Cadillac New Zealand has confirmed its first local "Experience Centre" for the Lyriq luxury EV (check out our first drive here), to be opened next year at 501 Karangahape Road, near the Auckland CBD.
It won't be the first automotive tenant for the building, which was chosen for its natural light, brick facade and "colonial-style" surroundings, says Cadillac. It's the former home of the Tesla Store, which packed up and moved out of the central city back in May.
But Cadillac is keen to move in, saying it's not doing things in the traditional way for its export markets: "In keeping with Cadillac’s brand ethos, the Auckland Cadillac Experience Centre isn’t located on a traditional auto alley, or on a vast footprint in the outer suburbs," says the company.
Cadillac is promising the new Centre will be a "design-star" of K Road: "A combination of textured greys, classic imagery, sharp lines, and bold lighting will set the clean and modern-feeling scene, while Cadillac will continue to reshape the showroom experience through a specialised vehicle-delivery area with a luxurious guest lounge, a feature-vehicle ‘runway’, a design and personalisation centre, and an on-site service centre.
The Centre is being designed in partnership with architecture practice Gensler, which was also responsible for designing Cadillac's first European showroom in Zurich, Switzerland. Gensler is also responsible for Cadillac’s new space in the Rosebery Engine Yards in Sydney, Australia.
When will the NZ Cadillac Centre open?
Customer orders for NZ will commence from January 2025, first through Cadillac’s online configurator, and will be paired with a charge and warranty "specifically selected for the market".
Test-drive vehicles will be available from early next year, first from pop-up locations, before moving to Auckland Cadillac Experience Centre in Q2 next year.
After-work drinks are likely to be a bit more exciting for GM NZ staff too, with head office to join the Experience Centre in a dedicated space within the K Road site.