Could Cadillac Successfully Create Its Own Version of the 911 Dakar?

      Cadillac

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      Do you recall Cadillac’s Opulent Velocity concept? It was a stylish coupe featuring impressive doors and a design that drew inspiration from both Cadillac’s racing legacy and its history of crafting extravagant land yachts. It even produced an appealing sound. Feedback was evidently positive enough for Cadillac to approve another physical concept car, this time with a higher ride height.

      What you see above (and at the end of this piece) is the Cadillac Elevated Velocity concept. The name is quite straightforward; it essentially stands tall on stilts.

      To jog your memory, here’s a reminder of where we began a year ago:

      Cadillac Opulent Velocity Concept (2024) Cadillac

      Cadillac is presenting the Elevated Velocity as precisely what it appears to be: a sports coupe designed for any terrain. This isn’t an entirely far-fetched idea; Porsche has successfully executed a similar concept with the 911 Dakar. However, the 911 is a Porsche and, notably, it’s the brand’s legendary 2+2 GT styled as a tribute to the vehicle that triumphed in the Paris-Dakar Rally back in 1984. Cadillac lacks such a legacy to reference; this is essentially a clean slate.

      Cadillac is marketing it as a versatile vehicle, leaning more towards performance. There’s an e-Velocity mode (inspired by the “V” mode in current performance Cadillacs) that enhances its capabilities on paved roads. On the other hand, “Terra” mode adjusts the air suspension for optimal off-road performance.

      And since it’s a Cadillac, it naturally adheres to other significant traditions—comfort and luxury, to highlight the main aspects. This 4×4 sports coupe not only has off-road capabilities but also can operate autonomously both on and off-road.

      “Who is requesting a self-driving, off-road performance coupe,” you might wonder? Excellent question! I would like to question them too.

      Fortunately, for both myself and that imaginary explorer, that’s not the true purpose of concept cars. Consider this not as a proposal for a production vehicle, but rather a combination of ideas about what a future two-door Cadillac might entail.

      Do you know of a concept car? Reach out to us at [email protected]