Skip to main content

Cadillac’s wide array of EVs will include vans, sedans, and drones

Cadillac’s first series-produced EV, the Lyriq, made its debut online in August 2020. Executives hinted it was just the tip of the iceberg, and they kept their promise by announcing more EVs — including one that flies — at CES 2021.

As it electrifies, Cadillac will gradually move upmarket. It will peg the Lyriq on the luxury end of the industry spectrum, and it will reach new heights when it releases a range-topping sedan named Celestiq that will be largely built by hand. The model will be fully electric, it will share battery technology with other electric members of the General Motors family, and it will stand proud as one of the most high-tech models the carmaker has ever released.

Cadillac concepts at CES 2021
Image used with permission by copyright holder

While we don’t know precisely what the Celestiq (shown above) will look like yet, Cadillac previewed one of the model’s coolest features at CES 2021. The sedan will offer a four-part glass roof that will give each passenger the ability to dim the panel above them by pushing a button on the center console. All-wheel-drive and four-wheel steering will come standard, too. Additional details about the Celestiq will emerge in the coming months.

Recommended Videos

Both models will break new ground in the technology department, but neither one will stretch the definition of what a Cadillac should be. One is a sedan, and the other is a crossover. If you want to check out a side of the brand that you’ve never seen, take a look at the flying taxi and the box-like EV briefly introduced during its CES presentation.

Details are few and far between, which suggests that these concepts aren’t getting fast-tracked to production. Cadillac nonetheless pointed out that they’re built using powertrain parts shared with some of the aforementioned EVs, and that they illustrate its vision of how commuting could evolve during the 2020s, in a post-pandemic world.

What about the rest of General Motors?

Cadillac parent company General Motors shared information about some of the other EVs it’s working on. It notably created a business unit named BrightDrop focused on electrifying the commercial transportation industry. Its first two products will be an electric delivery van named EV600 (shown above) that will compete directly against the model that Rivian is developing for Amazon. BrightDrop’s cargo hauler will offer up to 250 miles of range, and the firm has already received a 500-unit order from FedEx. Deliveries are tentatively scheduled to start in late 2021.

At launch, the BrightDrop range will also include an electric storage cabinet named EP1 designed to carry packages. Built with a 200-pound capacity, it was developed to operate in warehouses, but it can also navigate sidewalks.

Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
2025 Porsche Macan EV first drive: electrifying a bestseller
2025 Porsche Macan

Porsche is giving EVs a major vote of confidence. While the brand will continue to sell non-EVs for many years, including the emblematic 911, it developed the second generation of the Macan exclusively with electric power in mind. You won’t find a twin-turbocharged V6 or a plug-in hybrid system on the specifications sheet; it’s all electric, all the time. That’s a bold move -- we’re talking about one of Porsche’s bestselling models, not a niche car that has a greater effect on image than on sales. Was it the right move? Join us as we find out.
Subtly electric

There’s no mistaking the new Macan for its predecessor when you walk past it. It’s characterized by styling cues that align it with the Taycan sedan, which was the first series-produced electric Porsche. Up front, rectangular lights are accented by four individual LEDs; in back, there’s a light bar that makes the SUV appear wider than it actually is. Nothing about the design screams “I’m electric!” but there are relatively subtle hints if you know where to look. Here’s a cheat sheet: the front overhang is shorter than the original Macan’s and the wheelbase is nearly 4 inches longer. That’s because engineers had to package a massive battery pack rather than an engine.

Read more
Could Chinese cars save us from high EV prices?
BYD Han

The electric vehicle market is seriously heating up, with more great options being released every few months. But while there are more and more excellent electric vehicle options available, it’s still hard to find a great EV that doesn’t cost at least $40,000 or so.

But there could be a solution to that -- or at least a way to ease the problem. How? High-quality, low-cost Chinese EVs.
Competition
At face value, the solution to lowering EV prices is simple -- and involves a combination of the cost of new tech decreasing over time, while automakers release more and more models, increasing competition and pushing companies to create better-value vehicles.

Read more
Can the power grid handle EVs? The common myth explained
Close up of the Hybrid car electric charger station with power supply plugged into an electric car being charged.

Cars are changing, and quick. While only a few years ago, the options for electric vehicles were limited and often low quality, these days there are tons of great options on offer -- and over the next 10 years, they’re expected to get much better and much cheaper.

But there’s a common idea out there that the power grid can’t actually handle electrification. But is that really true, or is that just a misconception peddled by the fossil fuel industry that fears an end to its massive riches? Turns out, the grid will indeed be able to handle vehicle electrification -- if the right steps are made to ensure that it can. As is the case with pretty much everything, it's a little more complicated than that.
How much power do EVs need?
Electric vehicles have pretty massive demands when it comes to their energy usage. Recent studies suggest that there are currently around 1.7 million EVs on U.S. roads, and some estimates suggest that number will be up to 26.4 million by 2030. That’s a pretty huge increase in demand for electricity.

Read more