Since November 17, Cadillac started presales of the LYRIQ, its first all-electric SUV, in China. In just one month, Cadillac received more than 5,000 preorders. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in mid-2022. Prices for the first model based on GM’s new Ultium platform starts from 439,700 yuan ($69,040).
Cadillac’s first entrant into the luxury electric vehicle market will be this LYRIQ SUV, positioned as a mid-large pure electric SUV.
The locally produced version is 5,003 mm long, 1,978 mm wide, 1,635 mm high, and has a wheelbase of 3,094 mm. The main highlight of the new car’s appearance is the black crystal light grille, which is the giant transparent PC dual injection-injection grille in the industry.
Lyriq has 58 independent LED light sources. The side design is simple, linear fluid design; Michelin 265/50R20 self-sealing tires have been added to this car.
In terms of interior, LYRIQ’s 33″ diagonal LED display with 9K ultra-high resolution can display up to a billion colors. The AKG 19-speaker Studio System creates an immersive experience using Quantum Logic surround sound technology. Users will also enjoy 5G connectivity for smooth human-machine interaction.
In addition, the LYRIQ is equipped with GM’s next-generation Super Cruise, which integrates automatic and command-based lane changing.
In terms of power, it has a 95.7 kWh battery pack and a rear-drive system that can provide 255 kW of power and 440 Nm of torque. Acceleration 0-100km/h in 6.9 seconds. That’s surely fast enough for everyday driving, but the numbers aren’t as impressive as one may expect from a high-end EV in 2022. Besides, it has a China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC) range of over 650 kilometers.
Those who preorder and purchase an LYRIQ by the end of April 2022 will receive additional benefits such as 10,000 kilometers of free public charging, a daily range-relevant gift for logging on to the Cadillac IQ app, a choice of unique exterior colors, and prioritized delivery starting in mid-2022.
The new SAIC-GM Cadillac Lyriq is a much-needed car for General Motors in China, where startups and existing automakers alike are launching ever more powerful and luxurious electric vehicles every day. However, the specs and the interior of the Lyriq are both a bit of a disappointment.
Our last comment said that Lyriq’s success would mainly depend on pricing. Starting at $70k, it will be difficult for Cadillac to compete with domestic rivals as Nio ES8 or German competition. The preorders are based only on small refundable deposits; we will closely watch Lyriq sales next year. Fingers crossed!
