The Cadillac Celestiq is a bold attempt by an American brand in the ultra-luxury space, and pricing for this exclusive flagship electric vehicle (EV) just got bolder.
Cadillac has confirmed that 2026 pricing will start in the “low $400,000s” (~AUD$613,000).
Unlike other models in its lineup – including its second most expensive model, the US$173,595 (~A$266,000) Cadillac Escalade ESV V-Series – Cadillac doesn’t release detailed Celestiq pricing, as the flagship is available “on request only.”
That’s an increase from the previous base price of around $340,000 (~AUD$521,000), with the gap roughly in line with the price of an entry-level Cadillac Lyriq in the US.
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It’s also more expensive than a Rolls-Royce Specter EV, which starts at $397,750 (around A$610,000). However, it’s worth noting that everything from the German-owned British brand usually comes out of the showroom with extensive customization, which drives up the price.
Likewise, Cadillac offers numerous customization options that will make your Celestiq both more unique and more expensive.
The price increase will be at least partially offset by the new inclusion of eight years of free connected services, it says GM Authorityplus a patterned design for the “smart glass” roof. This feature uses suspended particle technology to dim or brighten each of its four zones with the push of a button.
Cadillac has made it no secret that it doesn’t expect its virtually hand-crafted ultra-luxury flagship to sell in large numbers. It told Engine1 in May that only 25 examples are expected to be built this year.
Tony Roma, the Celestiq’s chief engineer, also told Jay Leno in May that while the brand will produce more Celestiqs in 2026, “we are not disclosing the exact quantity, but rather thinking hundreds, not thousands.”
Each Celestiq is ordered through a concierge, with buyers able to visit the Cadillac House at the General Motors Technical Center in Michigan to view the endless customization options.
The 5.5m long five-door liftback features a dual-motor all-wheel drivetrain with a total system output of 447kW and 868Nm of torque, as well as a 111kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery.
Acceleration from 0 to 96 km/h (0-60 mph) is said to occur in 3.8 seconds, the range is claimed to be 483 km and DC fast charging capability is up to 200 kW.
The Celestiq rides on 23-inch alloy wheels and features adaptive air suspension with a five-link setup front and rear.
It also features Magnetic Ride Control 4.0, the latest version of the magnetorheological damping technology that the brand debuted in the 2002.5 Seville STS and which is also used in the supercharged V8-powered CT5-V Blackwing.
Other hardware includes active rear wheel steering, which offers phase-shifted rear wheel steering of up to 3.5 degrees, as well as active roll control and an active rear spoiler.
The interior is screen-heavy, with a 55-inch pillar-to-pillar display and an 11-inch console command center up front, as well as an 8.0-inch rear console screen and 12.6-inch screens on each front seatback.
The interior is lined with leather and handcrafted metal parts. Standard features include a 38-speaker AKG Studio Reference audio system, active noise cancellation and four-zone automatic climate control, as well as heating, cooling and ventilation for all four seats, as well as heated armrests and a “scarf” function.
Cadillac began delivering its Lyriq electric crossover SUV to customers in Australia earlier this year. The debut model will be joined in 2026 by the smaller SUV Optiq and the larger Vistiq as well as the high-performance SUV Lyriq-V.
However, the Celestiq will not come here as it will be built exclusively in left-hand drive.
Unlike the 2016 Escala, a twin-turbo V8-powered fastback that previewed a flagship model that never came to market, the Celestiq made the jump to production.
Furthermore, it closely resembles the original concept. It remains to be seen whether last year’s Sollei concept, a two-door convertible version of the Celestiq that looks ready for production, will also appeal to customers.
Cadillac was founded in 1902 and therefore has a rich history of producing luxury vehicles. However, since the Eldorado Brougham from 1957 to 1960, it has not been able to compete with ultra-luxury brands such as Rolls-Royce and Bentley.
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