Cadillac has yet again redefined what it believes the premium electric motoring space could resemble in the coming years with the unveiling of the Opulent Velocity Concept.
“What is opulent velocity? What we’re really looking to do is achieve kind of the best of both worlds — what is the ultimate hyper performance machine in the future, coupled with ultimate luxury. In fact, hyper luxury, if you will. And can we leverage the tech moving forward with the great things that are happening and integrate it in a way in this time frame to create a really, really fantastic expression of true luxury performance of the future,” said Brian Nesbitt, executive director of global design, in a virtual briefing last week.
Taking inspiration from the brand’s V-Series.R prototype hybrid racecar, the concept is low slung and features a stubby nose and long muscular butterfly doors. The signature Cadillac vertical lighting is interpreted via intricate crystal fluting seen on the head and tail lamps, and the emblems found on both ends of the vehicle, and those on the wheel center caps, are lit. Rather than a single light bar common on the rear ends of many current cars on the road, there is a series of curved full-width illuminated strips sitting parallel beneath the trunk opening.
The two-plus-two dark-themed interior is deeply futuristic, and a couple of immediate standouts are the wedge-like seats, seemingly plucked off the bridge of a starship, and stowable Y-shaped steering wheel housing an integrated digital cluster. Above, the widescreen display and Augmented Reality Heads-Up Display (AR HUD) offers additional driving information. The otherworldly details don’t stop here, either.
“We take a lot of materials into consideration on [this] journey, studying where the evolution of the identity of performance luxe really is: where we are today with V Series, and the opportunities to move forward in materials, natural fibers, different types of finishes and colors,” explained Nesbitt. “We look at new technologies, and again, in all parts of the vehicle, including embellishment, which is a big part of the luxury proposition and creates the opulence within the expression of the product.”
One of these embellishments is the process of jewelled 3-D printing, used to create the interior’s two-tone embroidery containing prismatic elements that interact with light in interesting ways. The trim pieces also incorporate flax fibres nestled under tinted silver pearl flakes helping showcase its lightweight construction.
Normally autonomous, the driver can switch into a manually-operated Velocity experience via the touch of the multi-function controller causing the steering wheel and a set of pedals to appear. There’s no mention of specifications, other than the powertrain possessing “Blackwing track-proven engineering.” The mode also unlocks full customization of aero and suspension dampening settings.
“[The Cadillac Opulent Velocity Concept is] really a beacon of what the ultimate expression of zero emission, top-end performance could capture in an execution of ultimate luxury, leveraging technology, in this time frame.”