Latest news with #XLR
Daily Express
06-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
AirAsia inks RM51 billion Airbus deal to add 70 long-range jets
Published on: Sunday, July 06, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jul 06, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: Capital A Bhd Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes Kuala Lumpur: AirAsia has signed an agreement to buy US$12.25 billion (RM51.72 billion) worth of long-range Airbus 321XLR aircraft, with deliveries confirmed by 2028, said Capital A Bhd Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes. He said the low-cost carrier inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus in Paris Saturday for 50 A321XLRs with rights for 20 A321XLRs, the new fleet of which are targeted to serve Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe, among others. Advertisement 'This will probably make us one of the largest users of the XLR aircraft, the 321XLR, and is really the next stage of our transformative growth in terms of creating the world's first low-cost multihub network carrier. 'This will enable us to fly to Europe, and we're hoping to launch our first European flight this year,' he said during Capital A's virtual media briefing on Friday, in conjunction with the agreement signing ceremony. The agreement was signed between Fernandes and Airbus Commercial Aircraft Chief Executive Officer Christian Scherer, witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Fernandes said the next-generation A321XLRs will operate alongside AirAsia's all-Airbus fleet of A320 Family and A330 aircraft, and aims to carry 150 million guests annually by 2030, reaching a cumulative total of 1.5 billion guests since inception. He said AirAsia plans to finance the aircraft order through bank leases. Fernandes also confirmed that the group is set to announce another aircraft order next month, but declined to provide further details. Meanwhile, he said the group is working to issue its first bond by October this year. 'This is the first time in our history that we've been rated by international credit rating agencies,' he noted. 'As interest rates begin to moderate, which I'm hopeful will happen soon, it's only natural for us to return to our traditional model of owning aircraft. 'Previously, we shifted from the financing markets to operating leases due to high interest rates and strong capital availability in the leasing space. We're now reassessing that strategy,' he said. On Capital A's proposed regularisation and restructuring plan, Fernandes said the company is expecting to resubmit the decision letter to Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission within the next week or two. 'Once we dispose of the aviation business, Capital A will effectively exit Practice Note 17 (PN17),' he said. He added that six of the group's non-airline businesses, namely Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), Teleport, AirAsia MOVE, OTA, BigPay, Santan, and AirAsia Brand Co (ABC) are currently exploring the possibility of a dual listing in Hong Kong. As for Capital A, it is also considering a dual listing and independent capital raising. However, Fernandes said 'the AirAsia Group itself will not be listed in Malaysia'. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
AirAsia inks US$12.25bil Airbus deal to add 70 long-range jets
KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia has signed an agreement to buy US$12.25 billion (RM51.72 billion) worth of long-range Airbus 321XLR aircraft, with deliveries confirmed by 2028, said Capital A Bhd chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes. He said the low-cost carrier inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus in Paris today for 50 A321XLRs with rights for 20 A321XLRs, the new fleet of which are targeted to serve Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe, among others. "This will probably make us one of the largest users of the XLR aircraft, the 321XLR, and is really the next stage of our transformative growth in terms of creating the world's first low-cost multihub network carrier. "This will enable us to fly to Europe, and we're hoping to launch our first European flight this year,' he said during Capital A's virtual media briefing on Friday, in conjunction with the agreement signing ceremony. The agreement was signed between Fernandes and Airbus Commercial Aircraft chief executive officer Christian Scherer, witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Fernandes said the next-generation A321XLRs will operate alongside AirAsia's all-Airbus fleet of A320 Family and A330 aircraft, and aims to carry 150 million guests annually by 2030, reaching a cumulative total of 1.5 billion guests since inception. He said AirAsia plans to finance the aircraft order through bank leases. Fernandes also confirmed that the group is set to announce another aircraft order next month, but declined to provide further details. Meanwhile, he said the