Cadillac isn’t dropping any groundbreaking new production models or tech at Monterey Car Week but it’s garnering attention in a different way. It just pulled the wraps off of a concept called Opulent Velocity and it’s meant to be a clear indication of the brand’s future electric performance cars.
That name plays heavily into what Cadillac calls an “experience-based design study.” The car comes with two main modes, Opulent and, you guessed it, velocity.
In Opulent mode, the car operates with Level 4 autonomy, a technology that isn’t currently available in any production car. Since occupants won’t be driving, Cadillac provides “curated art, entertainment, and ambient light to immerse travelers in a sophisticated, individualized hands-free environment.”
It’s unclear by what mechanism Cadillac will have the steering wheel fold away or disappear, but the effect is the same: the space basically becomes a high-end transport pod for lack of a better term. The automaker envisions a widescreen display and augmented reality playing a big role in a car like this.
Of course, there’s the other mode, Velocity where things get more exciting for those of us that prefer to pilot the vehicle ourselves. In that setting, the car presents the steering wheel and pedals. Then, the front seats “are mated directly to the door” which Cadillac says helps “secure the driver for high-speed maneuvering.”
There are no images of exactly how it does that and Cadillac doesn’t really explain it, but the idea goes hand in hand with the exterior styling. Meant to evoke Cadillac’s V-Series R hybrid racecars, the entire design mixes tear-drop shapes with a few hard angles.
The front features two large air vents bookended by lighting elements. The side profile shows one large flat panel encompassing the rear wheel while the rest of the body tucks beneath it toward the rear.
The aft has a distinctive boat tail shape with wide hips that end in a subtle curve. It doesn’t appear as though there is any sort of rear window but the design still evokes a bit of the split-window design of the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette.
“Opulent Velocity is inspired by the dynamic design cues of motorsports in a 2+2 aerodynamic body form,” said Magalie Debellis, manager, Cadillac Advanced Design.
“It conceptualizes a holistic consideration of all elements and senses, showcasing a perfect marriage of hypercar personality with luxury execution and revered opulence. It’s a signal to the world that Cadillac intends to lead in electrified luxury performance.”
All of this falls in line with Cadillac’s current flagship, the Celestiq sedan. Far from cars like the CT5 or CT4, the Celestiq is a hand-built $340,000 electric vehicle aimed at rivaling cars from Bentley and Rolls Royce.
A future performance car in the form of something like the Opulent Velocity could potentially sit beneath the Celestiq and there’s no question that the two share some design characteristics.
“It’s the future vision of luxury performance, incorporating Cadillac’s leadership in hands-free driving capabilities, electrification and performance excellence. Opulent Velocity expresses the most artful integration of technology, luxury and exhilaration characterized by Cadillac’s halo V-Series variants, and future electrification design expressions.”- Bryan Nesbitt, executive director, Global Cadillac Design
So again, to be clear, this isn’t a pre-production prototype or even a running and driving concept. It’s a design study in which the brand is openly showing off and gauging interest. If you love the way this car looks, don’t be dismayed that it might not be currently scheduled for production.
Several design studies go on to shape the future of production cars. In June, Cadillac itself showed off a perfect example of this, the “Expressive Coupe” that ultimately led to the CT5 and CT5-V Blackwing.
These are all voices inside GM screaming to get out and be heard. But no, rebadge a Chevy, add some noise insulation and sell to that sweet 75+ market.
Ciel, Sixteen, Elmiraj, Escala. Now this. So many beautiful concepts that went nowhere.
I know they’re part of GM’s long tradition of dream cars meant to test design elements that may or may not make it into production. So maybe not nowhere but parts appear throughout the lineup like the grill or the waterfall head/corner lights. Now I wonder, what parts of the Opulent Velocity will appear on their production cars?
Still, even though I’d never afford one, it would have been nice to see a production Sixteen gliding down some city street, glistening under the bright boulevard lights.
I can’t even explain how much I’m not interested in this…at all. At the same time, most cars on Shitbox Showdown are more interesting
Cadillac does not get nearly enough credit for building the Celestiq. I’ve seen so many comments on this and the Sollei complaining that Cadillac doesn’t build its concepts, but…the Celestiq is one of the most wild cars on the road.
Opulentiq.
There, branding done. Where’s my check, GM?
That’s a good one, I was wondering about how you’d pronounce Veloctiq
Another trolling…
I feel like GM is starting to troll us with their concepts, the Buick Electra, this Cadillac, then they turn right around and say “no more sedans”.
It’s the Pontiac Stinger all over again.
I want a Cadillac that’s a Cadillac, not a BMW with a Cadillac badge. Style, power and comfort.
The dumbest concept detail is always windows that don’t roll down. We’re supposed to be imagining the future and I can’t imagine a future where nobody has cravings for McDonald’s fries at 2:00 a.m.
You can crave them all you want. You just can’t get them.
I’m enjoying this back and forth influence from their production cars to the V-series.R GTP/Hypercars and back again. Now if they could just produce this with a similar drivetrain. I’d love to start out in electric mode only to drag-start a cross-plane 5.5L V8 as I head out of town each morning.
Cadillac scores 10/10 in the concept department, with most of the recent ones absolutely stunning, but 1/10 in execution, with production models having nothing to do whatsoever with the aforementioned concept work. Now adjust your pipedream ambitions, or start making those cars a reality please.
Love the disappearing side window affect. Too bad it’ll never see production.
Suspect that entire door skin/glass is one piece formed lexan or similar to get that seamless look. Not even a mail slot opening? *hyperventilates*
I hate it. Looks like overspray on a window they were too lazy to mask off.
Wow, what a stunning piece of automotive art that will never actually be built
(Copy/pasted from the reaction to every gorgeous Cadillac show car of the past 20 years)
If Cadillac wants to reclaim their crown as the standard of the world, they need to take their own advice to “Dare Greatly” and put vehicles like this into production.
I love it and totally agree with you. The US needs to get back into this niche, stat.