The Cadillac VISTIQ will launch in early 2025 – joining the LYRIQ, OPTIQ, ESCALADE IQ, and CELESTIQ in the luxury brand’s growing electric vehicle portfolio. VISTIQ offers an advanced electric powertrain and a luxurious, tech-laden cabin – but its commanding exterior design will be the first thing drivers notice.

We sat down with Zhou Fang, lead creative designer at Cadillac, to discuss the VISTIQ’s striking exterior design - and how the brand applied signature Cadillac design cues to its first electric three-row SUV.

Bold first impressions

The VISTIQ’s exterior design starts with its bold, upright front end, Fang says. Even though it’s a segment below the full-size ESCALADE IQ, the VISTIQ sports the largest version of the Black Crystal Shield grille that now appears on all new Cadillac EVs. Like other Cadillac models, the VISTIQ will be available with two different grille designs – a pinstripe design for the Luxury trim, and a mesh look for the Sport trim.

“We have the art-deco inspired pinstripe to give [the Luxury trim] a more tailored, sophisticated feeling,” Fang says. “There’s a spread wing-like backlit pattern with diamond shapes inside the grille for the Sport model, which suggests the vehicle is primed for performance.”

A subtle nod to Cadillac’s past

Another subtle feature is the VISTIQ’s D-pillar sail panel, which has a unique tornado shape that widens toward the roof. The design is a nod to Cadillacs of the past.

“You will see this kind of design in many Cadillacs, from both the historic era and classic era,” Fang said “In the modern era we have the [2011-2014] CTS-V Sport Wagon. In a lot of big sedans in the 1960s, you also find this type of design. That’s definitely a Cadillac signature for the sail panel.”

Window Mondrian pattern

Just ahead of the sail panel sits the quarter-panel glass, which features an embedded Cadillac Mondrian pattern design. The Mondrian pattern is inspired by Cadillac’s performance car and motorsport heritage, Zhou says.

“It’s an abstract pattern – you can find the pattern in the upper taillamp as well,” Zhou said. “So the idea is the pattern inside the upper taillamp peers through this tornado like sail panel and bleeds into the quarter panel glass, so it’s kind of like one direction.”

This Mondrian pattern provides a feature the design team didn’t initially consider.

“When the light casts through, it creates this really beautiful shadow and projects the shadow on the seat and interior, giving a dramatic atmosphere for the third-row passenger.”

Zhou says the VISTIQ’s design makes it stand out from Cadillac’s rivals.

“It’s confident, luxurious, elegant, all combined,” Zhou says. “It’s not European luxury or Japanese, it’s shouting American luxury.”