group is working to issue its first bond by October this year. "This is the first time in our history that we've been rated by international credit rating agencies,' he noted. "As interest rates begin to moderate, which I'm hopeful will happen soon, it's only natural for us to return to our traditional model of owning aircraft. "Previously, we shifted from the financing markets to operating leases due to high interest rates and strong capital availability in the leasing space. We're now reassessing that strategy,' he said. On Capital A's proposed regularisation and restructuring plan, Fernandes said the company is expecting to resubmit the decision letter to Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission within the next week or two. "Once we dispose of the aviation business, Capital A will effectively exit Practice Note 17 (PN17),' he said. He added that six of the group's non-airline businesses, namely Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), Teleport, AirAsia MOVE, OTA, BigPay, Santan, and AirAsia Brand Co (ABC) are currently exploring the possibility of a dual listing in Hong Kong. As for Capital A, it is also considering a dual listing and independent capital raising. However, Fernandes said "the AirAsia Group itself will be listed in Malaysia'. - Bernama
New Straits Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
AirAsia inks US$12.25b Airbus deal to add long range jets
KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia has signed an agreement to buy US$12.25 billion (RM51.72 billion) worth of long-range Airbus 321XLR aircraft, with deliveries confirmed by 2028, said Capital A Bhd chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes. He said the low-cost carrier inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus in Paris today for 50 A321XLRs with rights for 20 A321XLRs, the new fleet of which are targeted to serve Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe, among others. "This will probably make us one of the largest users of the XLR aircraft, the 321XLR, and is really the next stage of our transformative growth in terms of creating the world's first low-cost multihub network carrier. "This will enable us to fly to Europe, and we're hoping to launch our first European flight this year," he said during Capital A's virtual media briefing on Friday, in conjunction with the agreement signing ceremony. The agreement was signed between Fernandes and Airbus Commercial Aircraft chief executive officer Christian Scherer, witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Fernandes said the next-generation A321XLRs will operate alongside AirAsia's all-Airbus fleet of A320 Family and A330 aircraft, and aims to carry 150 million guests annually by 2030, reaching a cumulative total of 1.5 billion guests since inception. He said AirAsia plans to finance the aircraft order through bank leases. Fernandes also confirmed that the group is set to announce another aircraft order next month, but declined to provide further details. Meanwhile, he said the group is working to issue its first bond by October this year. "This is the first time in our history that we've been rated by international credit rating agencies. "As interest rates begin to moderate, which I'm hopeful will happen soon, it's only natural for us to return to our traditional model of owning aircraft. "Previously, we shifted from the financing markets to operating leases due to high interest rates and strong capital availability in the leasing space. We're now reassessing that strategy," he said. On Capital A's proposed regularisation and restructuring plan, Fernandes said the company is expecting to resubmit the decision letter to Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission within the next week or two. "Once we dispose of the aviation business, Capital A will effectively exit Practice Note 17 (PN17)," he said. He said that six of the group's non-airline businesses, namely Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), Teleport, AirAsia MOVE, OTA, BigPay, Santan, and AirAsia Brand Co (ABC) are currently exploring the possibility of a dual listing in Hong Kong. As for Capital A, it is also considering a dual listing and independent capital raising. However, Fernandes said "the AirAsia Group itself will not be listed in Malaysia". – Bernama
Skift
30-06-2025
- Business
- Skift
Qantas Tests A321XLR's Limits with Historic Nonstop Flight to Bangkok
