GM elite brand’s primary national outlet is more than a sales room and is no shack. It might also very likely feel familiar to EV fans.

CADILLAC curiosity can now be settled, with the make having settled into its primary New Zealand outlet.

The brand has conformed today that the Cadillac Experience Centre in Auckland is now operational, and displaying the Lyriq sports utility, the first of three models signed for New Zealand.

The location is a refurbished colonial-style building in Auckland’s Karangahape Road that could well be familiar to electric car fans, as until last year it was the primary home to Tesla.

General Motors New Zealand announced intent to move in shortly after Elon Musk’s make moved on, to a new premises in the city’s south, but refurbishment into a Cadillac space has taken some time since.

GM says the location was chosen because it is the antithesis of the traditional dealership experience.

“The Cadillac Auckland Experience Centre is designed to deliver exactly what the name implies — a space for people to experience the effortless luxury of the Cadillac brand, wherever they are on the ownership journey.

“It’s why New Zealand’s first Cadillac centre isn’t located on a vast outer-urban site, or on any traditional ‘auto alley’.”

The property is intended to act the home of all things Cadillac, combining 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. All features that provisioned when it was a Tesla agency.

“Cadillac is a brand that prides itself on constantly reimagining the idea of modern luxury, and that ethos doesn’t start and finish with our vehicles,” said General Motors Australia and New Zealand managing director Jess Bala.

“It’s why the Cadillac Auckland Experience Centre is unlike any showroom our customers have ever experienced before. It’s a place to experience all that Cadillac offers, and a place designed to engage with Cadillac customers throughout their entire ownership journey.”

Next year Lyriq will be joined by the Optiq and Vistig sports utilities.

In addition to having Cadillac, General Motors as it now formats here also GM Specialty Vehicles - which represents the Chevrolet Corvette and Silverado out of a different retail network - plus Chevrolet Racing, ACDelco, GM Trade Parts, Holden Certified Service and Holden Heritage.