Cadillac Unveils Ciel Concept at Pebble Beach

[ChevroletRevived]

Cadillac Unveils Ciel Concept at Pebble Beach
In a surprise, Cadillac unveils Ciel Concept at the prestigious Monterey show
www.GMInsideNews.com
August 18th, 2011
By: Tony Pimpo

Surprise, surprise! On the heels of an announcement about approval of the Converj Concept for production, Cadillac has debuted the Ciel Concept. The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance show has taken on an increasing importance lately for debuts by luxury manufacturers. Cadillac has illustrated this by choosing the prestigious show for a surprise unveil of the new Ciel. Stealing the show? We think so.

Cadillac says the Ciel (pronounced 'C L') shows off its vision for the future of range-topping luxury at the brand. In other words, that means the Ciel provides a glimpse at possibilities for a Cadillac flagship model. The Ciel is rear-wheel drive and powered by a twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine.

The Sixteen Concept was the last exploration of a true flagship that we've seen from Cadillac, and the Ciel is every bit a worthy followup. The Ciel marks a continued evolution of Cadillac's Art & Science design language, one that seeks to integrate some heritage elements into the mix.

The SRX showed off some vague hints of fins in the rear taillights, and the Ciel takes that even further with a design that clearly aims to recreate the magic of Cadillac's flagships in a whole new way. With concepts like this, we clearly know what Cadillac is capable of - and we will expect nothing less than the best going forward. No doubt, the four-seat, four-door open-roof Ciel takes us back to the golden era of Cadillac design. Could another one be around the corner?

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Cadillac today unveiled the Ciel concept, an elegant, open-air grand-touring car inspired by the natural beauty of the California coast.

The Ciel – pronounced “C-L,” the French translation for sky – is a four-seat convertible that opens a new chapter in Cadillac’s design and product ascent, pushing the brand’s Art & Science philosophy into a new stratum. Ciel is a new expression of Cadillac’s historical grandeur, as well as a celebration of open-air motoring.

“Large, expressive luxury is innate to Cadillac and the Ciel recalls that heritage, while suggesting where the brand can go in the future,” said Clay Dean, global design director for Cadillac. “Authentic luxury is driven by experiences, not just products, and Ciel is about the experience of the journey.”

The spacious and elegant Ciel is a grand gesture that explores themes driving Cadillac’s explorations into range-topping flagship luxury. It is powered by a twin-turbocharged version of the 3.6-liter Direct Injection V-6 engine, paired with a hybrid system using lithium-ion battery technology.

Coastal inspiration

Driving California’s Highway 1 in an open car while the sun sets, from Big Sur north to Monterey, is the type of journey the Ciel team envisioned during its design.

“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.”

The four-door Ciel embraces the social aspects of a recreational journey, with generous room for two couples. It evokes the spirit of the classics with a long, low proportion. The doors are French-style, with the rear doors hinged at the rear – there is no B-pillar – to reveal a sweeping view of the dramatic interior. Distinguishing fender lines run from nose to tail, and nickel-plated bright work accents the body lines, enhancing the visual length of the car and honoring Cadillac touring cars of the past.

Ciel’s exterior flows seamlessly into the cabin, with the body color rolling over on top of the interior door panels. Like the exterior, the passenger space is accented with sweeping nickel-plated trim. It divides the body-color upper sections from a complementing beige lower color. Italian Olive wood, machined aluminum and hand-tipped leather are elements that flow through the interior, complementing the primary colors with warm, rich tones.

“There is authentic craftsmanship in the way the exterior and interior elements meld, much like a vintage wooden boat,” said Gael Buzyn, interior design manager. “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.”

Ciel literally and figuratively reflects the driving experience along the California coastline. The Cabernet paint color, developed specifically for Ciel, is inspired by the rich translucence of a glass of red wine held up to the sunlight.

A prominent, polished aluminum windshield frame serves as in important structural element of the vehicle, as well as aesthetic one, recalling classic open cars of the past. Additional exterior cues, including a shield grille and vertical lighting elements, are pure Cadillac, but suggest a more organic interpretation of the brand’s signature design language that emphasizes the artistic and natural sides of it. The body sides, for example, are more rounded, sweeping upward. Bright work is used to bring contrast to the deep paint color, but plays a more supporting role.

The car rides on large, beautifully finished wheels that feature brushed nickel plating over milled billet aluminum, matching the materials and appearance of other trim. Carbon ceramic brake rotors are visible behind the 22-inch rims, a visual clue to the Ciel’s foundation of performance.

And owing to Cadillac’s heritage of advanced technology, the headlamps and taillamps feature LED lighting elements – including a unique daytime running light graphic on the front of the vehicle that is generated with gradated LED lighting.

Elegant, authentic details

Simplicity, authenticity and spaciousness were the guiding principles when it came to developing the Ciel’s interior.

“With the Ciel, the journey is the thing, so the interior is a place of uncompromising comfort and elegance, with technology that only makes the journey more enjoyable,” said Buzyn. “Simplicity and lightness ensure nothing distracts from the open driving experience, while the color and materials lend the feeling that the vehicle’s environment blends with the surroundings.”

