After decades of false starts and tantalizing concepts, Cadillac has officially returned to the world of ultra-luxury vehicles with the Celestiq flagship.
Previewed by a concept earlier this year, the production Celestiq features a 111 kWh battery pack that sends power to a dual-motor all-wheel drive system which develops an estimated 600 hp (447 kW / 608 PS) and 640 lb-ft (867 Nm) of torque. This setup enables the car to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3.8 seconds and travel approximately 300 miles (483 km) on a single charge.
Despite its flagship status, the Celestiq only supports DC fast charging up to 200 kW. That pales in comparison to the 350 kW capability offered by the Porsche Taycan and Hyundai Ioniq 5. This is a big disappointment, but Cadillac noted the model should be able to get 78 miles (126 km) of range in as little as 10 minutes.
Cadillac says the Celestiq has been designed to deliver the “ultimate in ride refinement without sacrifices.” As part of this effort, the model has been outfitted with an adaptive air suspension, magnetic ride control, and an active rear steering system that enables the rear wheels to turn up to 3.5 degrees. The rear wheels can turn in the same or opposite direction of the front wheels to improve low speed maneuverability or high speed stability.
That’s just the tip of the ultra-luxury iceberg as the Celestiq sports active roll control technology and an electric power steering system that automatically adjusts to the ideal steering ratio depending on the vehicle’s speed. Engineers also equipped with the flagship with a five-link front and rear suspension that features isolators, which are “precisely tuned to minimize cabin disturbances yet allow proper road feel and handling response, delivering on Cadillac’s promise of isolated precision.”
Developing …
