metal trim pieces.
Moving inside, don't expect the old-world luxury found in other cars priced in this realm. The Celestic's clean, modern interior 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 the latest technology, including a dash-wide digital display.
There is also a portrait-style screen just forward of the rotary dial controller on the center console. This center console extends to the rear of the vehicle and splits the second row of seats, making the Celestic a four-seater. Rear seat occupants also have individual screens, plus a shared screen for adjusting comfort settings. Most seat upholstery is hand-stitched leather. The top audio system is a 38-speaker system from AKG Studio Reference Audio Systems. Three additional speakers are located outdoors to create propulsive sound while driving.
Cadillac also confirmed support for GM's upcoming "Ultra Cruise" autonomous driving assistance feature, which GM claims will be available on 95% of U.S. roads, meaning that many journeys will not require a human to actually drive. Like the current Super Cruise system, Ultra Cruise will require the driver to constantly monitor the situation and take action if necessary. Otherwise, it will stop. This means that it would still rank as Level 2 on the SAE automated driving capability scale. To rank above Level 2, automated driving systems must function in eyes-off mode. Ultra Cruise is expected to be offered via wireless update in 2024. The Celestiq will also feature an automated parking system that will allow the driver to park in and exit a spot while the vehicle is monitored from outside the vehicle.
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