Rolls-Royce Spectre vs. Cadillac Celestiq: Plush electric luxobarge matchup

The world of the ‘full-size luxury car’ generally evokes a sense of wafting in the clouds while having our back and legs massaged among many of us terrafirma dwellers. The Rolls-Royce Spectre and Cadillac Celestiq have carved an even smaller niche in this rarified and rather exclusive kingdom.

While Rolls-Royce has always been considered the ultimate in all things ‘luxury on wheels’, Cadillac has what it takes to vie for the attention of the ultra-rich with its pinnacle offering. Let’s see where each of these prestigious EVs stand as we pit them against one another.

Dimensions

Dimension	Rolls-Royce Spectre Specification	Cadillac Celestiq Specification (Expected)
Length	214.7 in.	216 in.
Width	81.9 in.	84 in.
Height	61.4 in.	N/A
Wheelbase	126.4 in.	125 in.
Turning Circle	41.7 ft.	N/A
Curb Weight	6,559 lbs.	N/A

At first glance, it becomes quite apparent that the Cadillac Celestiq is longer than the Spectre. It’s also the one with the seemingly longer gap between the front and rear wheels while likely being wider. Side-by-side photo comparisons of the two further indicate that this could be the case.

Design

While it’s all-new, the 2024 Spectre is more or less the spiritual successor of the erstwhile Phantom Coupe. Of course, there’s no such confusion when it comes to the Cadillac Celestiq – it’s a fresh design that still looks like the concept we were introduced to. Also, consider that the Rolls-Royce is a large coupe, while the Cadillac is designed as a four-door sedan (or even a grand coupe, if you will.)

There’s no mistaking the front of the Spectre for anything other than a Rolls-Royce. Mind you, that’s despite the shrinkage of the Pantheon Grille and even the Spirit of Ecstasy! The front fascia of the Spectre sports ultra-slim LED DRLs, underscored by full-LED headlamps situated in a squared-off but sculpted bumper. There’s enough chrome here and even a subtle lip spoiler.

The girthy yet chiseled front end of the Celestiq presents a low-slung nose adorned by a full-width chrome bar. The Cadillac emblem sits proudly up front, with the ‘main grille’ area surrounded by large air intakes and an air dam in the lower apron. Meanwhile, the sleek LED headlights are vertically aligned and placed at the bumper’s extreme corners.

The muscular side profile of the Rolls-Royce Spectre looks quite minimalistic, bearing just chrome window surrounds, door-mounted mirrors, chrome door handles, and RR-branded trim that integrates the LED turn indicators. The sloped roof and pronounced rear haunches go hand-in-hand with the large and illustrious alloy wheels. When it comes to the Cadillac Celestiq’s sides, it’s a myriad of angles and contours.

The massive 23-inch wheels aside, the side profile of the Celestiq gets protruding front arches, sleek fender lighting & wing mirrors, and a visibly-scooped section along the doors. The rear quarter glass looks sizeable, and so are the rear overhang and the L-shaped dual LED elements. Of course, the stretch is obvious.

The rear of the Spectre is part of the course for a new Rolls-Royce. The LED taillights are rather small, with sloped rear leading straight to the trunk. However, the sporty-ish bumper does jut out a bit, even featuring a full-width silver garnish. Coming to the Celestiq, its rear looks sportier but a lot confusing! There are loads of stylistic cuts and curves, along with a lower apron that just looks out of place in a car of this stature.

Interior

Given that it has four doors, getting in and out of the Cadillac Celestiq will be relatively easy. Once you’re inside, you will be greeted with a minimalistic cabin that can not only be customized as per your requirements but one that also features a massive 55-inch screen that spans almost the entire width of this interior! It’s divided into three segments – a driver’s display, an infotainment unit, and a multi-function display for the front passenger.

There’s yet another display in the center console that occupants will primarily use to control the HVAC system and some other vehicular functions. You have the leather-wrapped two-spoke steering wheel that looks classy, while shiny chrome and metallic trim line much of the cabin. Interestingly, the four seats are tall and sporty in their design, but we reckon they will still be very comfortable. There’s also an electrochromic glass roof, up to 41 speakers, rear entertainment screens, and another small display to control other features.

When it comes to ingress and egress, one has to remember that the Rolls-Royce Spectre has only two doors, but it can still seat four occupants. This means that getting in and out of this car will not be as convenient as in the Caddy. However, the ‘suicide doors’ of the Spectre make the process a little classier, plus they are also power-operated. The cabin is lined with thousands of LEDs (including on the doors), and they are a spectacle worth witnessing!

The lush leather seats of the Rolls-Royce do look and feel more comforting, while the movement of each seat is nearly noiseless. While the Spectre does get its fair share of digital real estate, it doesn’t possess the sheer grandeur that the Celestiq’s up-to-date widescreens offer. That said, the incredible quality of the leather, metal and, other trim bits here is second-to-none. On a side note, the rear seats of the Cadillac might offer more room for taller passengers.

Features & Specifications

The Spectre is built on Rolls-Royce’s all-aluminum and bespoke “Architecture of Luxury” platform, which pretty much says it all. By integrating the almost 1500-pound battery pack as an insulator and into its 30-percent stiffer structure, the Spectre amalgamates quietness and controllability like no other Rolls-Royce luxobarge.

While the British luxury marque has yet to release many technical data, it confirmed that the batteries in the Spectre allow for a maximum range of 320 miles (WLTP cycle). Meanwhile, the all-electric powertrain can generate 430 kW (577 hp) and 664 lb.-ft of peak torque. As for performance, 0-60 mph should come up in 4.4 seconds.

Aspect	Rolls-Royce Spectre Specification	Cadillac Celestiq Specification
Drivetrain Layout	RWD	AWD
No. of Electric Motors	One (rear)	Two (front & rear)
Power	577 hp	288 hp
Torque	664 lb.-ft	383 lb.-ft
Top Speed	128 mph	128 mph
0 to 60 MPH	4.4 seconds	3.8 seconds
Battery Pack	N/A	111 kWh
All-Electric Range	320 miles (WLPT)	300 miles (GM est.)
DC Fast-Charging Time	N/A	78 miles in 10 min

Speaking of speed, the Cadillac Celestiq gets 200 kW DC fast charging that can add 78 miles of range in only 10 minutes. The Celestiq also gets an active rear spoiler, Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 (touted as the world’s fastest-reacting suspension technology), and Active Roll Control.

The Celestiq will have a 111 kWh battery pack, all-wheel drive, and dual-electric motors that will produce about 600 hp and 640 lb.-ft. As for this Cadillac EV’s maximum range, it sits at around 300 miles (GM estimation). Regarding its performance, the Cadillac Celestiq can hit 60 mph in as little as 3.8 seconds.

Price

The U.S. launch of the 2024 Cadillac Celestiq is scheduled to take place in December 2023, with prices starting at USD 300,000. While the Spectre is already available for booking, the first customers will likely receive their cars in Q4 2023. Rolls-Royce has yet to announce any pricing for its first-ever EV, but it has confirmed that the model will be slotted between Cullinan and Phantom. Expect the U.S. price to hit USD 350,000.

The images in the story are courtesy of the respective manufacturer press/media portals.