The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq is officially set to launch during the first half of the 2022 calendar year, so it isn’t surprising that it has been a rare sight on roads thus far. However, Cadillac Society has just caught a prototype undergoing testing on public roads, giving us a glimpse of what the luxury crossover will look like out and about.
Back in April, Cadillac shared a single photo of a camouflaged Lyriq testing – a move that was uncharacteristic for the luxury marque. Unlike that initial prototype, this particular 2023 Cadillac Lyriq prototype doesn’t wear the typical camo. In fact, it doesn’t have any camo at all.
Instead, its body panels are white and it has matte black plastic trim pieces not slated for production. In addition, this unit has placeholder headlights, taillights and daytime running lights. It also doesn’t feature any exterior badging, and it’s missing the trim that would cover the rocker panels and most of the wheel trim (some of the trim is present atop the rear wheel).
To reiterate, the matte black plastic trim pieces seen here will not be part of the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq when it enters production. Rather, they act as placeholders for the higher-end gloss black trim that will adorn the final product. Also note this prototype’s pre-production grille, which does not feature the LED lighting display that will be included on the production models.
Also note the pins on the “hood” of this model. Before you ask, we’re not sure what their purpose is on this Lyriq prototype.
Additionally, we haven’t seen the twin six-spoke alloy wheels seen on this prototype on any Lyriq model thus far, and they appear to be smaller than the 20-inch and 21-inch wheels that will be offered on the Lyriq at launch. Perhaps these will serve as the wheels for the Lyriq’s base model once such a model comes to market.
Riding on the new BEV3 platform, the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq features a 100.4 kWh lithium-ion Ultium battery pack and a single Ultium Drive motor mounted on the rear axle. The electric driveline is rated at 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, and Cadillac estimates the Lyriq will have 300 miles of range on a full charge, despite the not-insignificant 5,610 pound curb weight.
Interestingly, the Cadillac Lyriq will not feature a frunk, a feature included in many other electric vehicles. Instead, the luxury electric crossover will have a roomier traditional trunk / storage area.
The Lyriq has already proven to be a hit with consumers, with pre-orders for the 2023 Cadillac Debut Edition selling out in just over ten minutes in the United States. Cadillac says that more units of the vehicle will become available in the summer of 2022.
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