All-electric gull-wing crossover previews Cadillac V-division ideas, including retractable controls and production-bound illuminated wheels.
Cadillac unveiled a dramatic, high-riding electric concept with gull-wing doors at Monterey Car Week, positioning the show car as a rolling preview of design and technology directions for the brand’s V performance division.
Shown ahead of Friday’s festivities at The Quail, the Elevated Velocity Concept combines sports-coupe proportions with crossover ride height and an all-electric powertrain. It arrives as the latest expression from Cadillac’s V team — the group behind the 682-horsepower Escalade-V and the quick-accelerating Lyriq V — and follows last year’s Opulent Velocity design study.
Cadillac framed Elevated Velocity as a dual-personality machine. In “Elevate” mode, the vehicle operates autonomously while the cockpit converts into a recovery space. The steering wheel and pedals retract, ambient lighting switches to infrared to encourage relaxation, and a pulsing illumination pattern guides occupants through breathwork as an animation plays across the cowl. Switching to “Velocity” mode restores the controls for driver engagement; cool-white lighting, backlit door panels and dimmed floor illumination are intended to reduce distraction.
The concept layers in other speculative tech flourishes, including a vibration routine meant to shake off dust and sand, and a vision system tuned for low-visibility conditions such as sandstorms. The cabin adopts a minimalist layout with deep bucket seating, while the cargo area houses a tongue-in-cheek “bespoke polo set” — helmet, gloves, kneepads and mallet — trimmed in Morello red to match interior accents.
While Cadillac did not release power, range or battery figures, executives said several elements are being evaluated for production, most notably illuminated wheels. Brandon Vivian, Cadillac’s executive chief engineer, told Automotive News the lighting tech is feasible with today’s components but must meet durability and real-world usability targets before it reaches showrooms.
Concept cars rarely transfer wholesale to dealerships, yet Cadillac has used Monterey in recent years to telegraph themes that later appear in production — from lighting signatures to cabin materials. The brand is in the midst of broadening its performance footprint with both gasoline and electric V-series offerings, while General Motors accelerates development of battery-electric architectures across its portfolio.
Elevated Velocity’s public debut came as GM leaned into a high-profile presence on the Peninsula. Chevrolet is using The Quail to launch a limited-edition 2026 Corvette in a historically significant color, underscoring the company’s strategy of blending heritage cues with advanced propulsion and electronics.
For Cadillac, the concept’s mix of theater and technology is designed to keep attention on the marque’s top-end ambitions as it moves deeper into electrification. The gull-wing roofline and retractable controls push well beyond showroom norms, but the brand suggests smaller pieces — lighting, interface ideas and motion-transforming elements — could migrate to future models.
Cadillac did not discuss timing or specific vehicles that might adopt any of the concept’s features. The company said Elevated Velocity is intended to spark feedback from customers and enthusiasts during Car Week’s headline events, including The Quail and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
