The Cadillac Ciel was a four-seat convertible concept car unveiled at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. It combined a twin-turbocharged 3.6-litre V6 with a lithium-ion hybrid system and was named after the French word for sky.
Cadillac Ciel at a glance
| Maker | Cadillac, General Motors |
|---|---|
| Shown | 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance |
| Type | four-seat convertible concept |
| Engine | 3.6 L twin-turbocharged direct injection V6 |
| Power | 425 hp (317 kW) |
| Hybrid | lithium-ion battery system |
| Wheelbase | 125 in (3,200 mm) |
| Doors | rear-hinged (suicide doors) |
| Design centre | GM North Hollywood Design Center |
| Name | French for sky |
| Production | considered 2012-2013, not pursued |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Ciel.
History of the Cadillac Ciel
Cadillac built the Ciel as a design statement for the 2011 Pebble Beach concours. Its twin-turbocharged 3.6-litre direct injection V6 produced 425 hp, and a hybrid system using lithium-ion battery technology supplemented it. The car was developed at General Motors’ North Hollywood Design Center, and the name – French for sky – described what the designers had in mind when they shaped the open body.
A car for the concours lawn
The Ciel was a four-seat convertible with a wheelbase of 125 inches, or 3,200 mm. It had rear suicide doors and an interior with a smooth wooden dashboard and a deliberately simple gauge look, more like a piece of furniture than a production fascia. The proportions and detailing looked back to Cadillac’s open cars of the 1930s rather than forward to the showroom.
After the show car
In 2012 and early 2013 Cadillac considered developing a production car from the Ciel, but in July 2013 the company decided not to go ahead. At the 2013 Pebble Beach concours it showed the Elmiraj, a coupe with similar design themes; both cars were designed by Niki Smart. The Ciel also appeared in the 2015 film Entourage, as a gift from the talent agent Ari Gold to the main character.
Design and features
- Hybrid powertrain: a 425 hp twin-turbo V6 working with lithium-ion batteries.
- Open four-seater: a long 3,200 mm wheelbase and room for four under the sky.
- Rear-hinged doors: suicide doors that opened up the cabin, with no centre pillar in the way.
- Wooden dashboard: a smooth timber fascia with a simple, uncluttered instrument layout.
Cadillac Ciel versions
- Ciel concept (2011): the single show car, finished in a light metallic colour.
- Elmiraj (2013): a later coupe concept with similar design themes and the same designer.
- Production version: studied in 2012-2013 and abandoned in July 2013.
The Ciel took up ideas later seen in production Cadillacs such as the XTS, and it sits alongside other show cars in the Cien article. More Cadillacs are in the Cadillac collection.
Sources
- Cadillac Ciel, English Wikipedia: powertrain, design, production plans, film appearance
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