There was a time, many decades ago, when Cadillac was considered “The Standard of the World.” Looking at those 1990s and 2000s sedans and SUVs today, it is hard to believe that was once true. And we won’t even mention those crap cars of the 1970s. Anyway, Cadillac isn’t throwing in the towel. To that end, it has released the first complete images of its flagship 2025 Celestiq EV. Based on first impressions, the storied marque might just reclaim that title again.

How much will the Cadillac Celestiq cost?

First, this isn’t a typical GM production car, not at an MSRP of around $300,000. No, these will be mostly hand-built. It will gather a small team of craftspeople to do what Rolls-Royce has been doing for over 100 years. The magic will happen at GM’s Global Tech Center in Warren, Michigan. GM has never had an assembly line at its Tech Center, another departure from the GM norm. 

The choice of a sedan architecture over an SUV is curious, as the current state of the three-box sedan is almost on life-support. But this stylizes the sedan architecture with a fastback rear, long hood, and low top, combined with a high H-point or beltline. Designers have also decided to open up those overly small wheel openings it has chosen to roll with for the last 10 or so years. 

The larger openings mean larger wheels, with these elegant but expressive rollers signaling this isn’t a CT-6. Kudos to Celestiq designer Magalie Debellis. He also designed Cadillac’s Lyriq SUV.

Is the Celestiq EV another concept car?

But this isn’t a styling exercise, this is a prototype of sorts. You shouldn’t see much change when it hits showrooms in 2024 as a 2025 Cadillac. The Celestiq’s advanced technology will ultimately trickle down to lesser GM brands. And the car itself should function as a symbol of GM goodness across all of its brands. It hasn’t had that in some time. 

Celestiq buyers will get to choose a variety of custom options not associated with production vehicles to personalize it. That means paint, interior materials, and lots more. This, too, follows the Rolls-Royce mold with its Bespoke program. 

Utilizing GM’s Ultium technology, it seems like the perfect marriage of electrification, and silent motoring for passengers. This is no better apparent than with the open trunk. There is no bulkhead between it and the passenger compartment. 

Does the Cadillac Celestiq’s interior match the exterior?

There is traditionally noise that gets generated in the rear. So that bulkhead serves to suppress that noise inside of the cabin. But with silent electric motors, it made the unorthodox decision easier to make. There is more unorthodoxy inside of the cabin. Like the 55-inch wide curved display. It essentially replaces the dashboard, running from A-pillar to A-pillar. 

Another interesting feature is the large steering wheel. It, combined with the low and wide dash, reminds us of the great Cadillac interiors of the 1960s. Also back to better design times, the four seats are patterned after the iconic 1950s Eames chairs. They incorporate similar bent wood seat backs, but with an entertainment display for rear passengers. 

The full-length console, though seen in past cars like Chrysler’s early 1960s turbine cars and 1966 Dodge Chargers, visually stretches out the Celestiq’s expansive cabin. The panoramic glass roof, which can be adjusted from opaque to clear also adds to that illusion. Grided into four separate sections, passengers can individually make opacity adjustments. 

The Celestiq EV features a lot of firsts for GM

Environmentally sensitive materials are also part of Celectiq’s allure.  The leather uses 40 percent less water for tanning. Darker surfaces use coffee-bean shells as a dye. Eucalyptus fibers become carpeting, and ecologically sourced wood completes the cycle.

In all, the Celestiq is a striking statement and beacon that a U.S. manufacturer might reclaim the mantle currently occupied by European and Japanese automakers.