Cadillac to focus exclusively on BEVs

Cadillac has presented the production version of the Lyriq electric SUV and at the same time announced its transformation to an electric car brand by the end of this decade. From now on, all newly introduced models will all be battery-electric vehicles.

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The Lyriq electric SUV is planned to be available for pre-order from September onwards and is scheduled to be launched in the first half of 2022 at prices starting at 59,990 US dollars – previously there was talk of a market launch at the end of 2022. At launch, the Cadillac Lyriq, which is built on parent company GM’s Ultium platform, will be offered with a 254 kW rear-wheel-drive system and a 100 kWh battery pack that is expected to provide a range of over 300 miles (483 km). AC charging will be possible at 19.2 kW, DC charging at up to 190 kW.

To reduce consumption, the Lyriq is said to have a sophisticated recuperation system. Users are to be able to choose between a one-pedal driving and a variable “Regen on Demand” system. With the latter, drivers can use a pressure-sensitive paddle on the steering wheel to control how much the Lyriq decelerates via recuperation – both with one-pedal driving and “rain on demand” until it comes to a standstill.

All-wheel-drive variants and also larger and smaller battery packs are possible with the Ultium platform, but Cadillac gives no further details in the announcement. For the 2023 model year, the production launch is likely to be kept simple with a battery and powertrain configuration. The Lyriq, unlike the GMC Hummer EV, will be built at the Spring Hill plant in Tennessee, making it the first Ultium model for that plant.

Externally, the Lyriq strongly resembles the concept car shown last year, which according to the statement at the time largely corresponded to the series design. It was also known that the electric Cadillac will receive the assistance system called “Super Cruise”, which is supposed to enable semi-autonomous driving. In addition, a next-generation Active Noise Cancellation system is expected to help ensure that interior driving noise is barely audible.

“Throughout the next decade, Cadillac will define the future of luxury transportation through a series of exciting new electric vehicles, and it all begins with LYRIQ,” said Rory Harvey, vice president of Global Cadillac. “The 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ’s stunning design and artfully integrated technology combined with GM’s Ultium Platform will deliver a high-performance luxury experience unlike anything that has come before it, setting a new standard for Cadillac.”

Harvey means the latter literally: as part of the Lyriq’s unveiling, Cadillac also announced that the brand will only introduce fully-electric new models from now on, and plans to stop selling cars with internal combustion engines completely from 2030. “We will leave this decade as an EV brand as it stands today, which means we won’t be selling any internal combustion cars until 2030,” Harvey said. The Cadillac boss did not go into further detail.

This would mean that the premium brand would make the switch to zero-emission powertrains somewhat faster than the entire group. As is well known, GM had announced at the end of January that it would no longer sell combustion engines from 2035.

Cadillac had already emphasised in the past that it would focus strongly on electric mobility and become GM’s “leading electric brand”. Already announced are another electric SUV below the Lyriq as well as three larger electric SUVs – up to an electric counterpart for the Escalade, whose days are probably numbered with the current announcement. In addition, a “super-exclusive” electric sedan, the Celestiq, is to be launched.

Update 16 August 2021

Cadillac will begin accepting reservations for its first electric model, the Lyriq, on 18 September. The base price will be $58,795, $1,105 lower than originally announced.

As previously announced, the 2023 Lyriq features a range up to 300 miles (483 km) due to its Ultium battery pack with a capacity of 100 kWh. The rear-wheel-drive Ultium Platform will deliver 340 horsepower and 440 Nm (324 lb-ft) of torque.

Cadillac also added that it will offer high-speed DC fast charging for public stations at 190 kW, which means that a charging time of around 10 minutes will add 76 miles (122 km) of range. For home charging, the Lyriq will offer a 19.2 kW charging module that can add up to 52 miles (84 km) of range per hour of charge.

Update 20 September 2021:

Cadillac opened reservations for its first electric model Lyriq presented in April at the weekend – and closed them again only a few minutes later. The Debut Edition of the Lyriq was sold out in just over ten minutes, Cadillac confirmed. However, the manufacturer does not reveal how many copies of the e-SUV have been reserved. More vehicles will be available through Cadillac dealers from summer 2022.

cadillac.com (Lyriq), electrek.co, carscoops.com (brand electrification), insideevs.com, cadillac.com (both updates), cadillac.com, cadillac.com (both updates 20.09.2021)