Cadillac’s Elevated Velocity concept could foreshadow the brand’s future in off-roading

On the surface, Cadillac’s new Elevated Velocity looks like your typical concept car: gull-wing doors; a plush red interior; a retractable steering wheel for fully autonomous driving; and futuristic lighting scheme. But the real attention grabber is the lifted chassis and a new off-roading mode that could hint at a possible new direction for GM’s luxury brand.

The concept is a followup to the Opulent Velocity vehicle that was first revealed at the 2024 Quail, A Motorsport Gathering. That vehicle was an all-electric, 2+2 coupe designed to showcase Cadillac’s vision for future luxury performance and autonomous driving. Cadillac is back at this year’s Quail with the Elevated Velocity, which is 2+2 crossover that’s also meant to foreshadow potential future design cues.

Most compellingly is the concept’s off-road capabilities. The vehicle rides on 24-inch wheels for better off-road navigation. And a new Terra driving mode activates the vehicle’s air suspension for more comfortable driving on uneven surfaces.

“If you think about track mode for the dirt, Terra Active is that, where it boosts the off-road capability, optimizing the active suspension to create the best performance at high speed for the type of terrain you might be on, like loose surface,” Bryan Nesbitt, Cadillac’s design chief, said in a briefing with reporters. 

When asked whether the new concept could signal an off-road extension of Cadillac, Nesbitt didn’t foreclose on the possibility.

“Is there more opportunity for higher end performance in this type of form factor and this type of use case relative to, let’s say, more dirt performance?” he responded. “Is there demand for that? We think it’s a pretty exciting thing, and that’s what initiated this kind of the study for us.”

Luxury automakers have been moving more aggressively in the off-road space, with visions of high-performance rock climbing while nestled in a luxurious interior environment. Mercedes-Benz got things started with the G-Wagen, and since then we’ve seen a variety of brands express interest. Audi’s Q6 E-tron lifted concept was released earlier this year, as was Genesis’ X Grand Equator concept. And BMW just announced its own plans to release a lineup of luxury off-road vehicles. Of course, Rivian’s outdoor-friendly SUV and truck are certainly priced comparable to many luxury offerings.

The Elevated Velocity aims to channel that energy through Cadillac’s V-series. The automaker’s performance brand has been on a bit of a tear lately, releasing V-series versions of the Lyriq and Optiq EVs. The new concept is meant to set the stage for the next evolution of Cadillac’s performance brand. By producing more V-badged vehicles, Cadillac is hoping to pivot away from its past image as an “old man” automotive brand to one that’s more Gen Z friendly.

To that end, Cadillac has imbued its concept with a lot of digital wizardry that is unlikely to fly in the real world. That includes a steering with a digital display that presents an animated waterfall of sand as a greeting to the driver. The interior lighting can be switched to infrared as a therapeutic measure to “boost recovery.” (The Cleveland Clinic says that red light therapy is an unproven method for treating wrinkles and other skin problems; Cadillac’s Nesbitt says its about “exploring different types of technology.”)

In addition to the infrared therapy, the concept also tracks the driver’s biometric data, offering insight into heart their rate, oxygenation, and stress levels. Maybe those levels are too high – the Elevated Velocity will guide the driver through a breathing exercise to bring them back down to normal levels.

Cadillac envisions you partaking in all this wellness-focuses technology when the vehicle is in autonomous mode. When you’re ready to let the car drive itself, the steering wheel and pedals disappear and you’re left in an airy cabin being bombarded by infrared light and breathing meditation features. Sound relaxing?

But if the wellness seems like a gimmick, Cadillac can point to the concept’s off-roading powers as a sign that exciting things are coming in the future.