Qantas is turning an aircraft delivery into a marketing moment for the Airbus A321XLR. While the record-setting flight grabs headlines, the bigger story is how single-aisle jets are reshaping long-haul route planning. Flight QF6041 isn't your regular Monday morning departure from Hamburg. As of 2 p.m. CET (8 a.m. ET), the aircraft is flying over Turkmenistan, and on course to make aviation history. Qantas being the operator of the new plane is a big clue about Monday's mission. The Australian flag carrier took delivery of the jet last week, and is now flying the plane back to the airline's HQ. The distance from the Airbus factory in Hamburg to Sydney is more than 9,000 nautical miles. A regular delivery flight for a single-aisle aircraft would typically include between two and four refuelling and crew-rest stops en route. But QF6041 is no ordinary aircraft. Qantas is accepting its first Airbus A321XLR – that's Xtra Long Range – and it plans to showcase its performance on the delivery flight Down Under. The aircraft is due to fly from Hamburg to Bangkok nonstop. If realized, this will be the longest A321XLR flight operated by a commercial airline. Qantas estimates the journey will cover more than 5,000 nautical miles. After a turnaround in the Thai capital, the XLR will continue from Bangkok to Sydney, with this second leg clocking in at around 4,000 nautical miles. If all goes to plan, the XLR, named 'Great Ocean Road,' will touch down in Sydney just after 10a.m. local time (8 p.m ET) on Wednesday morning. The total journey is due to take 42 hours, of which 21 hours will be in the air. Thousands are following the plane's progress on live flight-tracking websites such as Flightradar24. Qantas Pushes the Envelope While impressive, the historic flight is not entirely representative. The plane is not carrying any paying passengers or cargo. This makes the aircraft much lighter than normal and increases its overall range. Airbus' marketing materials say the A321XLR can fly up to 4,700 nautical miles 'in typical airline service.' Airlines tend to be more conservative about an aircraft's performance, taking in additional practical considerations on a route-by-route basis. This was highlighted by JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty at the Skift Global Forum last September. On the topic of destination targets for JetBlue's own fleet of A321XLRs, she cautioned: '[The range] is from the aircraft manufacturer, and you have to keep in mind that airlines always do their own studies to make sure that's accurate and sometimes it's not.' Despite New York JFK to Rome being within the official range of the A321XLR, Geraghty added: 'I'm not sure the XLR would actually make it to Rome with the level or reliability we would need. It's tougher to fly back in the wintertime and we don't want to have a technical stop to get gas over the Atlantic.' What's Next for Qantas and the XLR? Qantas is the latest big-name airline to switch from Boeing to Airbus for its next generation of planes. Despite huge retraining and operational complexities, the carrier is betting that the short-term pain will pay off handsomely. Monday's delivery flight is the first of an initial batch of 28 XLRs. These are planned to be direct replacements for Qantas' existing Boeing 737s. These previous-generation jets are due to leave the Qantas fleet over the next decade. Operating in one of the world's largest, yet least densely populated countries, Qantas is likely to feel the benefits of the XLR's improved range. It can fly around 1,500 nautical miles further than the outgoing 737s. The airline has highlighted Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands as possible new markets for the narrowbody jet. First Look Inside Qantas' New 'Xtra Long Range' Plane Qantas is the latest big-name airline to switch from Boeing to Airbus for its next generation of planes. Despite huge retraining and operational complexities, the carrier is betting that the short-term pain will pay off handsomely. Read More Despite being a replacement for the 737, the XLR is five meters (16.5 feet) longer than the Boeing jets. The larger plane can seat 197 passengers – an increase of 13% in overall capacity – with the amount of space between economy seats unchanged at 30 inches. In line with global industry trends, Qantas is using the new plane to boost the number of premium options. The XLR will have 20 business class seats in a 2-2 configuration, representing a 66% increase on earlier models. The upscale seats will have a pitch of 37 inches and offer a five-inch recline. Other perks include a wireless charging pad, an extendable cocktail table, and adjustable calf-rest and footrest. Qantas will be the type's first operator in the Asia-Pacific region. The XLR is already in service with Iberia and Aer Lingus who use it to fly nonstop from Europe deep into the U.S. Ultra low-cost carrier Wizz Air is also due to start flying the jet between Hungary and India, and from the UK to Saudi Arabia. Other future operators include Air Canada, American Airlines, and IndiGo. What am I looking at? The performance of airline sector stocks within the ST200. The index includes companies publicly traded across global markets including network carriers, low-cost carriers, and other related companies. The Skift Travel 200 (ST200) combines the financial performance of nearly 200 travel companies worth more than a trillion dollars into a single number. See more airlines sector financial performance. Read the full methodology behind the Skift Travel 200.
