Cadillac has been keeping a pretty tight lid on the upcoming Celestiq, but new details are starting to emerge about the flagship electric vehicle.
While the company still hasn’t released pictures, Cadillac design director Brian Smith dropped some hints about it.
Speaking with Automobile, Smith said the model was originally conceived with an internal combustion engine. That makes sense as former Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen announced a new halo vehicle that would “stun the world” in 2018.
Also Read: Forget The CT6 – Cadillac’s Celestiq Will Be A Hand-Built Flagship Sedan
While that vehicle was already under development, Smith said it would have caught the “tail end” of the internal combustion era. This caused the company to rethink the project and eventually decide an electric vehicle was the way go.
Smith went on to say the Lyriq’s front end and lighting units echo those used on the Celestiq, but the flagship model was actually created first. That’s important to note as the Lyriq will arrive before the Celestiq.
Smith also confirmed the model will have a hatchback-style rear glass treatment which provides a bold and unique looking silhouette. He said the look is “unusual” and “a little bit polarizing,” but also stunning and beautiful.
He also said the company is “aiming for the moon” with the Celestiq and promised it will be “unlike anything else” in its segment. Hopefully, that pans out as Smith billed the car as a “high-technology, high-priced, hand-built” flagship.
The Celestiq is expected to be launched by 2025 and ride on the company’s new electric vehicle platform. Given its positioning as a flagship vehicle, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Celestiq features a 200 kWh battery pack, 800-volt technology and a 350 kW fast-charging capability. It could also offer a range in excess of 400 miles (644 km).
