We’ve noticed an uptick in cars–especially pricey ones–using 3D-printed parts. However, these are usually small and nonstructural parts with a few exceptions. This isn’t the case with the 2024 Cadillac Celestiq. The $300,000 luxury electric vehicle boasts 115 3D-printed parts, according to a post on [TheDrive].
It appears part of the drive–no pun intended–is to allow ultra customizations for people who need more than a car that costs more than a quarter of a million dollars. For example, if you buy an Escalade — another Cadilac vehicle — you have to tolerate that the switches that operate the window are the same as Joe Sixpack has in his Tahoe. Not so, the Celestiq since it has 3D printed switches that could even be customized for a specific owner. The post mentions that the large steering wheel trim is all printed so having, for example, your name, family crest, or company logo embedded in it would be feasible.
If you think about it, the economics of 3D printing makes more sense for these luxury cars. A common production vehicle needs parts to feed an assembly line that is cranking out nearly 1,000 cars a day. GM — the maker of Cadilac — will never produce more than two Celestiqs a day. The web site notes they are “by inquiry only.”
We have seen some concept cars using sophisticated 3D prints for structural parts. Of course, you can still 3D print an enhancement for your VW Golf.
Is it made of concrete? Fifty years ago there was an interest in ferro cement boats.
You wouldn’t steal a car!
once we get 3d printers that can do cars at home there’ll be open source cars.
And the closed source ones will still be
available.
John Haynes open-sourced the Lotus Seven as the Locost many decades ago, keep up:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locost
thanks for the link!
Also,
https://www.divergent3d.com
obligatory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALZZx1xmAzg
Just identities.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/deepfakes-of-celebrities-have-begun-appearing-in-ads-with-or-without-their-permission-11666692003
I believe it’s Alvin Toffler in one of his books where technology allowed for a high degree of customization for what a customer bought. This solved two issues (generic product, and piracy) and created a third (no used products market).
Future Shock?
(the only book of his I’ve read, it has chapter on the Mustang and the many options available)
obpun: mumble mumble something about shocks on future automobiles…
>you have to tolerate that the switches that operate the window are the same as Joe Sixpack has in his Tahoe
Oh the horror.
Yeah. I wish i had only such problems… Seriously, what’s wrong with people? Nobody needs a car for 300k$ (that will probably have a big motor that will use a lot of fuel and produce a lot of CO2 and stuff also).
“…make it adjustable and they will adjust it wrong — look what they can do to a Weber carburetor in just a few moments of stupidity with a screwdriver.”
Colin Chapman
There’s going to be some hideous Cadillac interiors floating round the used market in a few years.
At $300K per car, I probably won’t see any of them.
Used, they’ll be 30k. Just look at Aston Martin used prices… Cars with 50k miles are affordable.
I don’t see many Aston-Martins in Minnesota either!
B^)
There’s hideous interiors now.
So in a way they’re bringing back the coachbuilt car where they’re identifiable as but with a lot of it built to the buyer’s wishes. But in some of those cars from the 20’s and 30’s, if the buyer threw enough money at the manufacturer, they’d do a total custom body and interior on the chassis.
POS – looks like every other mediocre incestuously copied abortion calling itself a “modern automobile” .. smh …even Homer Simpson’s design would look better than the crap being built nowadays.
At least the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s we had cars that were uniquely identifiable and had a personality –
not the rubbish being passed off as “new” – when the only difference is the name badge.
They should take a lesson from Mr Ferrari !!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNnVkD5g4yA
>> that the large steering wheel trim is all printed so having … your family crest … embedded in it
Sigh. And here I am, just an ordinary plebe who doesn’t even *have* a family crest.
Guess this just isn’t gonna be my decade either
Every family crest started at some point in time. This may be the decade for yours! I remember making a personal crest for a class project in the 9th grade. (I didn’t preserve it)
Blofeld didn’t either, but somehow he arranged a crest. See “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”
In most countries that isn’t the United Kingdom, you’re probably eligible to make up one and start using it. You may or may not have to register it for a nominal fee, or you may be able to simply use one unofficially without registration. Look up rules of heraldry for your country.
new but expensive.