Hot take incoming: Cadillac shipped its $340k “Celestiq” electric crossover to the “Retromobile” car show in Paris. In a room full of multi-million-dollar vehicles, it was obvious the Celestiq was out of its league. But it was parked next to another Cadillac which drew a crowd, and reminded me that the world might yet pay $340k for a Detroit EV.

The Cadillac Celestiq by the numbers

The Celestiq is oversized in every way—including its price tag. Cadillac’s new electric flagship stretches 217 inches long, rides on a 130-inch wheelbase, and stands 57 inches tall. It’s wider than a Chevy Tahoe at 81.9 inches. The thing is massive. Under the bodywork, it rides on GM’s BEV3 platform, with two electric motors delivering 600 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque. Cadillac estimates a 0–60 mph time of 3.8 seconds, which is quick for such a land yacht. Power comes from a 111 kWh Ultium battery, good for an estimated range of 300 miles.

Luxury tech is where Cadillac really flexes. The Celestiq gets an industry-first “Four-Zone Smart Glass Roof,” which lets each passenger adjust the tint of their own section. The dashboard spans the entire cabin with five interactive HD screens. Super Cruise is standard, giving the Celestiq hands-free driving capability on mapped highways. Then there’s the wild active suspension: magnetic ride control, rear-wheel steering, active roll control, an air suspension that adjusts ride height, and even an active aero rear spoiler.

Then there’s the price. Cadillac lists the Celestiq at “mid-$300K,” but with options, it reportedly clears $340,000. At that price, it competes with Bentley and Rolls-Royce. To compete with electric Bentleys and Rolls-Royces, it must really compete. Not copy them. And that’s where I think the Celestiq falls short. It’s the four-door lift-back design that’s become the standard for luxury EVs. And that leaves it completely uninspiring. It was ignored by the crowds at Retrombile–in favor of the Cadillac next door.

A 1958 Cadillac Series 62 Eldorado stole the show at Retromobile

The main Retromobile showroom featured countless vintage Ferraris, Jaguar E-Types, and the largest gathering of Bugatti’s final Grand Prix race car (the Type 59) since…well since forever. Yet crowds flocked to the Cadillac Eldorado. Well-dressed Parisians wanted their picture taken with it. Wide-eyed French kids tried to touch it.

There was just something about the low, finned, two-door convertible. The locals would say it had a certain je ne sais quoi. I’m from Detroit, so I’d just say it was uniquely Cadillac. And by comparison, it became obvious the Celestiq was not. But if Cadillac could have captured the Eldorado’s appeal, they would have had more orders than you can shake a stick at.

Here’s the kicker: Cadillac already built that car. The Cadillac Sollei is a long, low, two-door convertible concept car. And I’m here to tell you it’s the flagship car GM needs. It has all the appeal of that vintage Eldorado while being a cutting-edge EV. The Celestiq isn’t a stirring flagship that the who’s-who of Dubai need to park between their Bugattis. But the Sollei could be.