Inspired by long, windy trips along the pacific coast highway
in California, the Cadillac
Ciel never got a chance to fulfill its prophecy. What was predicted to be a flagship model for the American manufacturer, ended up being a luxury car with a short shelf life, even if it was featured in a blockbuster movie. So what happened to this elegant convertible?
A smooth, coastal convertible
The Cadillac Ciel prototype that first appeared at the 2011 Pebble Beach’s Concours d’Elegance never actually got the go-ahead for mass production.
Since the 2003 Sixteen, it's the most refined design we’ve seen from the automaker and gave consumers styling cues for what was to come.
Ciel (“sky” in French) celebrated open-air motoring as a sleek four-seat convertible. According to Digital Trends
, the car “is powered by a twin-turbocharged version of the 3.6-liter Direct Injection V6 engine, paired with a hybrid system using lithium-ion battery technology.” And did we mention it's packing 425 hp with 430lb-ft of torque? A nod to the past, the exterior paint on the Cadillac Ciel isn’t all on the outside like we’re used to. According to Motor Authority
, “some of it rolls over onto the door tops, a memory of a time when parts of a car's interior were, in fact, painted metal as stamped in the factory.” Pure nostalgia. A little bit of luxury goes a long way
MORE: Cadillac Beat Out Tesla for an Impressive Award
The convertible is large, with a 125-inch wheelbase and seats that can be heated or cooled. Cadillac also added special touches like drawers for sunglasses and storage for towels.
There are even retractable blankets to keep each passenger warm! An added touch of luxury, aromatherapy controls reside in the armrests.
The Cadillac Ciel’s soft-top is hidden by a sophisticated tonneau cover, and the smooth ride has 22x9-inch wheels that contrast the retro vibe of the exterior.
A mix of wood and leather fills in the interior, which is meant to feel kind of like a boat. According to CarBuzz
, “The rear has suicide doors without B-pillars, and an interior which actually seats four adults comfortably, a rare thing for a convertible.” The cabin has sleek nickel-plated trim that divides the two-tone passenger space. According to Motor Authority, “Italian olive wood, machined aluminum, and hand-tipped leather give nods even further back in time and farther afield, bringing Old World sensations and style.”
The Cadillac Ciel wasn’t worth the cost
According to Digital Trends
, “GM executives have concluded that the [potential] low-volume car running in the $100,000 range, didn’t have enough brand appeal to justify the investment, according to the inside sources.” Despite successes with its XTS and ATS models, Cadillac was still finding its footing in the luxury car scene. Even though this concept piece never hit the market, it was featured in the 2015 Entourage movie, which was based on the hit series. Motor Authority notes that in the movie, the driver remains “Chase’s brother Johnny ‘Drama’ (Kevin Dillon), although as the official movie trailer reveals Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) also gets some time behind the wheel.”
CarBuzz thinks it's possible the Ciel could make a comeback as an all-electric vehicle. “For dealerships that don't see an immediate future in EVs, Cadillac will soon release two new high-performance Blackwing models with twin-turbo V6 and supercharged V8 engine,” according to the publication.
While Cadillac may not have given up on their convertible dream, for now, it looks like 15 minutes of fame is all the Cadillac Ciel will ever get.
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