Neiman Marcus' fantasy gifts catalog offers $975K ultra-luxury Cadillac EV package
General Motors and Neiman Marcus want to offer someone a holiday season that reflects "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous."
In Neiman Marcus' "The 2023 Fantasy Gifts" catalog, which came out Oct. 25, you can gift your loved one a $975,000 ultra-luxury Cadillac "Carmen Celestiq" electric vehicle package. The package includes the car, a stay at a luxury hotel in Detroit, a behind-the-scenes look at how the car is made and other luxury treats, according to the catalog.
The Celestiq is already going to be a rarity with GM planning to make only hundreds a year, all made by hand to customer tastes. There is only one Celestiq available in this gift, in fact most of the Fantasy Gifts are sold to just one person, a Neiman Marcus spokeswoman said.
In its catalog, Neiman Marcus wrote, "We believe there's a little fantasy in every gift, these are the presents that are truly magical. Neiman Marcus has been curating out-of-this-world gifts for the holidays since 1959."
Cadillac spokeswoman Katie Minter said the Celestiq package is part of an on-going relationship GM has with Neiman Marcus. GM offered a GMC Hummer EV in the Fantasy Gifts catalog two years ago for $285,000 and a Cadillac XLR sports sedan 10 years ago.
"We have a history of partnering with Neiman Marcus to sell iconic vehicles in their fantasy catalog ... and felt this was the perfect opportunity to launch the One of One Commissioned by Cadillac Carmen Celestiq," Minter said in an email to the Detroit Free Press.
The 2004 Neiman Marcus Cadillac XLR, available in the 2003 Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog, sold for $85,000 then, Minter said. Cadillac produced a total of 101 Neiman Marcus Limited Edition Cadillac XLRs and when Neiman Marcus opened bidding for it on Oct. 15, 2002, the XLR sold out in 14 minutes, she said.
What nearly $1 million gets you
In the catalog, Neiman Marcus described the Celestiq sedan as having, "choreographed lighting and a smart glass roof with fixed glass" that can be customized to suit each passenger’s preference.
The description said the car will have a 55-inch, pillar-to-pillar high-definition LED display to give a "studio-quality aural experience to transport your senses into the symphonic," and it has GM's hands-free driving system Super Cruise.
Besides getting a one-of-a-kind car, the nearly $1 million price tag also gets you and a guest an "unprecedented two-day experience in Detroit" for a behind-the-scenes look at the design and engineering process of the car. You and your guest will visit the Cadillac House at Vanderbilt design studio on the campus of GM's Global Technical Center in Warren. The most noteworthy feature of Cadillac House at Vanderbilt is a large-scale, sculptural screen of glimmering gold designed by Harry Bertoia. It is one of only a few created by the Detroit-based artist and designer.
The package also includes "all the culinary, art, design, and history that Detroit has to offer," the catalog said. That means a stay in a luxury suite at a boutique hotel "in the heart of downtown Detroit (or metro Detroit area, if you prefer)" and, "a private tour of a notable Detroit landmark institution with a docent or historian followed by a seated multicourse dinner prepared by a renowned Detroit Chef."
From the purchase, Cadillac will donate $25,000 to the Detroit Opera House, the catalog noted.
Become a Disney character or walk the red carpet in Cannes
The Celestiq was already a big deal. The ultra-luxury Celestiq sedan starts at more than $300,000 because it is customized for each customer, then it is hand built in Warren using top-of-the-line materials. Cadillac is expected to make fewer than 500 a year and it will arrive to customers in late spring 2024. One of its early customers is musician Lenny Kravitz.
In the 2021 catalog, Neiman Marcus offered a Barrett-Jackson Hummer EV Edition 1 for $285,000. For that price, the person also got a home charging station, the rare opportunity to “drop the gavel” at the Barrett-Jackson auction, priority parking at their local Neiman Marcus store and VIP passes for two to the invitation-only Barrett-Jackson Opening Night Gala among other things.
Here are a few of the other gifts available in this year's Fantasy Gifts catalog:
For $510,000, you can be transformed into an animated character with a cameo role in a short Disney video.
For $210,000, you go to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony and to two Olympic events.
For $485,000, go on a nine-day luxury yachting adventure through Indonesia on a treasure hunt.
For $500,000, travel to the French Riviera for the Cannes Film Festival as a guest of famed jewelry house: Maison Chopard. The four-day trip includes a stay at one of Cannes’ famous palaces with admission to the Cannes Film Festival, to walk the red carpet and attend a film viewing.
For $380,000, a trip to Milan, Italy, with award-winning interior designer Nina Magon who will redesign a space in your home.
For $75,000, fly to New York and then Paris to visit Baccarat and craft your own masterpiece from the world’s purest crystal.
For $195,000, experience an American Ballet Theater performance behind the curtain with a walk-on role.
Neiman Marcus said in a media release that each Fantasy Gift has a philanthropic component. This year the retailer is partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America on a point-of-sale fundraising campaign that customers can participate in. If you want to make a fantasy purchase, call 1-877-966-4438.
More: Ford opens exclusive Bronco Off-Roadeo courses to non-owners for 1st time
More: Cadillac aims to prove it's still the world’s finest automaker with the 2024 Celestiq EV
Contact Jamie L. LaReau: jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Neiman Marcus' fantasy gifts catalog offers Cadillac, GM tour for $975K
