Cadillac recently celebrated a pioneering moment that illuminates the brand’s future and resets the fundamental notions of luxury motoring.
The recent production debut of the 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ is the culmination of a century of innovation and the beginning of a great new era.
With testing of Cadillac’s inaugural luxury SUV running ahead of schedule, the brand announced that customers may place order reservations beginning in September 2021, with intial availability starting the first half of 2022.
“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, 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.”
At launch, LYRIQ will be available with premier technologies and stirring performance capabilities enabled by the vehicle’s dedicated electric architecture. A 12-module, 100 kilowatt-hour battery pack and a rear-wheeldrive Ultium propulsion system deliver an estimated 340 horsepower and 325 ft-lb of torque — and more than 480 km of range on a full charge based on Cadillac testing1.
“Thanks to the modular and highly flexible Ultium Platform that powers LYRIQ, along with advanced virtual development tools, Cadillac has been able to accelerate development and put more real-world miles on prototypes sooner than expected,” said Jamie Brewer, LYRIQ chief engineer.
“It’s exciting to see our objectives realized on the road — and it means we are on track to bring this pioneering electric luxury vehicle to customers months earlier than originally planned.”
LYRIQ also offers high-speed DC fast charging at 190 kW, enabling customers to obtain up to an estimated 122 km of range in only 10 minutes2. When equipped with an optional Level 2 19 kW residential charging module, customers can obtain up to 84 km of range per charging hour2 at home.
To help customers take full control of their electric driving experience, LYRIQ will feature next-generation Variable Regenon-Demand technology, along with the convenience of OnePedal Driving3.
With Cadillac’s new Variable Regen on Demand drivers can control how fast LYRIQ slows down and even come to a complete stop using a pressure-sensitive paddle located on the steering wheel. Both technologies make use of regenerative braking to help maximize electric driving range.
Additional highlights:
• Available Super Cruise4, the industry’s first true hands-free driver assistance system for compatible highways.
• A 33-inch-diagonal advanced LED display capable of displaying over one billion colours
• Cadillac’s Active Noise Cancellation system
• Slim-line LED headlamps with a choreographed lighting sequence
• AKG 19-speaker audio system with headrest speakers
• Digital Key digital access • Dual level charge cord
• Standard 20-inch split 6-spoke alloy wheels or optional 22-inch dynamic split-spoke Reverse Rim allow wheels Customers will be able to select from Satin Steel Metallic or Stellar Black Metallic exterior colours, and Sky Cool Gray or Noir for the interior.
“LYRIQ represents a cleansheet design that sets the standard for the future of Cadillac,” said Andrew Smith, executive director of Cadillac Design.
“The objective I gave my team was to design the LYRIQ with the level of detail that they would a show car. The customer should feel like they’re driving in the future.”
The interior is clean with a focus on secondary and tertiary design elements, including laser etched patterns through wood over metal décor, which has never been done before. The large, curved LED screen is the centerpiece and all the components are incorporated artfully, blurring the lines of separation among technology, lighting and décor. Perhaps the most striking example of Cadillac’s next iteration of brand styling is its distinctive black crystal grille.
“We wanted to give the vehicle a face, making sure it looks distinctly Cadillac,” said Smith.
The signature vertical lighting is emphasized through lighting choreography. The exterior lighting is a major technological breakthrough, allowing Cadillac to deliver on the promise of truly vertical lamps, an industry first.
The 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ is expected to go into production in the first quarter of 2022, with pricing starting at $69,8985. It will be produced at GM’s Spring Hill, Tennessee assembly facility, which is receiving a $2-billion investment to support electric vehicle production.
An additional $2.3 billion is being invested in an all-new battery cell manufacturing plant at Spring Hill, by Ultium Cells LLC, the joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solutions.
