Cadillac revives Eldorado's spirit with Ciel concept

Cadillac ushered in a new design language with the decadent Ciel concept revealed over the weekend at the Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance.

Pronounced "C-L", the French translation for sky, the Ciel clearly harks back to the gargantuan Eldorado convertibles of the 1970s and, in the company's words, "Ciel is a new expression of Cadillac's historical grandeur, as well as a celebration of open-air motoring."

The Ciel is said to be a new expression of Caddy's so-called 'Art & Science' styling philosophy, which until now had more or less dispensed with organic curves in favour of razor-sharp creases and edges.

Cadillac design boss Clay Dean said the boat-sized concept suggests "where the brand can go in the future," and the Ciel is allegedly a toe-in-water exercise that explores the storied brand's prospects in the "range-topping flagship luxury" bracket.

Although clearly steeped in history, the Ciel is powered by a cutting edge powertrain comprising a twin-turbo direct-injection version of GM's 3.6-litre V6, mated to a hybrid system using lithium-ion battery technology.

The design team is a said to have envisioned driving California's Highway 1 in an open car while the sun sets, from Big Sur north to Monterey. "The Ciel is about the romance of the drive," said Dean. "It emulates the great touring cars seen on the greens at Pebble Beach, but with a modern flair that projects Cadillac's vision for the future."

With a wheelbase of 3175mm – about 260mm longer than a Holden Commodore – the Ciel is an imposing looking car, and its styling manages to incorporate retro cues in an otherwise thoroughly contemporary looking package.

The car rides on massive 22-inch rims that feature brushed nickel plating over milled billet aluminium, matching the materials and appearance of other trim. Carbon ceramic brake rotors are visible behind the rims – "a visual clue to the Ciel's foundation of performance".

Also among the design highlights are French-style rear doors hinged at the rear (there is no B-pillar), providing a sweeping view of the dramatic interior.

Despite its massive proportions, the Ciel manages to avoid look slab-sided, thanks partly to nickel-plated accents on the body lines, which are a further tribute to Caddys of the past.

Nickel-plated trim also divides the body-colour upper sections in the interior from a complementing beige lower colour. The cabin is swathed in Italian Olive wood, machined aluminium and hand-tipped leather, endowing it with a warm ambience.

"There is authentic craftsmanship in the way the exterior and interior elements meld, much like a vintage wooden boat," said interior design manager Gael Buzyn. "It is romantic, not only in its form, but the materials – nothing smells as good as real wood and leather. It blends together for a rewarding feeling of uncompromising luxury."

Each of the four occupants is housed in individual bucket seats separated by a floating centre console that runs the length of the cabin. The console provides access to hidden connectivity portals for each person in the vehicle – allowing passengers to make dinner reservations, check the weather at their destination or even upload photos of the trip via social media sites.

Other surprise-and-delight features for the three passengers include pull-out blankets that retract automatically – should the elements turn chilly. All the seats also have heating and cooling features, along with a drawer containing sun lotion, sun glasses and towels, as well as aromatherapy that is controlled from the rear armrest.

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