The Advertiser
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
No Cadillac Corvette coming, as GM rules out mid-engine luxury supercar
General Motors' luxury brand Cadillac is in the midst of (another) massive transformation, but its halo model will be an ultra-exclusive, ultra-luxury fastback… not a V8-powered supercar. CNBC reports that GM president Mark Reuss has ruled out a Cadillac version of the mid-engine Chevrolet C8 Corvette, arguing it didn't fit into the brand's new strategy and would have to share the majority of its components with the Chevy supercar. While he reportedly said there was potential room for more specialty, Cadillac-specific vehicles outside the ultra-luxury Celestiq, he ruled out the company's premium brand offering a version of the Corvette – something it has done before with the XLR. "It was developed as a secondary car to the Corvette, on purpose. We would never do that," said Mr Reuss, appearing to refer to the defunct XLR. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. That's despite Cadillac offering vehicles on shared GM platforms like the Escalade large SUV, which is related to the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL but which features unique interior and exterior styling. Other Cadillac models are based on platforms shared with Buick, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles, apart from the CT4 and CT5 which use a version of the Alpha platform that underpinned the defunct Chevrolet Camaro. Cadillac's first and only Corvette-based model, the XLR, entered production in 2003 and preceded the C6 Corvette by a year. While it shared the Corvette's platform, it had completely different interior and exterior styling. Not only that, but the XLR ditched the Chevy's pushrod V8s for the double overhead cam 4.6-litre Northstar V8 developed for the Cadillac brand. This actually produced considerably less power and torque than even the base C6 Corvette's 6.0-litre 'LS2' V8, befitting the XLR's role as more of a refined Mercedes-Benz SL rival than an out-and-out sports car. The XLR was also offered only with an automatic transmission and a folding hardtop roof. For 2006, Cadillac introduced the XLR-V powered by a supercharged 4.4-litre version of the Northstar V8, which produced slightly more power and torque than the base C6 Corvette. The XLR-V became the first Cadillac to wear a base price north of US$100,000, but the XLR experiment ended in 2009 when Cadillac swung the axe on the luxury roadster. It had reportedly failed to meet sales expectations, and GM was about to go through bankruptcy proceedings. Cadillac has since offered other models priced above the US$100,000 mark, culminating in the Celestiq which starts at around US$340,000 (~A$531,000). However, while it has offered hot twin-turbo V6 and supercharged V8-powered models, these have predominantly been sedans. It even developed a twin-turbo double overhead-cam V8 called the Blackwing, producing up to 410kW of power and 868Nm of torque. This ended up being produced for only a couple of model years and was seen in just one model, the CT6, US production of which was halted to make room for electric vehicle (EV) production. But while Cadillac has previously stated a goal of going electric-only by 2030 and is yet to officially scrap this goal as some brands have done, it continues to offer high-performance sports sedans like the CT5-V Blackwing and will join the Formula 1 grid in 2026. Mr Reuss' suggestion of other Cadillac-exclusive, specialty models potentially joining the Celestiq could point to a production future for last year's Sollei concept, a flagship electric convertible based on the Celestiq. Should it build this, it would be the brand's first convertible since the XLR was axed in 2009. MORE: Everything Chevrolet Corvette Content originally sourced from: General Motors' luxury brand Cadillac is in the midst of (another) massive transformation, but its halo model will be an ultra-exclusive, ultra-luxury fastback… not a V8-powered supercar. CNBC reports that GM president Mark Reuss has ruled out a Cadillac version of the mid-engine Chevrolet C8 Corvette, arguing it didn't fit into the brand's new strategy and would have to share the majority of its components with the Chevy supercar. While he reportedly said there was potential room for more specialty, Cadillac-specific vehicles outside the ultra-luxury Celestiq, he ruled out the company's premium brand offering a version of the Corvette – something it has done before with the XLR. "It was developed as a secondary car to the Corvette, on purpose. We would never do that," said Mr Reuss, appearing to refer to the defunct XLR. