Is This Curious Clay Model An Alternate Design For The Cadillac Lyriq?

The Cadillac Lyriq is the marque’s first-ever all-electric vehicle, one that’s now selling better than every Cadillac XT crossover. Now, a recent video shows a curious Lyriq that we haven’t seen before.

The Wall Street Journal recently toured the Warren Technical Center (WTC) – the primary research and vehicle development facility of Cadillac’s parent company, General Motors. Located in Warren, Michigan, the WTC was the recent recipient of several investments that enabled all kinds of upgrades, including revamped design studios, and The Journal’s video provides a tour of the updated facility, including footage of designers hard at work in the background. Though nothing specific is called out, one of the vehicles being worked on is a clay model of a Cadillac Lyriq that differs from the model in production today.

This curious Cadillac Lyriq can be seen at multiple points in the brief clip, giving us a relatively clear look at its styling. As for how it’s different, let’s start with the front end treatment, which seems to be partially inspired by the Cadillac Opulent Velocity concept that debuted back in August.

Additionally, the rear pillars have also been reshaped, resulting in the removal of the boomerang tailamps seen on the current Lyriq.

So, what exactly are we looking at here? One possibility is that this is a refreshed model. However, we doubt that this is the case, since Cadillac likely staged the studio for the media tour, thereby removing any future products in development.

With that in mind, let’s note that vehicles (or programs, in Cadillac speak) often go through several phases of design throughout the development process before being approved by higher management. So what we’re looking at here might be an alternative design of the Lyriq that never made it to market.

If you can spare seven minutes out of your day, the Journal’s video provides some unique insight into what goes on in the world of Cadillac and its parent company.

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