The Cadillac Elevated Velocity is EyesOn Design’s Best Concept Vehicle of 2026 – AutoMart Canada

By Chris Perkins, writer and editor, GM News

Cadillac concept cars have long delighted automotive enthusiasts and imagined the future direction of the brand. For 2026, EyesOn Design – an organization comprised of leading automotive designers and educators – has named the Cadillac Elevated Velocity its Best Concept Vehicle. This is the second year in a row a Cadillac concept has taken this prestigious honor, with the 2025 Best Concept Vehicle award going to the Opulent Velocity concept.

“The Elevated Velocity concept channels Cadillac’s V-Series legacy into a bold, electric high-performance ultra luxury 2+2 crossover designed to exhilarate,” says Dominic Najafi, Executive Director of Design, Global Cadillac. “It’s incredibly meaningful for this concept, and the team of talented designers behind it, to be honored by our design peers. Congratulations to the entire team who brought this concept to life, from early ideation, to final execution.”

The Elevated Velocity concept adheres to Cadillac’s “Art of Exhilaration” philosophy, foreshadowing potential design cues for production cars to come. Its name says it all: “Elevated” refers to both the raised state-of-being for the occupants and its tall ride height, and “Velocity” refers to its performance capabilities on-road and off-road.

Its long-hood proportions carry forward the design language of production models like the CELESTIQ and LYRIQ while the raised ride height and 24-inch wheels give the Elevated Velocity a planted stance. Gull-wing doors invite occupants to an interior that showcases fine bespoke craftsmanship.

Concept cars like Elevated Velocity allow designers to look far into the future. Cadillac already has two high-performance electric V-Series crossovers, the OPTIQ-V and LYRIQ-V, and the Elevated Velocity concept shows what the future of Cadillac V-Series could be.

“It’s a privilege to be recognized by our design peers at the EyesOn Design awards,” says Bryan Nesbitt, Vice President of Global Design, GM. “Congratulations to the teams involved in bringing this vision to life, including the Cadillac studio, the Pasadena Advanced Design studio, the Industrial Design studio, and the Design Fabrication shop.”