The Cadillac Lyriq is not only significant as the first bespoke electric car from the historic American brand, but it’s also intended to signal a new design era that will help to revive and reinvent the marque for a new generation.
The Audi E-tron and BMW iX rival is due to arrive in US dealerships early next year and is built on the versatile bespoke electric Ultium platform that has been developed by parent firm General Motors. The architecture of this large luxury SUV is shared with machines as diverse as the wild GMC Hummer EV, forthcoming Chevrolet Blazer electric SUV, Chevrolet Silverado EV pick-up and even the Brightdrop 600 delivery van.
In the UK, Cadillac currently offers only a limited number of performance saloons such as the CT5-V Blackwing, but expect that to change: GM is currently gearing up for a major return to the European market with an all-EV offering, and while nothing is confirmed, it is widely expected that the Lyriq will be the flagship offering for that return.