What is going on at Cadillac? How could a car company with so many amazing concepts already in its back pocket, Concepts that enthusiast and design folks alike are already in love with go this wrong?
In todays design by committee culture I am genuinely mystified how something this terrible would see the light of day. Wikipedia lists The designer of the Celestiq as Magalie Debellis. I am not sure how true that is and when I say that, please understand, I am trying to give her the benefit of the doubt. Her linked in Profile lists her job title as Head of Cadillac Advanced Design - Concept cars, portfolio entries, advanced architecture, advanced technologies & racing programs. So while I’ve no way to know how much she actually personally penned. She almost certainly had some, if not the lions share to do with letting this abomination out to the public. It also credits her with being the primary on designing the Lyriq. What the hell is a Lyriq? If you cant picture one either let me save you the trouble. Picture all the worst parts of the Celestiq as a midsize SUV and there you go. in case your still curious I added some pics below
I dont think many would argue that a Cadillac is about that rear view. At least since the 1948 Cadillac series 62 debuted. The 1948 Cadillac series 62 was the first Cadillac to sport what would become its iconic differentiator within the GM line the vertical tail fin. Those first fins would be little more than bumps on the already bulbous fenders of the Series 62. Cadillac and the tail fin have become iconic, arguably inseparable. Even as GM distanced the rest of its brands from the Jet Age styling, Cadillac and versions of the fin would carry on. Yes there were finless Cadillacs. Maybe the most notable departure would be the Cadillac Escalade. Based on the shared Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban/Yukon XL platform. It wouldn’t be until its 4th generation in 2015 when a taller more exaggerated taillamp invoking the fin would be incorporated. Does the fin make the Cadillac, in short ,no. However, like BMWs dual kidney grill or Rolls Royce Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament, its a thing for a reason.
Looking back at Cadillacs past concepts the Celestiq and Lyriq are at best confusing. You may not remember Wayne Cherry. He would become the company's fifth design chief. But I bet you remember the Cadillac Sixteen that debuted under his leadership. The Cadillac Sixteen would be credited as the blue print for what would become Cadillacs Art and design language. Edward T. Welburn would continue the Art and design language softening the hard edges and dropping some exquisite concepts The 16 might be credited to Wayne Cherry but under Ed Welburn we’d get the Cien a car I would love to see reborn based on the C8. The Cadillac Converj which would become the Cadillac ELR a fantastic looking coupe based on the Chevy Volt. The Cien a monster convertible that broke the internet for a bit. The Elmiraj in 2013 and the Escala 2016 continuing Cadillacs evolution. Each sporting their own unique take on Cadillacs fin in taillight form.
As I said Cadillacs recent concept catalog is chock full of some bangers. Which makes the broken dogleg anti fin taillights of both the Celestiq and the Lyriq all the more confusing and disappointing. As unforgivable as the rear view of the Celestiq and Lyriq are, at first I took consolation in the front on either car not being all that bad. That is until the LED portions of both grills light up and go through their animation sequences.
Jesus wept.
When I first saw video of the LEDs coming alive in both grills... What should have been awe and admiration instead became an intense competition between the words sad and cheap for chief descriptor. With the LEDs off, both grills have the evolutionary feel of Cadillacs previous design language. But somehow the thing that should make them more exciting and dynamic. A literal light show of an opportunity for Christ sakes. Much like the rear light treatment, the LED grills of both vehicles are epic fails.
The wikipedia page for the Celestiq notes that “the concept drew inspiration from earlier Cadillac models, including the 1957 Eldorado Brougham and 1930–40 Cadillac V-16" I guess that makes some sense as out of all the 50s Cadillacs the 57 El Dorado fins certainly aren't Cadillacs best effort. That said I have no idea what part of the either the 1957 or the 30-40 Cadillac V16 was referenced for the Lyriq and Celestiq. After much consideration the best I could come up with is maybe all the cars referenced have chassis components that are black?
I guess to sum things up as a massive Cadillac fan. The new design language as presented by the Celestiq and Liriq are a huge let down. And with articles citing the Celestiq as Cadillacs return to a handmade hyper luxurious product estimated to be in the $300,000 range. I am beyond mystified who would consider paying any where near THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS for a hand built car version that looks very very much like the sixty three thousand dollar SUV? I Also can't help looking back at the Cadillac Ciel and see an opportunity missed. If any car deserved a limited hand built production run it was the Sixteen or the Ciel.
How Cadillac will find enough wealthy people that also suffer severe enough vision problems to make building even a single Celestiq profitable I really cant say. To me at least the idea of a hand built Cadillac at that price point looking like a car Citroen might reject is heartbreaking.
What a tragedy.
James
The Lowered HMFIC
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