The Cadillac Elevated Crossover’s somewhat generic name belies its futuristically bold list of features. The all-electric beauty, unveiled at Monterey Car Week’s The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, is imagined as a V-Series-worthy performance crossover that’s comfortable on the open road but capable of tackling extreme off-road terrain.
The Elevated Velocity concept features selectable drive modes that allow for peak EV performance. E-Velocity Mode is an evolution of the aggressive V-Mode found in current V-Series vehicles, while Terra Mode activates air suspension for peak off-road performance. The concept also includes innovative features like Sand Vision, which provides better visibility in a sandstorm, and Elements Defy, a dust-phobic vibration system that keeps the exterior pristine.
But the Elevated Crossover also boasts modes that alter atmosphere, not just driving feel and performance. In Welcome Mode, the vehicle greets the driver with illuminating floors, seats, a dramatic lift of its gull-wing doors and a welcome animation on the steering wheel that mimics shifting desert sand. Elevate Mode enables fully autonomous driving, retracting the pedals and steering wheel. Interior ambient lighting shifts to red, while infrared lights in the seatbacks aid in therapeutic occupant recovery—the system even displays body temperature and cabin temperature. The thrill-promoting Velocity Mode brings the interior lighting to a cool white and deploys the steering wheel, which displays critical information like speed, battery health, and temperature, with augmented reality navigation projected onto the cowl display.
Deep red tones of the interior, from the Morello Red leather to the Garnet boucle fabric, aim to deliver a sense of energy and movement. The well-appointed cabin also includes a vault compartment for valuable items and a bespoke polo set in the rear. Its sleek profile is designed to be aerodynamically efficient while retaining the more dramatic proportions of a futuristic SUV. The Vapor Blue exterior, with undertones of flinty gray, draws inspiration from glacial ice and provides a striking contrast to the fiery red interior.
At least when it comes to Cadillacs, the future of off-roading looks luxe.