Cadillac's 'Opulent Velocity' Concept Is A Vision Of An Electric Gullwing Future

Photo: Cadillac

Welcome back to Monterey car week, where every manufacturer — even those far from California — is legally mandated to reveal something incredibly expensive. Cadillac, never one to be left behind, is joining the club with this: Opulent Velocity.

What Car Should You Buy: Fast, Impractical and Fun

Unlike the Sollei concept, which seems more or less road-ready, the Opulent Velocity is a look into the far future of Cadillac styling. It’s not an incredible departure from current Caddies — the vertical lighting elements, reuse of the badge shape, and wheel design all point to the company’s current design language — but the new concept brings some novelty into the Cadillac design offices.

Photo: Cadillac

The Opulent Velocity is notably curvier than most modern angular Cadillacs, with the overall body shape rounded off in a way that’s distinctly unlike your average CT5. There are still hard edges for accents, but the general style is one of smooth curves — a refreshing evolution.

Photo: Cadillac

The interior, accessed through automatic gullwing doors, is unlike anything you’ll see in a modern Cadillac. Thin seats with tall bolsters, a screen dead center of the steering yoke, this is far from an Escalade. The Opulent Velocity is even more tech-centric than the company’s production cars, relying on “Level 4 autonomous capability” and an “Augmented Reality Head-Up Display” to get around. These are very easy claims to make when your car isn’t real, but it points to where Cadillac wants to go: More tech, more automation, but perhaps not more screens.

Photo: Cadillac

Overall, especially in this bronze-and-blue combo, the Opulent Velocity is a gorgeous car. Hopefully it points to more of these styling elements in production vehicles, especially the gullwing doors. Cadillac, please, start making those.