The regular production Cadillac Celestiq is exclusive enough, a virtually handmade electric super sedan with rear-seat accommodations to rival Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Only 500 will be built each year, with the first deliveries in December, and rocker Lenny Kravitz has already ordered one. The price is US$340,000, with a huge range of bespoke customizing available to make the bottom line much bigger than that. Still, it’s not the last word when it comes to this prestige range topper.
There will be only one Carmen Edition Cadillac Celestiq, and it’s being offered on page 184 of Neiman Marcus’ legendary “Christmas Book.” The price is definitely in Rolls-Royce territory—US$975,000.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to buy a one-of-a-kind custom electric vehicle,” says Joe Singer, senior manager at Cadillac communications for the Celestiq and its little brother, the Lyriq.
According to Singer, the Carmen’s by-hand paintwork is in liquid steel tri-coat, with Epernay finish interior, and exterior accents. The seats are in Opera Red and Backen Black Lorraine leather with eucalyptus floor mats. Singer confirmed that the mechanical specifications of the electric drivetrain are not altered from the production Celestiq.
The sticker price includes more than the car. The buyer and a guest will also get “an exclusive, ultra-luxury curated journey through culinary, art, and design experiences grounded in Detroit’s rich heritage and recent renaissance,” Neiman Marcus said. According to Singer, the two-day experience will include a trip to the newly built Cadillac House at Vanderbilt, on the campus of the GM Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, where the Celestiq will be built.
Cadillac House hosts the Artisan Center, the hub where the Celestiq will be individually brought to life at their buyers’ direction. Guests will also tour the Cadillac design studio, which features an installation by Detroit artist Harry Bertoia. There will be boutique hotel accommodations, multicourse dinners, and a US$25,000 donation to the Detroit Opera house in Cadillac’s name.
This is hardly Neiman Marcus’ first foray into the world of the collectible automobile, nor is it even the first Cadillac. In 2003, Neiman Marcus offered 101 Cadillac XLR convertibles with 320-horsepower Northstar V8 engines, Ultraviolet paint, and a folding hardtop. The inventory, priced at US$85,000 each, sold out in less than 15 minutes.
That sellout is not uncommon—the cars have often sold out in the first 24 hours of availability, according to Neiman Marcus. Since 1959, more than 40 vehicles have been offered within the “Fantasy Gifts” collection.
Early offerings were modest. The 1970 Christmas Book advertised “his and hers” Ford Thunderbirds. The pair, with differing trim, could be obtained for a mere US$25,000. Eight-track players were included and a shaver. A limited-edition Thunderbird was again offered in 2000, and demand for the 200 cars—a model not yet in showrooms—was such that they sold out in two hours. The price: US$41,995.
Some of the offerings are just for the cars themselves, but in 2018 there was a Neiman Marcus deal that included some specialized travel along the lines of the Celestiq. For US$315,000, the adventurous could score a two-day spy adventure in Las Vegas that included time behind the wheel of Lamborghinis and Ferraris, plus jumping out of airplanes. The buyers were met at the airport after a private plane ride by a mysterious man in a tuxedo, and ushered through some espionage lite organized by former special operatives.
In 1995, the company teamed up with James Bond’s movie producers for 100 launch-edition BMW Z3s similar to the one the British spy drove in Goldeneye, released that year The buyers, who paid US$35,000, got a pair of tickets for a Goldeneye dinner party in Los Angeles with actor Pierce Brosnan.
In 1999, the 50 special-edition Neiman Marcus BMW X5s in Impala Brown priced at US$57,995 came with the opportunity to spend three days and two nights at the automaker’s new performance center in South Carolina. The half-day, high-performance driving program was undoubtedly thrilling.
In 2007, the car was the black-on-black Lexus IS F, 50 of them for US$68,000, and there was a half day at the Skip Barber driving school. In 2006, 50 buyers could pick up their BMW M6 cars in Germany, pay US$139,000, and then take a vacation with business-class air travel, gourmet meals, and top hotels.
And in 2019, James Bond was back, with seven themed Aston Martin DBS Superleggera cars for US$700,007 each. The offering came with tickets to the premiere of the Bond movie No Time to Die. Actor Daniel Craig had a hand in designing colors and fabrics for the special edition.
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