Cadillac does not build many cars like the Cadillac Ciel: a 4-door convertible with Twin-turbocharged 3.6 L direct injection V6, built from 2011 as electrification stopped being an experiment and the crossover took every market. Its designer of record is Niki Smart.
The story
The Cadillac Ciel is a hybrid electric concept car created by Cadillac and unveiled at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The Ciel has a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter direct injection V6 producing 425 hp (317 kW) and a hybrid system using lithium-ion battery technology. The Ciel is a four-seat convertible with a wheelbase of 125 inches (3,200 mm). It was developed at GM Design's North Hollywood Design Center. The Ciel has rear suicide doors, and the interior features a smooth wooden dashboard with a simple gauge look.
The word "Ciel" is French for "sky"- which is what the designers had in mind when they made the vehicle. In 2012 and early 2013, Cadillac contemplated developing a production car based on the Ciel. However, in July 2013, they decided not to pursue the venture. At the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Cadillac unveiled a new concept, the Elmiraj, which is similar in design to the Ciel, except it is a coupe. Both vehicles were designed by Niki Smart. The Cadillac Ciel was featured in the 2015 film Entourage as a gift from talent agent Ari Gold to the main character Vincent Chase for the success of his directorial debut in the fictional movie, Hyde.
What is underneath
Under the skin sits Twin-turbocharged 3.6 L direct injection V6. The layout matters: a front engine drives the rear wheels, the classic proportion — long bonnet, cabin set back — that most people picture when they picture a sports saloon or a grand tourer. The wheelbase is 125 in. These are manufacturer figures carried by Wikipedia and Wikidata, not road-test measurements.
Its place in the line
Where it sits in Cadillac's history is not in doubt: the Cadillac Elmiraj followed it. On a showroom list of its day it stood against the Lamborghini Aventador, the Nissan Leaf, the Tesla Model X. Nearby in the Cadillac catalogue sit the Cadillac 353 and the Cadillac ATS.