General Motors has an ambitious multi-brand and multi-segment electrification strategy, by which the American group wants to surpass the million electric vehicles sold annually by 2025. Within this strategy, the role of Cadillac will be fundamental, as the premium brand will become General Motors’ technological flagship.
This same year Cadillac will present the Lyriq, a seven-seater electric SUV that will be in charge of launching both the new modular BEV3 platform and Ultium batteries from General Motors. The Lyriq will probably go on sale in China throughout 2021, while its arrival in the United States will not take place until 2022.
However, the company has now registered the names “Lyriq” and “Cadillac Lyriq” in countries such as Germany, South Korea, and Israel. This means that it is likely to be sold in numerous international markets, including Europe. General Motors has confirmed several times in the past that Cadillac will once again have a global presence in the coming years. Its electric range could be the perfect opportunity to gain a foothold in hitherto hermetic regions such as the old continent, where Audi brands, BMW and Mercedes-Benz monopolize the premium market.
At the moment, it is unknown if the model will use the 400-volt electrical system that can be found in most of the group’s new-generation electrical models. However, on the contrary, it may have the 800-volt system that will be used by electric pick-ups of the company, which will be able to load 350 kW of power in direct current.
Although not yet confirmed, thanks to the Ultium modular batteries the Cadillac Lyriq may offer a market-leading autonomy. The packs will be able to reach a maximum of 200 kWh of capacity thanks to the combination of a total of 24 modules distributed in two “floors” inside the battery packaging. With this capacity, it is known that the Hummer electric pick-up should be capable of far exceeding the EPA 400 miles (644 km) of autonomy. However, it is not clear if the Cadillac Lyriq will use this pack or bet on a less capable one.
The cells used in the Ultium batteries will be developed in collaboration with LG Chem. They will have 70% less cobalt and will reduce their cost to $100 per kWh (the price for complete batteries will be $120 per kWh). Also, each module will have a dedicated management system that will allow each unit to be replaced, reducing the cost of repairs.
General Motors’ new generation electric motors will also be an internal development of the company, with one, two, or even three per vehicle being used (it is not clear how many the Lyriq will have). A motor located on the front axle can reach 241 hp (180 kW), while a motor for the rear axle 335 hp (250 kW). The Hummer pick-up, for example, will use a front engine and two rear, which will give it a power of about 1,000 hp.