Cadillac Puts The Spotlight On Iconic Goddess To Rival Rolls-Royce Spirit Of Ecstasy

Feb. 19, 2023 6:11 AM ET by Jarryd Neves Luxury / 9 Comments

The Goddess was last seen 64 years ago but recently made a return on the Celestiq.

Cadillac's gorgeous Goddess sculpture has returned for the first time in more than six decades, making an appearance on the high-end Cadillac Celestiq electric vehicle.

But modern customers don't know what the Goddess is. But as Cadillac aims to tackle Rolls-Royce, it needs an emblem worthy of matching the Spirit of Ecstasy for sheer drama and prestige. To bring attention to the Goddess, Cadillac is working with artists to bring attention to the elegant sculpture.

Petra Collins, Ming Smith, and Dannielle Bowman are three incredible photographers who've used their talents to showcase the symbol through their respective styles. These pieces will be auctioned off via Artnet, and Cadillac will donate all proceeds to a non-profit charity called Free Arts NYC.

Cadillac

The artworks were revealed at a private show on February 15. The photographers were in attendance to discuss the inspiration behind their respective pieces and to participate in a panel discussion.

"The iconic Cadillac Goddess was originally conceived nearly a century ago as an artful representation of the brand's spirit and has been reintroduced on the all-new Celestiq ultra-luxury EV. Cadillac's rich history and promising future continue to inspire," said Cadillac's Bryan Nesbitt.

Last seen on the 1959 Eldorado Brougham, the Goddess was introduced in 1930 and considered the height of automotive elegance and prestige in America.

Over the years, the Goddess took on a different shape, and in 1933 it became the reserve of the high-end V-16 models.

Cadillac

The Goddess can be found in several locations on the new Celestiq. The emblem sits atop the aluminum scroller and is encased in glass, as well as the front quarter panel and charging port.

Interestingly, Cadillac will not put the Goddess on the hood. Rolls-Royce crafted a special version of the Spirit of Ecstasy for the all-new Spectre EV. No emblem would have improved range marginally, but Rolls-Royce cannot afford to sacrifice tradition for a few extra miles of range.

Hopefully, Cadillac will introduce a similar option for the Celestiq, adding even more gravitas and prestige to the overall package. The automaker may have concerns about pedestrian safety, but this could be solved with a retractable Goddess.

Cadillac

Hood ornaments have long been an automotive expression of wealth and good taste, but that hasn't always been the case. Rolls-Royce is said to have designed the Spirit of Ecstasy after owners started putting lewd and objectionable mascots on their luxury vehicles.

The prestigious automaker wanted an ornament inspired by Nike, the Greek goddess of victory - fitting for the world's finest luxury vehicles. However, Charles Robinson Sykes decided to repurpose one of the crude emblems an owner applied, and thus, the famous Spirit of Ecstasy was born.

Many have doubts that General Motors can produce a car worthy of challenging Rolls-Royce, but it's clear to see Cadillac is trying hard to dispel those notions.