CES 2022: Cadillac InnerSpace a ‘vision of the future’

Electric production cars and significant new concepts are coming out thick and fast from the CES tech show in Las Vegas this week as the world’s leading car-makers show off their latest works – and their way forward.  

General Motors’ Cadillac luxury brand is now among these ranks with the reveal of the Cadillac InnerSpace concept: a fully electric, autonomous two-seater coupe said to offer a “vision of future personal mobility focused on elevating the passenger experience”.

Shaped a bit like a flattened teardrop, the show car forms part of Cadillac’s ‘Halo Concept Portfolio’ that GM executives say “are designed to provide effortless travel through extraordinary means”.

“They are visions for the next decade and beyond, showing the possibilities enabled by General Motors’ comprehensive approach to autonomous drive technology with the goal of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion,” said GM’s head of global advanced design and the global architecture studio, Bryan Nesbitt.

Underpinned by a wireless version of GM’s Ultium EV platform, the Cadillac InnerSpace concept’s battery modules have been scattered throughout the chassis and body to maximise interior space to the nth degree and keep the centre of gravity low.

Speaking of low, the almost impossibly low roofline is perhaps the most striking aspect of the InnerSpace, followed closely by the huge rounded rear overhang.

At the front we’re greeted by Cadillac’s signature boofy facia and a new take on the now-familiar full-width lighting signature of its EV portfolio.

Inside the cabin is a single bench seat which splits into two sections, each rotating outwards to greet the vehicle occupants and make ingress/egress as easy as possible.

For an added sense of drama and accessibility – likely because of the insane roofline – a section of the glass roof tilts upwards from hinges on the A-pillars, resulting in a massive aperture for getting in and out.

Thanks to its full autonomy, there’s very little for occupants to do other than sit back and enjoy the ride with none of the usual controls being present and the seats replicating more of a lounge than anything you’d expect to see in a traditional car.

There are even scatter cushions available from a shelf below the windscreen.

Splitting the two is an immersive, full-width panoramic SMD LED display containing AI-driven biometric input and interfaces, allowing passengers to select from augmented reality engagement, entertainment and wellness recovery themes for their drive, all of which can be updated and added to over the air by authorised service staff.

“Electrification and autonomous driving will fundamentally change the role of vehicles and the experiences customers have with them,” Nesbitt said.

“We’re exploring where that will go with these innovative concepts, envisioning mobility as an ally of wellness, giving customers the ultimate luxury, more personal time rather than taking it.” 

Given it’s only a concept at this stage, Cadillac hasn’t bothered to reveal any of the InnerSpace’s powertrain or battery details.

However, the Ultium architecture is capable of handling up to 200kWh batteries and more than 730kW of power in its current evolution.