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. That's despite Cadillac offering vehicles on shared GM platforms like the Escalade large SUV, which is related to the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL but which features unique interior and exterior styling. Other Cadillac models are based on platforms shared with Buick, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles, apart from the CT4 and CT5 which use a version of the Alpha platform that underpinned the defunct Chevrolet Camaro. Cadillac's first and only Corvette-based model, the XLR, entered production in 2003 and preceded the C6 Corvette by a year. While it shared the Corvette's platform, it had completely different interior and exterior styling. Not only that, but the XLR ditched the Chevy's pushrod V8s for the double overhead cam 4.6-litre Northstar V8 developed for the Cadillac brand. This actually produced considerably less power and torque than even the base C6 Corvette's 6.0-litre 'LS2' V8, befitting the XLR's role as more of a refined Mercedes-Benz SL rival than an out-and-out sports car. The XLR was also offered only with an automatic transmission and a folding hardtop roof. For 2006, Cadillac introduced the XLR-V powered by a supercharged 4.4-litre version of the Northstar V8, which produced slightly more power and torque than the base C6 Corvette. The XLR-V became the first Cadillac to wear a base price north of US$100,000, but the XLR experiment ended in 2009 when Cadillac swung the axe on the luxury roadster. It had reportedly failed to meet sales expectations, and GM was about to go through bankruptcy proceedings. Cadillac has since offered other models priced above the US$100,000 mark, culminating in the Celestiq which starts at around US$340,000 (~A$531,000). However, while it has offered hot twin-turbo V6 and supercharged V8-powered models, these have predominantly been sedans. It even developed a twin-turbo double overhead-cam V8 called the Blackwing, producing up to 410kW of power and 868Nm of torque. This ended up being produced for only a couple of model years and was seen in just one model, the CT6, US production of which was halted to make room for electric vehicle (EV) production. But while Cadillac has previously stated a goal of going electric-only by 2030 and is yet to officially scrap this goal as some brands have done, it continues to offer high-performance sports sedans like the CT5-V Blackwing and will join the Formula 1 grid in 2026. Mr Reuss' suggestion of other Cadillac-exclusive, specialty models potentially joining the Celestiq could point to a production future for last year's Sollei concept, a flagship electric convertible based on the Celestiq. Should it build this, it would be the brand's first convertible since the XLR was axed in 2009. MORE: Everything Chevrolet Corvette Content originally sourced from: General Motors' luxury brand Cadillac is in the midst of (another) massive transformation, but its halo model will be an ultra-exclusive, ultra-luxury fastback… not a V8-powered supercar. CNBC reports that GM president Mark Reuss has ruled out a Cadillac version of the mid-engine Chevrolet C8 Corvette, arguing it didn't fit into the brand's new strategy and would have to share the majority of its components with the Chevy supercar. While he reportedly said there was potential room for more specialty, Cadillac-specific vehicles outside the ultra-luxury Celestiq, he ruled out the company's premium brand offering a version of the Corvette – something it has done before with the XLR. "It was developed as a secondary car to the Corvette, on purpose. We would never do that," said Mr Reuss, appearing to refer to the defunct XLR. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. That's despite Cadillac offering vehicles on shared GM platforms like the Escalade large SUV, which is related to the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL but which features unique interior and exterior styling. Other Cadillac models are based on platforms shared with Buick, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles, apart from the CT4 and CT5 which use a version of the Alpha platform that underpinned the defunct Chevrolet Camaro. Cadillac's first and only Corvette-based model, the XLR, entered production in 2003 and preceded the C6 Corvette by a year. While it shared the Corvette's platform, it had completely different interior and exterior styling. Not only that, but the XLR ditched the Chevy's pushrod V8s for the double overhead cam 4.6-litre Northstar V8 developed for the Cadillac brand. This actually produced considerably less power and torque than even the base C6 Corvette's 6.0-litre 'LS2' V8, befitting the XLR's role as more of a refined Mercedes-Benz SL rival than an out-and-out sports car. The XLR was also offered only with an automatic transmission and a folding hardtop roof. For 2006, Cadillac introduced the XLR-V powered by a supercharged 4.4-litre version of the Northstar V8, which produced slightly more power and torque than the base C6 Corvette. The XLR-V became the first Cadillac to wear a base price north of US$100,000, but the XLR experiment ended in 2009 when Cadillac swung the axe on the luxury roadster. It had reportedly failed to meet sales expectations, and GM was