New $340K Cadillac Celestiq Ultra-Luxury EV (First Customer Car)

A new 2025 Cadillac Celestiq leaving Sunset GT hosted by O'Gara at the Petersen Automotive Museum. Introduced in production form in October 2022, the Celestiq is an ultra-luxury car with an all-wheel drive layout and an electric powertrain with two motors producing a total of 655 horsepower and 646 lb-ft of torque. It features adaptive Magnetic Ride Control, a four-zone electrochromic glass roof, a ClimateSense four-zone microclimate system, hands-free driver assistance technology, and a 38-speaker sound system created in partnership with Dolby Atmos and AKG Studio Reference. The highly customizable cars are built by hand and commissioned by clients through an optional one-on-one concierge at the Cadillac House at the General Motors Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. This example, finished in Dolce Metallic, was delivered through Cadillac of Beverly Hills in June 2025 and was the first customer-delivered Celestiq. It is one of 25 examples built for model year 2025 with a starting price (MSRP) of $340,000. (The price increases to around $400,000 for 2026 models.)

This is a car I've been excited about ever since I first heard about it. I grew up with a clear understanding that if you wanted a luxury car that combines status with reliability and practicality, you should buy Japanese, and if money weren't a problem and you wanted luxury and status above all else, you should buy European. American cars, aside from muscle cars and SUVs/pickups, were largely perceived as inferior to the Japanese in quality/reliability and inferior to the Europeans in status. Well, as I got older, I fell in love with pre-war cars, especially those from the 1930s - a time in which America made some of the most exquisite and luxurious cars in the world. Brands like Cadillac and Duesenberg built cars that were no less of a status symbol than those from Rolls-Royce. It has been generations since an American luxury car was worthy of making people stop and stare in awe. Well, thanks to the Celestiq, that has now changed.

This car is Cadillac's aim at reclaiming its title as "Standard of the World". Its price makes it clear that it's meant to compete head-to-head with none other than Bentley and Rolls-Royce. But it takes a different approach by using an electric powertrain and a distinctive hatchback design that's both elegant and futuristic. Those taillights take a little getting used to, but I think they look incredibly cool and further helps the car stand out without screaming for attention. And how many cars can pull off this color and look so good?

My only complaint - if you can even consider it one at all - is that the Celestiq's design language is largely shared with Cadillac's more down-to-earth models, most evidently the Lyriq. The benefit is that it makes the Lyriq one of the sexiest-looking vehicles in its class today. But the drawback is that Celestiq buyers will be spending well over $300,000 on something that looks right at home next to sub-$100K vehicles. That can't be said for Bentley or Rolls-Royce products. And that brings us to this car's greatest hurdle - whether potential buyers will be willing to pay such a high price for what is "only" a Cadillac. The owner of this one definitely was, and the car has been spotted numerous times being put to good use across Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.

Venturing into a new segment in the luxury market is no easy task, and in our increasingly brand-conscious society it may take a long time (and potentially a high cost) for a company to earn a good reputation among the best of the best. I just hope the Celestiq will attract enough interest (and enough buyers) to allow Cadillac to continue developing ultra-luxury products in its quest to reestablish itself as "Standard of the World".

Do you think the Cadillac Celestiq is a worthy competitor to Bentley and Rolls-Royce? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!