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A longtime automotive mystery has finally been solved. In 2018 a series of Cadillac patent drawings emerged, showing an all-new coupe design. Many wondered if we were about to see a production luxury coupe based on the Camaro chassis. The truth is Cadillac designed something, and even made a running driving concept car in 2016. I know, because I caught it in person–the first time it ever saw the light of day.

The “EyesOn Design” is an annual car show at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, near Detroit. The event organizers try to focus on the emotion and character of automotive design, often highlighting specific vehicle designers.

This year, Cadillac pulled out all the stops. It debuted the production version of its new halo car, the $320,000 Celestiq EV. Parked door-to-door with this four-door liftback were some of Cadillac’s most impressive production vehicles and concept cars. There was the pioneering 1988 Cadillac Voyage. There was also the 1,000-horsepower Cadillac Sixteen form 2003 with–you guessed it–a V16. The breathtaking 2011 Cadillac Ciel four-door convertible was there too. Finally, there was an unassuming Cadillac coupe that has never been to a car show. Ever.

Until this year, the 2016 Cadillac Expressive had only ever been seen by GM employees. But the automaker finally rolled it out at the 2024 EyesOn Design show.

I’ll be honest, my first impression was that it had a very similar wheelbase and sound to a Camaro. That is almost certainly because it was built on a Camaro platform. It had some very cool, thin LED headlights that were a bit ahead of their time in 2016. But in today’s lineup of Chevies and Buick’s they wouldn’t look out of place. The Cadillac Expressive also had a stunning interior, with open pore wood and a big flying buttress center console. It looked like a Ferrari or even Bugatti, not a Cadillac.

At first, many spectators wondered if it was a rolling shell or capable of driving. But when the awards ceremony began, GM fired up the Cadillac Expressive and drove it right to the stage.

The rear of a Cadillac Expressive concept coupe parked under a tent at a car show
2016 Cadillac Expressive | Henry Cesari via MotorBiscuit

The audience might have thought it was a brand-new concept, possibly even destined for production. But the Expressive is about to turn eight. The fact that its now doing the car show circuit is a pretty clear sign it will never see a GM factory. With the Camaro on its way out, it makes sense that Cadillac is finally letting go of building something on that chassis.

But I have to say, a Cadillac Expressive coupe would have been pretty cool. It harkens back to the old days of “personal luxury cars” such as the Ford Thunderbird and Cadillac Eldorado. In years past, it would have competed with the Corvette. But now that the C8 is a mid-engine car, I think there was room in the GM lineup for the Cadillac Expressive.

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.