about to go through bankruptcy proceedings. Cadillac has since offered other models priced above the US$100,000 mark, culminating in the Celestiq which starts at around US$340,000 (~A$531,000). However, while it has offered hot twin-turbo V6 and supercharged V8-powered models, these have predominantly been sedans. It even developed a twin-turbo double overhead-cam V8 called the Blackwing, producing up to 410kW of power and 868Nm of torque. This ended up being produced for only a couple of model years and was seen in just one model, the CT6, US production of which was halted to make room for electric vehicle (EV) production. But while Cadillac has previously stated a goal of going electric-only by 2030 and is yet to officially scrap this goal as some brands have done, it continues to offer high-performance sports sedans like the CT5-V Blackwing and will join the Formula 1 grid in 2026. Mr Reuss' suggestion of other Cadillac-exclusive, specialty models potentially joining the Celestiq could point to a production future for last year's Sollei concept, a flagship electric convertible based on the Celestiq. Should it build this, it would be the brand's first convertible since the XLR was axed in 2009. MORE: Everything Chevrolet Corvette Content originally sourced from: General Motors' luxury brand Cadillac is in the midst of (another) massive transformation, but its halo model will be an ultra-exclusive, ultra-luxury fastback… not a V8-powered supercar. CNBC reports that GM president Mark Reuss has ruled out a Cadillac version of the mid-engine Chevrolet C8 Corvette, arguing it didn't fit into the brand's new strategy and would have to share the majority of its components with the Chevy supercar. While he reportedly said there was potential room for more specialty, Cadillac-specific vehicles outside the ultra-luxury Celestiq, he ruled out the company's premium brand offering a version of the Corvette – something it has done before with the XLR. "It was developed as a secondary car to the Corvette, on purpose. We would never do that," said Mr Reuss, appearing to refer to the defunct XLR. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. That's despite Cadillac offering vehicles on shared GM platforms like the Escalade large SUV, which is related to the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL but which features unique interior and exterior styling. Other Cadillac models are based on platforms shared with Buick, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles, apart from the CT4 and CT5 which use a version of the Alpha platform that underpinned the defunct Chevrolet Camaro. Cadillac's first and only Corvette-based model, the XLR, entered production in 2003 and preceded the C6 Corvette by a year. While it shared the Corvette's platform, it had completely different interior and exterior styling. Not only that, but the XLR ditched the Chevy's pushrod V8s for the double overhead cam 4.6-litre Northstar V8 developed for the Cadillac brand. This actually produced considerably less power and torque than even the base C6 Corvette's 6.0-litre 'LS2' V8, befitting the XLR's role as more of a refined Mercedes-Benz SL rival than an out-and-out sports car. The XLR was also offered only with an automatic transmission and a folding hardtop roof. For 2006, Cadillac introduced the XLR-V powered by a supercharged 4.4-litre version of the Northstar V8, which produced slightly more power and torque than the base C6 Corvette. The XLR-V became the first Cadillac to wear a base price north of US$100,000, but the XLR experiment ended in 2009 when Cadillac swung the axe on the luxury roadster. It had reportedly failed to meet sales expectations, and GM was about to go through bankruptcy proceedings. Cadillac has since offered other models priced above the US$100,000 mark, culminating in the Celestiq which starts at around US$340,000 (~A$531,000). However, while it has offered hot twin-turbo V6 and supercharged V8-powered models, these have predominantly been sedans. It even developed a twin-turbo double overhead-cam V8 called the Blackwing, producing up to 410kW of power and 868Nm of torque. This ended up being produced for only a couple of model years and was seen in just one model, the CT6, US production of which was halted to make room for electric vehicle (EV) production. But while Cadillac has previously stated a goal of going electric-only by 2030 and is yet to officially scrap this goal as some brands have done, it continues to offer high-performance sports sedans like the CT5-V Blackwing and will join the Formula 1 grid in 2026. Mr Reuss' suggestion of other Cadillac-exclusive, specialty models potentially joining the Celestiq could point to a production future for last year's Sollei concept, a flagship electric convertible based on the Celestiq. Should it build this, it would be the brand's first convertible since the XLR was axed in 2009. MORE: Everything Chevrolet Corvette Content originally sourced from:
