Since its launch in 1902 (from the remains of the Henry Ford Company), Cadillac has constantly strived to establish itself as the top luxury-car brand in the automotive market. We don't need to tell you how that has turned out, because Cadillac today is synonymous with extravagance and top performance.
However, if all Cadillac's production cars aren't enough proof for it to stake a claim among the top echelon of automotive manufacturers, the company also produced several concept cars it can use to reinforce such claim. These concept car were meant to showcase the initiatives undertaken by the American brand toward designing innovative solutions for the future. Among them, the Escala, the Elmiraj, and the Ciel all stand out as some of the most luxurious, drop-dead gorgeous concept cars the world has ever seen from Cadillac.
“We’ve created a Cadillac that lets you touch the sky,” said Gael Buzyn, Lead Interior Designer at Cadillac, when describing the Ciel. That statement explained the name that translates to "sky" in French (pronounced as "C-L").
The vehicle aims to reach the atmosphere in a four-seat convertible tourer that screams luxury. Well, it's probably still screaming, as it had the sad destiny of never making it to the streets. Nevertheless, one can never really lose hope that such a highly-prospective concept car might make it to the production factory someday.
Large, authentic, and with high-end tech for its time, the 2011 Cadillac Ciel is still worth remembering today. Let's take a closer look at its luxurious styling.
The 2011 Cadillac Ciel Concept Car: A Touring Car With A Modern Style, Finished In A Rich Red Wine Color
The 2011 Cadillac Ciel was all about styling, much like every other concept car. In the attempt to showcase the luxurious potential of its division, General Motors made sure to design this open-air touring car with uttermost care. Hence, the Ciel received a classic-like but modern bodywork, combining the best of both worlds.
The first outstanding characteristic of the 2011 Cadillac Ciel Concept Car was the long-wheelbase. Then, there were French-style front and rear-hinged doors to reveal the exceptional interior and add to the first positive impression you get from looking at the tourer. Furthermore, the nickel-plated lines ran along the entire sides of the car to compliment the already super soft and smooth design.
Essentially, everything on this car was polished to perfection, from wheels and rims to the vintage-looking grille. Even the paintwork was done with care. The Ciel featured a special color named Cabernet to evoke the feeling of looking at the best red wine under the sunlight.
The Cadillac Ciel's Cabin Is Designed For The Ultimate Driving Experience
Over the years, we've grown accustomed to seeing out-of-this-world concept cars. Most brands typically go overboard with designing the concept vehicles, sometimes even making them less appealing than intended. However, this didn't happen with the 2021 Cadillac Ciel Concept Car.
One look at the interior of the Ciel, and you'll notice everything is sleek, smooth, and well-balanced. Obviously, Cadillac wanted to create an authentic but simple and spacious interior that would provide a comfortable experience for the driver and the passengers. The project succeeded.
The Ciel's interior uses all the premium materials but speaks no-nonsense. All the features, buttons, and components are intuitive, so there's no second-guessing when on the road. Furthermore, the interior provides all the top materials and parts to ensure you feel wrapped in luxury when out there.
The Italian olive wood goes through the doors, the instrument panel, the console, and the front doors, making the interior breathtaking. But there's also premium leather in the seats and other components, as well as a handful of features to enhance the ride quality, including the cooling and heating seat features and ambient lighting.
As we said earlier, the Ciel was to further establish Cadillac as a future-oriented and luxurious brand, but in the end, it achieved more. It spoke about the customer experience, not just extravagance in styling.
A Closer Look At 2011 Cadillac Ciel Drivetrain That Was Never Put Into Action
Still, after all this talk about the Cadillac Ciel design, one may think there's nothing more to this vehicle than its aesthetic appeal. Fortunately, the specs tell another story. General Motors intended to equip the Cadillac Ciel with a 3-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 engine. As a result, this awesome touring car would have been a real joy to drive, putting out up to 425 horsepower. It's no wonder why so many car enthusiasts placed high hopes on the Cadillac Ciel. Driving this powerful open-air car would have been a blast.
Ultimately, one had to be taken by every aspect of the 2011 Cadillac Ciel Concept Car, as the vehicle wasn't only designed for admiration from far away. General Motors wanted to provide its customers with a high-performing, good-looking, and enjoyable touring car. It was about the whole experience, not just bits and pieces, which is why it's unfortunate the project never saw further development. The production version of the 2011 Cadillac Ciel Concept Car would have been something special indeed.