Once synonymous with big, V8-powered models, Cadillac will only sell electric vehicles by the beginning of the next decade.
“We will be leaving this decade as an EV brand, as things stand today, which means that we will not be selling ICE vehicles by 2030,” Rory Harvey, head of Cadillac global, told Automotive News and other members of the automotive media.
Cadillac sold 129,495 vehicles in the USA in 2020, all of them powered by solely by internal combustion engines.
The last electrified model sold Stateside was the CT6 plug-in hybrid, which was fully imported from China. It was discontinued in 2018 due to slow sales and import tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
Based on the GM Ultium electric architecture, the Cadillac Lyriq will be one of the first cars in an offensive which will see Caddy launch 20 electric cars by 2023.
Late last year the company revealed a concept version of the Lyriq. The production car unveiled today keeps the silhouette and most of the design elements.
Key changes include bigger wing mirrors, a visible charging port cover, framed door windows, an extra side window aft of the D-pillar, and less flashy-looking seats.
At launch the Lyriq will be available with a single electric motor driving the rear wheels, and rated at around 254kW and 440Nm.
With the standard 100kWh battery pack, Cadillac estimates the Lyriq will have a driving range of around 483km.
The Lyriq supports DC fast charging up to 190kW, which can add about 122km of range in just 10 minutes. Cadillac will also offer buyers a 19.2kW home charger that can add 84km of range per hour.
Other available features in the Lyriq include the Super Cruise hands-free highway driving system, a 33-inch curved screen on the dashboard, and a 19-speaker AKG Studio sound setup.
The Lyriq rides on standard 20-inch alloy wheels, or optional 22-inch rims.
Production of the Lyriq begins in early next year, and pricing starts from US$59,900 ($77,100).
For comparison’s sake, the entry-level 300kW all-wheel drive Audi E-Tron starts from US$65,900 ($84,700).
