2023 Cadillac Lyriq is Almost Here

Today the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq made its production debut. If this is the highlight of a century of innovation, what’s Cadillac been doing the rest of the time? Cadillac’s luxury electric SUV is starting a new era ahead of schedule. You can place your order in September for a 2022 first-half delivery.

“The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq’s stunning design and technology combined with GM’s Ultium Platform will deliver a high-performance luxury experience unlike anything that has come before it,” said Rory Harvey, vice president, Cadillac.

Lyriq’s Ultium Platform features a 12-module, 100 kW-hour battery pack, and a rear-wheel drive. Lyriq will have an estimated 340 horsepower, 440 Nm of torque, and a range of 300+ miles. What about recharging? Lyriq’s 190 kW high-speed DC fast charging at public stations will add about 76 miles of range in 10 minutes of charging. Lyriq’a 19.2 kW charging module will add up to 52 miles of range per hour of charge at home.

“Thanks to the Ultium Platform that powers Lyriq, along with advanced virtual development tools, Cadillac has been able to accelerate development and put more 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 electric luxury vehicle to customers nine months earlier than originally planned.”

Electric driving efficiency is maximized through the use of regenerative braking. With Regen on Demand, you control how quickly the vehicle slows or comes to a complete stop using a pressure-sensitive steering wheel paddle.

Other features include a 33-inch-diagonal advanced LED display with over 1 billion colors. For comparison, the 27-inch iMac I’m using supports a billion colors. Crank up the AKG Studio 19-speaker audio system. Cadillac’s Active Noise Cancellation keeps out unwanted sounds, just as its KeyPass digital vehicle access deters bad guys.

The otherwise clean and simple interior has laser-etched patterns through wood over metal, something never before done and maybe won’t be again. An imposing LED screen is the focus, with other parts included.

Slim-line LED headlamps have a choreographed lighting sequence. Choreographed lights at Las Vegas’ Bellagio Hotel are part of this vast fountain with water jets, a truly spectacular display. The Lyriq’s headlights aren’t going to be all that impressive.

Twenty-inch split six-spoke alloy wheels are standard, with 22-inch split-spoke, reverse rim alloy wheels as an option. Two exterior colors are the only choices, satin steel or stellar black metallic. Sky cool gray or noir are the interior colors. If Lyriq sells like Cadillac thinks they will, you’re going to see a whole lot of the same steel or black SUVs everywhere.

Another option is Super Cruise, what Cadillac calls their hands-free driver-assistance for compatible roads. Which roads and where? No comparison was made between the Lyriq and Tesla’s autonomy.

The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq will be produced at GM’s Spring Hill, Tennessee assembly plant in the first quarter of 2022. The Lyriq starts at $59,990. Don’t groan, because after all, somebody’s got to pay for all this high-technology. By the way, GM is investing $2 billion to support electric vehicle production. Another $2.3 billion will go towards a battery cell manufacturing plant by Ultium Cells LLC, the joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution.

[Images: Cadillac]