Exactly like a striped rhino. That’s the image Google served me when I wanted further confirmation about audacity being the virtue of the strong. Not so much because I couldn’t remember the most epic passages of the Aeneid, but because the design of the Celestiq had left me stunned. As if that weren’t enough, this mammoth and (self-proclaimed) ultra-luxurious super sedan also positions itself in an elite segment essentially dominated by a certain Rolls-Royce. This is where things begin to get complicated at least until the moment when, scrolling through the specs of a model that looks like it escaped from the stage of a motor show dedicated to optimistic concept cars, we cannot help but notice that it’s an EV.

Now you’ll understand why I feel as I’ve been knocked senseless by the slap of a grizzly that woke up too early from its winter hibernation when I tell you that the extremely daring design is just one of many pieces in a puzzle that represents the exact opposite of a safe bet. Titanic dimensions and the promise of not encountering lethal icebergs over distances that will make the experience on board something more magical than merely unique. These are the premises of the Celestiq, a four-door measuring 5.3 meters in length, more than 2 meters in width, and just over 1.4 meters in height. With such a surface to work on, the designers had the task of maintaining the inevitable references to Cadillac’s current lineup — so fond of sharp edges — while daring to go even further, especially in the rear section and the rear three-quarter view, which looks like one of those drawings hanging on the fridge in the most typical American household.

In fact, there is a generous glass area that, however, is not extended along the pillar, allowing a body line to clash with an equally enormous L-shaped light cluster that seems to address those standing beside the car rather than those behind it. If beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, functionality is an objective value and — at least for me — this area significantly penalizes the overall image of the Celestiq. The rest of the side profile works much better, helped by the striking visual impact of the huge six-split-spoke wheels fitted with 23-inch tires. The very high beltline and the reduced side glass surfaces do the rest. From this angle, I like it.

Cadillac has used GM’s new Ultium platform and states that the car is almost entirely hand-assembled. An intelligent way to make even more exclusive the reasoning behind a final price that will make the Escalade look like a flea-market SUV. Fully electric and equipped with two motors, each responsible for powering its respective axle, for a total of 111 kWh and 655 horsepower. Translated into pure performance terms, we’re talking about a 0–100 kph acceleration of just 3.7 seconds, a remarkable figure especially considering the size of the Celestiq and its weight of around 3 tons. THREE, you read that right.

Don’t wrinkle your nose too much. You’ve seen the new Cayenne and above all you’re familiar with the Cadillacs that immediately come to mind for us Europeans. The ones with the endless fins that tell the story of an era when there was only one idea of beauty, not merely designed to amaze but to revolutionize the tastes of a society in the midst of an economic boom. Which is somewhat the exact opposite of the current situation of the world as a whole, and particularly of the automotive market. That’s why perhaps an object like the Celestiq isn’t so wrong after all. It simply needs to be interpreted for what it intends to represent, because in that sense it succeeds magnificently, continuing a journey marked by XXXL proportions.

Take the cabin, for example, better described as the best place from which not to see the rear three-quarter view. This is where Cadillac offers its very best. After all, how could anyone remain indifferent in front of a 55-inch digital display stretching across the entire dashboard? Enhancing everything is a refinement capable of blending the minimalist design one expects from a latest-generation EV with details that echo the legendary 50s. The choice of colors, materials, and the presence of two exceptional seats in the rear row make the Celestiq the quintessential American flagship. Opulent, silent, fast and expensive. Very expensive. Expensive in the order of $400,000, an aspect that, combined with very limited production, only increases the respect for this Cadillac, whether or not you are a fan of its design and its zero-emissions propulsion. By the way, with a full battery the estimated range is around 480 km.

Audacity is the virtue of the strong. Virgil said it, and perhaps Cadillac shouldn’t have taken him quite so literally. No, I’m not entirely convinced, although it’s honestly impossible to remain indifferent to some of the interesting solutions adopted on this model. The reason is very simple, and I believe it becomes even more evident in a sedan than in any other segment. There are unwritten rules according to which you can gamble with the stylistic canons that define a beautiful object. Something elegant, however, has a universal dress code, and in this case Cadillac’s challenge to the queen — Rolls-Royce — only partially hits the mark, but not enough to trouble the Spectre. At least not for me, who still hasn’t forgiven Cadillac for never putting the Cien into production.

By Matteo Lavazza