Few luxury brands have made a bigger commitment to going all-electric than Cadillac. General Motors’ flagship luxury brand already has five EVs on the market, and while it’s stretching out the timeline for phasing out its last gas-powered model, we can expect to see even more battery-electric products in the next few years.
That’s where two edgy show cars come in: last year’s Opulent Velocity prototype, now followed by the Cadillac Elevated Velocity Concept set to make its debut in Monterey, Calif., during the annual automotive extravaganza anchored by the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Take Caddy’s $340,000 Celestiq, give it V-Series performance, fully autonomous driving capabilities, as well as a raised suspension, and you come up with what the automaker describes as “a bold 2+2 crossover designed to exhilarate on-road and off-grid alike.”
The Shape of Things to Come
Let’s get right to the first question you’re likely to ask: No, don’t expect to see the Cadillac Elevated Velocity Concept go into production, certainly not exactly as you see it here, cautioned Brandon Vivian, the project’s executive chief engineer, but it “does hint at the future of Cadillac performance.”
It also reveals what we can expect to see in a vehicle capable of operating either in full autonomous mode, if you’d prefer to just lie back and relax.
Bryan Nesbitt, GM’s Vice President of Global Design, suggests that it is “a beacon for us” that gives a clear signal of the new direction Cadillac wants to take its design language.
What’s Elevated Velocity?
The new show car picks up the gullwing doors found on the earlier Opulent Velocity Concept. That model hinted at what might come in the way of the ultimate all-electric luxury performance vehicle.
The Elevated Velocity Concept raises the bar — quite literally — Nesbitt suggesting his design team was influenced by the grueling Dakar Rally, the Extreme-E all-electric race series, and to add a twist, the Desert Polo tournaments that have become popular in the Mideast.
Elevated Velocity, as the name suggests, sits higher off the ground than the earlier concept, though it retains a multi-motor V-Series performance drivetrain. Riding on 24-inch all-terrain tires allows it to take on pretty much any road — or trail — you might come across, especially when you select one of the prototype’s various driving modes:
- e-Velocity mode is the electric answer to Caddy’s now-familiar V-Mode
- Terra mode lets you maintain peak performance when off-road by raising the EV’s air suspension
The concept vehicle is a technical showcase and, among other new features, it has a “Sand Vision” system that Caddy claims can see through sandstorms much like its current Night Vision systems can light up the darkest roads.
There’s also the Elements Defy system, which shakes the entire vehicle using a “dust-phobic vibration” to shed dust, sand, and other debris.
Guided Breathwork
As with the Opulent Velocity show car, the Elevated Velocity Concept offers the ability to drive fully hands-free. The system goes well beyond the GM Super Cruise system of today, allowing a motorist to sit back, relax, even close their eyes and take a deep breath, Nesbitt noted, suggesting, “It’s elevating the experience of autonomous driving.”
Built-in biometric sensors can track a driver’s — or passenger’s — heart rate, breathing, and body temperature and then, in “Elevate Mode,” transform the cabin into a “recovery space” for occupants. It can use infrared light therapy or guide your breathing into a more Zen-like state, Caddy claims.
When 2+2 Equals More Than Four
Cadillac describes the Elevated Velocity Concept as a “2+2,” but don’t let that trigger an image of a cramped sports car or roadster. The cabin is quite spacious, thanks to the way the battery pack and motors are positioned under the load floor.
Wide gullwing doors then make it easy to clamber in or out, whatever row you’re seated in. Among the ideas Caddy explores with the concept vehicle: digital readouts built into the steering gear, as well as the center armrest.
The seats are thin and decidedly futuristic-looking, appropriate when you consider the yoke-style steering “wheel” and pedals completely retract when driving autonomously. Colors including Morello Red, Cerise, and Garnet highlight the cabin, which opts for materials like 3D-printed black crystal, rather than traditional luxury cues.
In the large cargo compartment, meanwhile, Elevated Velocity features customized luggage, including a case for your desert polo gear.
Look for the Cadillac Elevated Velocity Concept to make its debut at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering, in Monterey on August 15.
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