Cadillac Ciel Concept Hybrid Unveiled at Pebble, Replete with Aromatherapy Option

At last week’s Pebble Beach Concourse D’ Elegance, Cadillac unveiled their new Ciel concept, an elegant, open-air grand-touring hybrid 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.

SPECIFICATIONS
Vehicle: Cadillac Ciel concept
Body style / driveline: four-door, four-passenger convertible with longitudinally mounted front engine and all-wheel drive
Wheelbase (in / mm): 125 / 3175
Length (in / mm): 203.7 / 5174
Width (in / mm): 77.5 / 1968
Height (in / mm): 50 / 1270
Engine type: 3.6L V-6 with twin turbochargers; DOHC, continuously variable valve timing and direct injection
Horsepower (hp / kW): 425 / 317
Torque (lb-ft / Nm):  430 / 583
Transmission:  hybrid with low-speed all-electric drive
Front suspension:  independent SLA with monotube shock absorbers and stabilizer bar
Rear suspension:  independent multilink with monotube shock absorbers and stabilizer bar
Brakes:  four-wheel disc with ABS; vented front rotors with six-piston calipers and solid rear rotors with four-piston calipers
Wheel size and type:  22 x 9-inch aluminum with brushed nickel accents
Tire size:  265/35R22