A wheelbase of 125 inches – about 12 inches longer than a CTS sedan – provides generous space. Luxurious seats are bisected by a “floating” center console that runs from the instrument panel to the rear of the interior. It effectively creates a very personal space for each passenger and houses access to hidden connectivity portals for each person in the vehicle – allowing them to make dinner reservations, check the weather at their destination or even upload photos of the trip via social media sights.

Simplicity is also the watchword with the Ciel’s instrument panel, which features a minimalist gauge cluster that doesn’t impede or distract from the outward view. But while reserved in its form, it exemplifies Cadillac’s attention to details and its priority on authentic materials. The climate vents, for example, are mostly hidden and their airflow is distributed indirectly.

Transparent gauges deliver their information within a detailed, brushed-aluminum housing that has the intricate depth of a high-quality chronograph. They offer dual readouts – analog and digital – as well as an information hierarchy. Additional interior features include:

• Sloping bolsters on the seats that allow passengers to slide into the seats more comfortably
• A personal device storage area on the front of the console with inductive charging and Bluetooth connectivity
• A power-assisted transmission shifter that deploys as soon as the engine is started
• Lighting in the armrests that combines a natural light well for daytime driving and ambient lighting for nighttime drives
• Door storage areas that are inspired by premium fashion accessories and open with high-quality zippers
• Pull-out blankets are available for all three passengers and retract automatically

All the seats 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. But perhaps the defining element of the Ciel’s cabin is the incorporation of Italian Olive wood on the doors, instrument panel, console and the front seatbacks, adding warmth and craftsmanship to a car designed to provoke an emotional response.

“Milled solid wood delivers richness and a sensual feeling of authenticity in the visual impact of the grain, its feel and aroma, which a veneer simply cannot,” said Buzyn. “Even in our high-tech, connected world, luxury customers crave touches of old-world craftsmanship – the Ciel simply reflects that with a blend of the latest technology.”

Italian Olive wood is a premium yet sustainable material and the material used in the Ciel came from a single fallen and recycled tree, from a west coast producer of premium olive oil. It was painstakingly prepared, including drying in a kiln, before it was cut for the concept vehicle. The numerous pieces were then photographed so that the grain could be matched precisely. Each component was hand-milled and finished by expert woodworking craftsmen.

The rear seating area is detailed with elegant flourishes. The rear seat passengers can pull a leather tab, which reveals a cashmere blanket that stretches across the seating area to ward off a chill. The wood trim in the rear center console opens to reveal a small humidor, stocked with a few cigars.

“From the materials used to create it to the space and experience it offers passengers, the Ciel represents a unique perspective on luxury, but not the only one,” said Dean. “Along with other concepts, such as the ULC, Cadillac is demonstrating that the bandwidth of the Art & Science philosophy is wide, indeed – and we’re going to make it even wider.”

The Ciel was developed at GM Design’s North Hollywood Design Center, which is managed by Frank Saucedo. Niki Smart was the lead exterior designer, with Buzyn leading interior development.

[jbartley]

Hood looks like the Escalade picture from the design studio...that's a good sign...

[FireFrost]

FFFFFFF OMG DUDE. DO WANT. Second-Gen XLR?? *hopehopehope*

[rockyspaw]

More to come.

I LOVE the way the headlight assembly is integrated into the knife-edge fender...reminds me of the SUV concept that was posted a while ago. Very retro, yet modern.

And the raised hood has a classic Cadillac look from the 60s-70s.

[ClassyEldo]

Love the looks from that photo!!! The hood design is killer!!! Way to go Cadillac designers!!! What a beauty!!! Show me more . . . [drooling!]

[2648562]

It appears to be a dramatic departure from today's Art & Science. It's almost, dare I say it, a return to the 1970s. I'm intrigued, but I just don't know what to think right now.

I guess it's a cool concept.

[Amphibian]

Holy crap that looks FANTASTIC!

[spidge]

FFFFFFF OMG DUDE. DO WANT. Second-Gen XLR?? *hopehopehope*

Looks more like an Eldorado revival.

That vehicle looks LONG and HUGE! There's a passenger in the back, and he looks like he has LOTS of legroom.

[TuffG929]

looks kick ass....like

[Suziebob]

This, gentlemen, is automotive perfection.

[ral1960]

Looks like a 75 Eldorado crossed with an SRX.
Hope someone has better photos.

[bronco5280]

When I first saw the photo, I did not like that front end one bit...but it has grown on me. But I love the back...this thing is pretty classy looking and something I totally was not expecting to see. Kudos, Cadillac for taken us by surprise!

[Greg Burr]

Looks more like an Eldorado revival.

That vehicle looks LONG and HUGE! There's a passenger in the back, and he looks like he has LOTS of legroom.

Nothing wrong with that. That's the kind of Cadillac Eldorado in the early 70's that my family had --my favorite.

[rockyspaw]

IMHO, this puts the Phantom Drophead Coupe to shame!

[kneedragger]

GM, do whatever you must to get this car to the market ASAP!

Holy hell that looks so freaking awesome