CES 2021: Cadillac Shows off Multiple EV Concepts

Three EV concepts from GM’s luxury marque include an autonomous van, a personal aircraft and perhaps most daring – a sedan.

January 21, 2021

Paul Seredynski

Two of the three EV concepts Cadillac revealed during CES 2021 were fully autonomous. Only one can fly. (Cadillac)

Cadillac unveiled three electric vehicle (EV) concepts at CES 2021. They included the Halo Portfolio autonomous van, the VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) Concept autonomous aircraft (both above) and the Celestiq sedan. Considering recent trends toward SUVs and Cadillac’s previously short-lived flagship sedans, the Celestiq may be the bravest concept to tease for the luxury brand’s expanding stable of upcoming EVs.

Cadillac’s VTOL Concept is a single seater, but a two-seat concept is also being developed. (Cadillac)

Few details were provided on either the van or aircraft. The Halo is expected to leverage GM’s Ultium battery platform and showcase the latest fully autonomous vehicle technology by providing a posh, lounge-like interior for the passengers it’s shuttling. The VTOL Concept is a fully autonomous single-passenger electric copter that uses a 90 kWh-battery to power four rotors. Cadillac noted the interior is designed to provide panoramic views and that a two-seater is also in development.

One of only two official images of the Celestiq concept shows a front-end design similar to the upcoming Cadillac Lyriq SUV. (Cadillac)

The Cadillac Celestiq is expected to feature full-LED lighting. (Cadillac)

The Celestiq concept is meant to preview an ultra-luxury EV sedan “headed to production in the near future.” No full images have been released, but the Celestiq is based on GM’s modular Ultium battery platform and will sport “a low profile and rearward proportions.” Power from the battery pack will be sent to all four wheels and the concept features four-wheel steering like the upcoming GMC Hummer EV.

Similar to the upcoming Mercedes S-Class EV, the Celestiq features a pillar-to-pillar IP display with “active privacy” technology to help prevent driver distraction. Rear-seat passengers will net their own entertainment screens. The concept’s slickest party trick is likely its full-glass roof. Cadillac claims it will be one of the first implementations of a four-quadrant, suspended-particle-device smart glass, letting each occupant set their own level of roof transparency. As shown in the teaser video below, the glass can also alter its appearance to match different interior color moods.