Caddy has officially unveiled the Cadillac Lyriq show car, previewing what’s to come in the luxury brand’s battery-driven future.
From the off, it’s important to note that this is the Cadillac Lyriq show car, and not the final production vehicle. Rather, this vehicle is 80 to 85 percent production-ready, which means some of the styling and features won’t make the cut when it finally starts rolling off the line.
For example, the Lyriq show car’s ultra-thin sideview mirrors will not make it into production. However, the attractive shoulder line, roofline, proportions, and fascia treatments are all on-target for the production vehicle.
And that’s a good thing, too, because the Cadillac Lyriq is a looker, no doubt about it. It has no small degree of futuristic styling cues as well, such as LED lighting signatures, as well as a monochromatic logo and a light-up crest (both of which Cadillac Society was first to report). The automaker also says that the Cadillac Lyriq will offer a “choreographed lighting sequence” to greet the driver as they approach, with various settings for the driver seat, mirrors, and climate control adjusted to match their preferences.
The Cadillac Lyriq is based on the next-generation BEV 3 platform, and will arrive as a D-segment all-electric crossover. Sizing is said to be between the Cadillac XT5 and Cadillac XT6.
Providing the juice is the brand’s latest Ultium battery technology, with the battery packs integrated directly with the structure of the vehicle to enhance the overall ride, handling, and safety. The batteries use an NCMA (nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminum) chemistry and pack in 100 kWh of energy. Cadillac also claims a near 50/50 weight distribution for a “vehicle that’s sporty, responsive and allows for spirited driving”
Range-per-charge is rated at more than 300 miles based on internal testing. Drivers will have multiple charging options at their disposal, including DC fast charging rates over 150 kW, as well as Level 2 charging rates up to 19 kW.
The Cadillac Lyriq comes with RWD as standard, placing the drive motor in the rear, but AWD will be offered, adding an additional drive motor up front.
The cabin is dominated by a 33-inch LED display, which is similar in layout to the digital display in the all-new 2021 Cadillac Escalade. However, the screen in the Lyriq uses different technology than the OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) screen in the new Escalade.
Speaking of technology, the Cadillac Lyriq will also come equipped with the semi-autonomous Super Cruise driver assist system, a 19-speaker AKG Studio stereo with noise cancellation, and a dual-plane augmented reality-enhanced head-up display.
Meanwhile, the Lyriq show car gets a Remote Self-Parking, which is not expected to make it to production.
The Cadillac Lyriq will go on sale late in the 2022 calendar year for the 2023 model year. Production is expected to take place at the Detroit-Hamtramck facility in Michigan.
What do you think about the new Cadillac Lyriq? Let us know in the comments, and subscribe to Cadillac Society for around-the-clock Cadillac news coverage.
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