Closer to reality, GM sparked more details about its superlux EV Celestiq, which has been floating around the pipes for several years at this time. The vehicle will be packed with technology, including a smart “four-quadrant” glass roof that can be customized to meet the needs of the person under each seat. If the driver wants an opaque shade, but the person using the shotgun can look up through the clear glass. In addition, the vehicle will have a “pillar to pillar” screen that spans the entire width of the car and customizable environment controls.
Cadillac also had a few more details about its next (and very real) Lyriq SUV, which was revealed correctly last summer. The cabin is now said to use the Unreal Engine both for the graphics in the car, but also for the augmented reality heads-up screen. And, the company has confirmed that the Lyriq will also be packing Super Cruise driver assistance as standard.
The Lyriq is also the first GM vehicle to use its “Ultium” battery system, which varies between 50-200kW battery sizes, and will also be used inside the Hummer EV, as well as the first GM electric pickup. GM says its battery composition uses 70% less cobalt, making it cheaper and better for the environment in general. Lyriq itself will have a 100 kW battery and an estimated range of about 300 miles, as well as its gigantic 33-inch Hyperscreen display.
Not everyone within GM’s dealer network is so excited about the advent of Cadillac’s journey towards electrification. In December 2020, a report stated that 150 GM dealerships would stop selling Cadillac vehicles and accept a purchase instead of building the gear needed to service EVs. Partly, this is because dealership owners are unsure whether EVs are the future, or that this would justify expensive installations upgrades. Others may be suspicious about their future revenues, given the low maintenance that EVs require compared to gasoline-powered vehicles. And, of course, part of that may just be an ill-informed rejection of the need to reduce carbon emissions or face a climate catastrophe.