Cadillac continues to develop the way it makes vehicles with its Elevated Velocity concept car, recently named Best Concept Vehicle of 2026 by EyesOn Design. This vehicle embodies an ambitious vision: to combine luxury, electric performance and versatility, while offering an aesthetic that blends heritage and modernity. It’s a victory that underlines the brand’s ambition to become an ever more ambitious and versatile manufacturer.
The same stylistic heritage, but reinvented
Aesthetically, this concept car is striking for its sculpted, athletic silhouette. Cadillac has taken up the DNA of its V-Series: long bonnet, taut lines, sculpted surfaces, but with a design resolutely geared towards electric power and futuristic luxury.
Elevated Velocity featuresgull-wing doors, a rare and spectacular treatment that reinforces the notion of a visual motoring spectacle. It is equipped with 24-inch wheels that assert its presence and give an impression of performance. Dominic Najafi, Executive Design Director, Global Cadillac, said:
« The Elevated Velocity concept channels Cadillac’s V-Series heritage into an ultra-luxurious, bold 2+2 crossover designed to exhilarate. »
The idea is clear: to give a glimpse of the future styling codes of Cadillac’s top-of-the-range EV models, which will be resolutely different from the competition in Europe and Asia.
A name that says it all
The Elevated Velocity concept fully embraces Cadillac’s ‘Art of Exhilaration’ philosophy, foreshadowing potential design cues for future production models. Its name was not chosen at random: ‘Elevated’ refers to both the elevated position of the occupants and the ride height of the vehicle, while ‘Velocity’ evokes its dynamic on- and off-road capabilities.
This is a concept car, designed to explore the future styling and identity of the V-Series, and not a production vehicle: no official technical data – engine, performance or range – has been released. The concept serves primarily as a creative laboratory, allowing Cadillac to project its vision of electric luxury and performance in future models, while celebrating its V-Series heritage and bold styling.
Cadillac: a historic brand undergoing a major transformation
Elevated Velocity may represent the future of styling, but Cadillac’s overall trajectory is just as remarkable. Founded in 1902, Cadillac has long been the standard-bearer of American luxury. Today, it is transforming itself almost visually: a versatile premium brand, driven by three main themes: electrification, performance and, more unexpectedly, Formula 1!
Electrification as the cornerstone
Cadillac has clearly announced its intention to migrate entirely to electric power, with no specific date set, aligning its investments with a zero-emissions future. This strategy is reflected in vehicles such as :
- LYRIQ-V, a high-performance version of the iconic electric SUV with over 615 bhp.
- OPTIQ-V, a dynamic proposition with over 500 bhp and integrated native fast charging technologies(NACS).
Despite the brand’s status as a benchmark in terms of combustion technology, sales of EVs are on the rise. In fact, almost 40% of Cadillac’s sales in the United States in the third quarter of 2025 were electric vehicles (18,383 EVs out of a total of 46,525 units sold). This is a sign that even the historic manufacturers in a country that is very attached to combustion engines are managing to turn the corner and retain a loyal customer base.
The ambition of a 100% electric portfolio in the long term remains on the table, with no firm date for the complete cessation of combustion engines, underlining a gradual transition adapted to market demand.
The Formula 1 adventure: daring and global visibility
In addition to this electric transformation, Cadillac has taken an even more spectacular step: to enter Formula 1 from 2026 with an official team. This initiative marks a cultural and strategic break: Cadillac is no longer just a manufacturer of luxury cars, it is becoming a motorsport brand.
A team structured to perform
- Cadillac Formula 1 Team will be present on the grid in 2026, supported by General Motors and TWG Motorsports on the technical and operational fronts.
- For the first few seasons, the team will use Ferrari power units, while developing its own engines towards 2028.
- The single-seater’s livery, unveiled during the 2026 Super Bowl, struck a chord with the public with its modern, unifying aesthetic, giving Cadillac immense exposure to a global audience.
- Sergio Pérez (Mexico) and Valtteri Bottas (Finland), two seasoned drivers, represent the team. Together, they bring more than 500 Grand Prix starts and several victories.
This presence in F1 puts Cadillac on a different pedestal: beyond the traditional EV market, the brand is entering the arena of extreme performance, alongside other historic manufacturers. With Elevated Velocity and its electric and sporty strategy, Cadillac is clearly showing that it is reinventing itself while remaining true to its heritage.
