- Cadillac’s newest ultra-luxury EV idea bows this week in Monterey
- No specifics printed on its EV powertrain
- It joins the Celestiq and Sollei in Cadillac’s portfolio of super-expensive EVs
- Will a Blackwing be a part of this mooted V-Sequence?
The Cadillac Opulent Velocity idea, unveiled Friday at The Quail throughout Monterey Automotive Week, exhibits the place GM’s world luxurious model might take its V-Sequence efficiency line because it transitions to battery-electric automobiles.
First teased again in March, the Opulent Velocity is a 2+2 coupe whose most putting function is probably going the powered butterfly doorways. Cadillac has leaned right into a closely sculptured type with a aspect graphic that drops sharply; execs stated that makes the rear wheels extra distinguished to convey a “energy message” with out having to be “brutal.” These wheels have lighted spokes, a novel contact impressed by Method 1 that can even draw consideration to the automobile.
Inside, it’s a conventional 2+2 efficiency coupe, with an inside that “cocoons, encapsulates, and hugs” the driving force and passengers. Not solely does it sport a future era of infotainment and projection shows, however the automobile consists of biosensors to regulate its inside atmosphere to appease or entertain occupants. Whereas the outside seems as if it may very well be constructed right this moment, lights and mirrors apart, the inside is clearly extra conceptual.
Cadillac Opulent Velocity Idea
Cadillac reaches for the ultra-luxury environment
The idea coupe is expounded each to the 2025 Cadillac Celestiq limited-production sedan (sure, the $340,000 one) and the Sollei EV idea unveiled in July. These automobiles are possible focused as a lot at China, the model’s largest marketplace for most of a decade, as they’re at North America.
GM’s Ultium battery structure underpins all of its new EVs, from the Celestiq right down to a coming replace of the common-or-garden Chevrolet Bolt EV. However the Celestiq platform might spawn quite a few high-end, very luxurious fashions. The intent is to “elevate the model” and “foreshadow” future automobiles, stated government world design director Bryan Nesbitt throughout a media briefing earlier than the launch.
So whereas Celestiq is the primary ultra-luxury Cadillac in lots of many years, it’s possible not the final—simply because the Sollei EV idea demonstrated.
Cadillac Opulent Velocity Idea
Luxurious efficiency: greater than 0-60 mph
Cadillac execs talked at size in regards to the idea’s twin persona, the “two dynamic extremes” mirrored in its identify. They mirror the “clever integration of know-how, luxurious, and exhilaration” in each driving modes they envision.
Opulent is the one for regular, day-to-day journey, by which the automobile pampers each driver and passengers. Meaning an “immersive expertise” in hands-free driving, with augmented actuality on a future era of head-up shows and each sound and lightweight creating an atmosphere of leisure. The purpose is to ease driving effort in site visitors, assist drivers discover particular areas, and different helpful info that will not distract drivers.
Cadillac stated its “autonomous drive” know-how can be a Stage 4 system that may permit drivers to look away from the street supplied they’re driving in a specified space, however they must take management when prompted. These prompts may very well be straightforward to identify as a result of the yoke-style steering wheel and pedals would retract throughout autonomous driving and current themselves when wanted.
Then there’s the Velocity mode, for sheer efficiency and even observe use, of the sort provided by the Tesla Mannequin S Plaid, the Lucid Air Sapphire, the long run Polestar 5, and different expensive EV efficiency sedans. Brandon Vivian, Cadillac’s government chief engineer, stated the model even “aspires” to compete with the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Rimac. (Cadillac hypercar, anybody?)
Cadillac Opulent Velocity Idea
The V-Sequence lives on in EVs
The V-Sequence and Blackwing efficiency variants have given the previous luxury-only model a definite increase, its execs stated. Its consumers are youthful, they purchase a number of V-Sequence fashions, and absolutely 80% of them are conquests from different manufacturers—not one thing that may very well be stated 20 years in the past within the days of the previous Sedan de Ville.
Cadillac’s new racing efforts—its return to Le Mans, for instance—play into the high-performance picture of the model. Robust efficiency that has equaled and sometimes led a section, racier appearances backed up by correct dealing with, and snarling exhausts have outlined the V-Sequence for the gasoline age.
The issue is that, even when Cadillac has backed off its all-EVs-by-2030 pledge, its largest market will more and more demand EVs in all segments. For a lot of the previous 10 years, China has been the model’s highest-volume market. In July, greater than half the brand new automobiles offered there had plugs, and that development is not going to reverse.
With homegrown Chinese language manufacturers now providing absolutely aggressive vehicles, gross sales of mass-market U.S. manufacturers within the nation are plummeting. So Cadillac will transfer considerably upmarket there, as GM CEO Mary Barra has stated a number of occasions of late. The Celestiq is the opening shot in that salvo, and there will likely be extra.
Cadillac Opulent Velocity Idea
A Blackwing within the wings, too?
In the meantime, the model will clearly grasp onto the V-Sequence to burnish Cadillac’s new efficiency credentials. However what is efficiency in EVs?
“Deltas in 0-60 occasions will not be a differentiator” anymore in luxurious EVs, stated Vivian. As a substitute, the model feels it should surpass rivals in “the entire automobile expertise,” together with “when it’s driving itself as nicely,” to make its highest-end EVs stand aside from the group.
Responding to a reporter’s query, Vivian stated Cadillac was finding out “how finest to ship the efficiency elements” of V-Sequence in a “model of Ultium but to return sooner or later.” He hinted at the opportunity of a devoted Blackwing entry in its EV lineup as nicely.
Ah, however are its youthful, extra performance-minded V-Sequence consumers prepared to go EV? Vivian appeared unfazed. He responded, “Authenticity is absolutely important to the V-Sequence prospects, and the efficiency (provided) will likely be super, excellent.” These prospects “stay up for full electrical automobiles,” he stated, and what they will provide with each the facility of future onboard computing and the vitality to ship that efficiency.
In any other case, we all know just about nothing in regards to the powertrain or mechanicals of the Opulent Velocity idea. Press supplies didn’t comprise the phrases “battery” or “energy” or “kilowatts” or “horsepower.” As a substitute, they centered on the automobile as a pointer to a brand new era of Cadillac: a “pure expression of the long run” displaying how “Cadillac’s revered sense of opulence” can evolve whereas “envisioning a zero-emission expression of efficiency and fashionable luxurious.”
Extra is but to return, clearly. Look ahead to future Cadillac EV ideas that transfer the model nicely upmarket from the Lyriq midsize SUV, which in July was, Vivian stated, the second best-selling luxurious EV within the U.S. As a result of GM not releases month-to-month gross sales, we’ll have to attend till October to be taught simply how nicely Cadillac’s sole EV presently on sale is doing, V-Sequence or not.
