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Over the past half a decade Cadillac has made leaps and bounds to reinvent themselves in the eye of the consumer.  Rather then trying to appease the aging with fluffy seats and gilded trim, Cadillac is bringing a new energy to the market in the form of the CTS-V in both sedan and coupe versions, as well as its new baby brother the ATS. The Cadillac Ciel (see-el) is no exception to this new direction. Designed by GM’s Advanced Design Studio in LA, the Ciel is ”a new expression of Cadillac’s historical grandeur,” and “suggests where the brand can go in the future,” according to Cadillac design director Clay Dean.

Reminiscent of the early 60′s Lincoln Continental and other vintage GM cars, the Ciel’s long hood, broad nose, and sleek continuous lines pay homage to an era where everything was in excess. Cars were bought not as a means of transportation, but rather an extension of personality and a display of their success. Size mattered in both visual appeal, and horsepower under the hood. Power for the Ciel arrives in the form of a twin-turbo, direct injection V6 engine, paired up with a lithium-ion powered electric motor to push 425 hp and 430 ft/lb’s through all four corners via a hybrid transmission system allowing this yacht to hold its on when pushed.

If the sex appeal of the exterior isn’t enough to sell you, the interior most definitely will. Passengers are absolutely coddled in their individual Italian leather bucket seats surrounded by machined aluminum and nickel plated trim with unique niceties like pull-out blankets to ward off an evening’s chill, aromatherapy controls in the armrests and a drawer containing sun screen, sun glasses and a towel. Of course, technology is ever-present in the cabin with each seat having its own suite of connectivity options and a center dashboard topped with an inductive charging surface for your mobile devices.

Released at Pebble Beach this past August, the Ciel isn’t really breaking news, and as a concept, we all know the chances are it will end up tucked away in a warehouse somewhere without ever seeing the production floor.  But that isn’t what the Ciel is all about.  Cadillac wants to change their public appearance and they have hit a homerun with the Ciel. Which brings us back to our original question, Can the Ciel or other American “Grand Touring Luxury” cars compete with the likes of Bentley and Rolls Royce? Are consumers willing to back a vehicle from a brand that has seemingly lost its course over the past quarter of a century? If Cadillac can continue in this new direction, there might be hope after all.