General Motors has a very clear objective for its historic Cadillac brand: to make it a technological benchmark in the premium segment to stand up to Tesla. Thus, the North American firm will become the spearhead of General Motors’ electrification strategy with models such as the recently introduced Lyriq.
The Cadillac Lyriq is the first 100% electric Cadillac car and the first General Motors model to use the BEV3 modular platform and the Ultium modular battery system, which uses cells with NCMA (nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminum chemistry). The use of aluminum in the cathode has reduced the use of cobalt by more than 70% compared to the batteries currently offered by General Motors.
With a capacity of 100 kWh, the batteries of the Cadillac Lyriq will provide autonomy of more than 300 miles under the American EPA approval cycle. The model will be able to charge 19 kW of power in alternating current, while in continuous, it will exceed 150 kW (at the moment no data has been given about its charging times). The model will be available with rear and all-wheel drive, and its weight distribution will be 50/50.
Aesthetically we find ourselves before an imposing SUV of excellent dimensions. It is equipped with an aggressive front in which the thin headlights integrated into an angled fairing, and backlit grille stands out. The pilots, meanwhile, are divided into two sections: the upper one is L-shaped, originates from the C-pillar and extends horizontally until it merges with the rear window, and the lower part of the bumper and “rises” to the middle of the gate, framing an air intake.
Inside we find a huge 33-inch LED screen in panoramic format. This large display has the highest pixel density currently available in the automotive industry, displaying over a billion colors (64 times more than any other vehicle on the market). As for the equipment, the inclusion of the Super Cruise “hands-free” autonomous driving system will be highlighted as part of the standard equipment.
The vehicle presented by Cadillac corresponds in 85% to the final production model, which will go on sale in late 2022 in the United States (it arrived in China a year earlier, in 2021). The Lyriq will be followed by both an electric version of the Escalade and the Celestiq representation vehicle.