Cadillac’s Opulent Velocity concept shows that the future of cars is bright

A few weeks ago, Cadillac sent the internet into a frenzy of awe and envy with the unveiling of its Sollei concept car. Dressed in Manila Cream, a pale yellow paint shade used by Cadillac in the late 1950s, Sollei is decked out with a 55-inch screen across the dash and intricate hand-carved woodwork behind the seats. The Sollei is a mix of old and new, with new technology and materials made from the renewable root structure of mushrooms, while still maintaining a retro feel.

In sharp contrast, Cadillac’s recently unveiled Opulent Velocity concept is futuristic and angular. The American brand made the cover of Opulent Velocity and it is a state-of-the-art look at the car manufacturer’s future. This concept predicts where Cadillac hopes to go with its electric vehicle lineup, and it makes a powerful statement. If the Sollei evokes the classic elegance of Greta Garbo, Opulent Velocity is more like SZA, one of the most popular and current music artists in the world. You’re holding back a little in the best way, putting all his softness front and center. The other screams “get out of the way” with just enough bravado to convince potential buyers that it has a chance of going into production.

Paired with Cadillac’s highly anticipated hand-built Celestiq, the latest concept oozes with ultra-modern chic and looks to take aim at its European luxury competition. All that, plus the upcoming electric version of Cadillac’s popular Escalade SUV, was on display at Monterey Car Week last week.

Cadillac gives free rein to its digital imagination

Make no mistake: Software will define the next generation of GM brand vehicles. Tony Roma, most recently the Celestiq’s chief engineer and now the leader of the Corvette development team, told me at Monterey Car Week that Opulent Velocity was “80 percent done” once the software portion was completed. Digital manufacturing plays a major role and gives designers and engineers the space to unleash their imagination.

That’s why the all-electric Opulent Velocity coupe looks like a proper hypercar worthy of a poster, with butterfly doors that hinge on the A-pillar and swing upwards. In the interior, 3D printing and hard painting techniques accentuate floating seats and an instrument panel that appears to float above the floor mats. It’s more of a spaceship than a supercar.

“We are returning the brand to a place of true American luxury relevance,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “We had a lot of doubters when we started that journey and we’ve taken some pretty meaningful steps forward. GM demonstrated its commitment and investments across the portfolio.”

Reuss emphasizes another big step: the reintroduction of Cadillac in countries such as Europe and Australia. It’s time to take a step back and look at what’s over the horizon in terms of design, technology, performance and a statement for what Cadillac is going to become, he says.

Opulent Velocity, true to its composite name, strives to deliver two very different experiences. One side of the coin is opulence, with complete luxury and autonomy. Even the steering wheel and pedals can be retracted in Opulent mode to inflate the overall space. Turn sharply right towards Velocity, which amplifies the car’s performance characteristics and turns the cabin into a focused racing control center.

Weathering the storm of EV uncertainty

CNBC reported this last week that Cadillac sales were down 1.7 percent compared to the first six months of 2023. All Cadillac vehicles took a sales hit, with one notable exception: the all-electric Cadillac Lyriq. The automaker isn’t shying away from what it calls its “new, electrified face” through the Lyriq and Celestiq (pronounced sell-ESS-tick). Meanwhile, some headlines claim that EVs are slowing down, according to analysts from companies and others Goldman Sachs And Cox Automobile.

Still, Reuss believes he must stay the course. Electric vehicles are inevitable and Cadillac wants to be at the forefront.

“The power of delivery with electrification and the instantaneous torque are so satisfying,” he says.

While speaking with GM Vice President of Global Design Michael Simcoe during Car Week, he pointed out a few Easter eggs in both the Sollei and Celestiq. Both feature design elements that hark back to the past, from a 1930s vehicle to a 1957 Cadillac model and the latest concepts crowning the automaker.

Simcoe, Reuss and the rest of the GM team understand that wild designs attract attention – just look at the CyberTruck – but giving the world a set of future cars that offer more than just shock and flash will serve it well .