INDIANAPOLIS — There’s something about blinking electric toys and computerized gadgets that remind us of our childhoods, a time when all things seemed possible. I felt a nostalgic tingle for our future while examining an electric sedan, crossover, and sporty coupe that you only wish existed as a kid.
2024 Cadillac Celestiq
Straight from this year’s Neiman Marcus catalog, this bespoke Caddy channels Christmases past as the sedan takes inspiration from the 1933 V16 Aerodynamic Coupe and 1957 Eldorado Brougham. Like a hand-blown globe, the Celestiq is hand-crafted at the GM Global Tech Center near Detroit and each is personally commissioned at the Eero Saarinen-designed Cadillac House.
It’s packed with wonders. Power doors welcome guests to a cabin awash in hand-wrapped materials, choreographed lighting, burnished metalwork, and a Pantone chart of colors. There are five high-def displays, including a 55-inch pillar to pillar dash screen connected to a crystal controller embedded with Cadillac’s Goddess. Little Drummer Boys thump through the 42-speaker AKG Studio Reference Audio System and gaze at stars through the glass roof that allows each passenger to tune opaqueness above.
Everything on the exterior that looks like metal is, including the fender-inhabiting Cadillac Goddesses milled from cast aluminum. Shadowing Clark Griswold’s roof, over 1600 LEDs illuminate its surroundings. It’s sleek hatchback style over 23” wheels and finlike taillamps are the last things seen as it rushes into the night.
The Jolly One unreins 600 horsepower to ring 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds. Go 300 miles per feeding and replenish 78 miles per 10 minutes of DC fast charging. Adding magic is hands-free highway cruising, rear wheel steering, and adaptive air suspension.
Prices start at $340,000, and rise quickly with bespoke touches, so conjure $975,000 for one from Neiman’s.
2025 Lucid Gravity
If you’re like Santa and need a large cargo hold with long range kicks for your personal sleigh, the Lucid Gravity may light your electric fantasies. Building off the success of the Air sedan, this is the brand’s first electric crossover that promises to soon be the hot toy of the season.
Styling is fantasy car cool with sculpted fenders, floating roof, and crystal-line lighting that stretches across the front, but step inside for an indulgent cocktail. It’s all delicious with a floating 34” curved OLED driver display over a touchscreen and glass center console. The windshield curves into the panoramic roof. When you need a break from holiday parties, the car becomes an immersive meditation space.
No blustery sleigh, the Gravity delivers a heap of adventure and comfort for long-range touring. Take the entire crew of up to seven adults in three rows of jet comfort seats. If luggage is preferred over humans, second and third rows stow flat, though there’s a very roomy frunk to carry presents and cookies to grandma’s.
A little thing like battery charging will hardly slow your roll as the Gravity boasts up to 440 miles range and can add 200 miles in 15 minutes on a DC fast charger. If you’re behind schedule, tap down to run 0-60 mph in a scant 3.5 seconds. Rudolf and his posse may be fleet of feet, but not in a hot snowstorm will they catch this Lucid. And, they’ll struggle to match its 6,000 lbs. towing capacity. Ride smoothly on the adaptive air suspension that can get you over the river and through the woods.
Start your wish list early as the Lucid Gravity arrives late 2024 for around $80,000.
2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre
Neither the spirit of Christmas past nor future, this electric Rolls slips through the night with silence Santa would envy. Billed as a Rolls-Royce first and an electric car second, the Spectre is more of the former because it’s also the latter.
While sporting a wider stance on 23” wheels and fastback roofline taken from classic coupes and racing yachts, the widest Parthenon grille ever affixed to a Rolls paints a picture. It is one of the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royces ever as even the flying lady goes lower. A closer examination reveals 22 LEDs creating a 3D effect for the grille.
Power open the rear-hinged carriage doors. Each Spectre is crafted to its client’s prayers from a choice of wood veneers, near infinite array of leather colors, and contrasting stitching, but each gleams with “Starlight Doors” cradling 4,796 fiber optic star points. The passenger dash spells Spectre surrounded by its own cluster of over 5,500 stars. Whether traveling near or far, passengers will ride in a fly sleigh.
Seasons ago, Rolls-Royce only described horsepower as “adequate”, but we have specs for this one. It recharges 10-80% in 34 minutes and travels 329 miles fully lit. Batteries and motors send a “more than adequate” 584 horsepower through all-wheel-drive to leap 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Snow is boring. Four-wheel steering and adaptive suspension balance modern handling with wafting comfort. Getting Santa and his Mrs. to Christmas brunch will be no problem.
Prices start at $420,000 with further wishes granted as far as you’re willing to spend.
May your holidays be merry and bright!
Send questions and comments to Casey at AutoCasey@aol.com; follow him on YouTube @AutoCasey.
