If there is one thing that Tesla is showing the legacy automakers, it’s that to sell a gang of EVs, start at the top. So while automakers ponder what it will finally take for car buyers to embrace electrification, they have turned to the most highly profitable EVs they can build. Welcome to the 2024 Cadillac Celestiq and Rolls-Royce Spectre coupe. Both have MSRPs of over $300,000 each. 

At over $300,000 each, are these EVs the answer?

Yes, we know that the one-percenters are getting richer by the hour. But there are only so many of them. And fewer still, thinking they really need a $300,000+ electric car. So, how many Hummers and Celestiqs and Roller coupes can they really expect to sell? 

The profits must be crazy high, but can they last? Meanwhile, Tesla, Ford, and many other companies building electric vehicles continue raising prices for them. Last year alone, Tesla increased prices for its Model 3 every month. This year, it cooled it for a bit but has since seen price jumps galore. Certain Tesla models have already had price increases of $6,000. 

And Ford’s F-150 Lightning has seen a similar jump. When it debuted this year, prices started at $40,000 to $92,000. Earlier this month, they rose to $52,000 to $97,000 respectively. 

What market is Celestiq aimed at?

So in this heady atmosphere of EVs priced out of most buyers’ reaches, we have Cadillac’s and Roller’s contributions to the EV onslaught. Production images of the 2024 Celestiq dropped yesterday. Today, Rolls-Royce’s Spectre coupe was unveiled. Both are the first EVs for each company.

While the Spectre’s price is in keeping with what traditional Rolls buyers expect to pay, that’s not true of the Celestiq. But then, no other Cadillac is hand-built. Cadillac was at one time considered “The Standard of the World.” All of those blues and early rock ‘n roll tunes never mentioned Rolls-Royce. 

So that’s what Cadillac is striving for. With it teetering on the edge in recent years, this looks to be its last great gamble from mediocrity to the Rolls, Bentley, and Mercedes Maybach plateau. As an EV flagship, it looks to be a great start. Its size alone more than hints it is something beyond the norm. 

Is the $300,000+ price justified?

3D-printed parts are found throughout, along with more specialized and uniquely fabricated components. Rear wheel steering, variable-ratio electric steering, active anti-roll bars, and much more make you look twice at the specs. Is this really a Cadillac?

Two electric motors make 600 hp and 640 lb-ft of torque. It boasts a 300-mile range, just shy of the Spectre’s 320 miles. The battery pack holds a 111-kWh charge. Deliveries won’t happen until the first quarter of 2024. 

Rolls-Royce Spectre EVs are over 6,000 lbs

Rolls says, “Spectre’s all-electric powertrain will assure the marque’s sustained success and relevance while dramatically increasing the definition of each characteristic that makes a Rolls-Royce a Rolls-Royce.” The fascia is interesting, with its thread-like headlights and large intakes on each side. 

Power is from a 430 kW motor with 664 lb-ft of torque. The range will be around 320 miles between charges. That’s amazing considering the coupe weighs over 6,000 lbs. 

Do the cabins say EV?

The cabin is as opulent and refined as you would expect from Rolls. Really, there’s nothing that distinguishes it from your run-of-the-mill Roller. With customization available with every Rolls-Royce product, it estimates that prices could easily jump to $465,000.