I recently asked a General Motors representative when we’d see a new CTS coupe. “Wait for Pebble Beach,” he said. I immediately imagined simply a chopped version of the 2014 CTS. What I had not imagined was the visual splendor that GM had in store for us motoring maniacs.
The two-door, four-seater Elmiraj is far grander than anything I had imagined.
Starting at the grille we notice the Cadillac badge – sans wreath. We’d heard rumors that Caddy was planning to drop the wreath from around its iconic shield. We hadn’t wagered, however, we’d see it so soon. We rather like the cleaned up, classic, yet modern look of it. It’s nicely accentuated by the vertical headlight scheme of the Arts & Science design language.
Just behind that new emblem is a 500-horsepower 4.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 based on the 420-horsepower 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 in the new 2014 CTS Vsport. Delightfully, the Elmiraj is built on a new lightweight rear-wheel drive chassis that Cadillac has slated for production. So not only does Caddy plan to continue its lighweight, rear-wheel drive assault on the luxury world, it also plans to build a new full-size luxury vehicle. Whether it’ll be a coupe like the Elmiraj, we don’t yet know. I’m hoping so.
Putting all that power to the road is a set of 22-inch aluminum wheels. Backing up those 20s – and bringing the impressive Elmiraj to a quick stop – are some ceramic brakes with monoblock calipers.
On the interior it appears designers spared no expense. Cadillac Studio craftsmen handpicked fallen Brazilian Rosewood for the interior trim, which is a stunning accent to the rich camel-colored leather bucket seats. Cleverly, the speedometer and tachometer gauges are analogue but also clear, this allows a high-res screen directly behind the gauges to display driver information or the image from a front-mounted camera. Additionally, a 10-inch navigation and connectivity can be concealed inside the instrument panel when not in use.
“We were influenced in particular by the 1967 Eldorado, both its actual design and the fact that in its time that car was a very stark contrast and a new direction,” said Dean, the advanced design director in a prepared statement.
I don’t know about you, but I am very, very excited by the prospect of a new 2+2 Cadillac to take on the likes of the soon-to-come, all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe, which will replace the now ancient CL. Giddy up.
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