General Motors surprised us almost a year ago with a teaser of its long and slinky electric concept car: the Cadillac Celestiq. The Celestiq is more than a fantasy, though. GM chairman and chief executive officer Mary Barra used CES 2021 to show the massive four-door flagship to the viewing public, where we were able to see a few more details of this concept’s opulent design.
Personalize Your Quadrant of the Glass Roof
We knew the Celestiq had a huge glass roof that stretched all the way to its weird hatch at the back. Now, we know the roof is divided into four quadrants of smart glass and each passenger can set their desired level of transparency.
The feature complements the overall high-end nature of the car, which includes a curated selection of materials and an interior largely crafted by hand, Cadillac director of interior design Crystal Windham said. A large dashboard screen stretches from pillar to pillar and reminds us of the recently revealed Hyperscreen of the upcoming Mercedes EQS electric sedan. Rear passengers get their own screens with active privacy.
The front of the Celestiq retains Cadillac signature vertical lights but it is part of a face that is a blaze of illumination. Additionally, Cadillac fits the car with all-wheel drive and four-wheel steering.
2023 Cadillac Lyriq’s LED Lighting
The CES presentation also touched on the pending 2023 Cadillac Lyriq electric SUV, as well as future concept vehicles, including a boxy ride-sharing pod and a two-seat flying drone. Yes, GM meant it when it said Cadillac would lead the charge to an all-electric future.
The midsize crossover is a rolling LED light show even before you press the flush door handles to get in, with lightbars starting a sequential dance as the owner approaches the Lyriq. Similar to the Celestiq, the Lyriq includes a large dash-mounted screen, as well as seatback screens for second-row passengers.
The advanced LED displays inside can display 1,000 colors, designer Candace Willett said. And the 3D head-up display offers augmented reality to help the driver better navigate the road ahead. The Lyriq will also have the next generation of Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free highway driver-assistance system.
Still to come: a two-seater concept. Perhaps Cadillac’s take on an electric version of Chevy’s mid-engine Corvette?
