Cadillac Lyriq starts GM’s EV roll-out

General Motors has officially launched the Cadillac Lyriq battery-electric SUV in the US, signalling the start of a massive electrified vehicle roll-out and the regeneration of its luxury brand.

But the Cadillac Lyriq we’ve been shown is still not the full production model, instead being described as 85 per cent ‘design complete’. That means there will be more changes before it starts rolling off the assembly line in late 2022.

While the US automotive giant already offers the small Bolt EV in North America, the Lyriq SUV is the first production model to use its latest BEV3 modular EV architecture and Ultium lithium-ion pouch-style batteries developed with LG Chem.

The Cadillac Lyriq will be available with rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive powertrain options. While the RWD will be single-motor, the AWD has not been specified as a dual-motor. It may be worth remembering the GMC Hummer will launch with three motors.

Cadillac is aiming for a 300-mile plus (480km) driving range from a 100kWh (approx) battery pack. The Lyriq will support AC charging up to 19kW and 150kW DC fast-charging.

The Lyriq also debuts a whole new generation of technology in virtually every area of the car, and it will flow from Cadillac into other GM brands.

All up, GM says it plans to roll out at least 20 EVs across its portfolio by 2023. By 2030, Cadillac promises to have a completely electrified line-up.

“This is truly a monumental night for Cadillac and General Motors,” GM global president Mark Reuss said during the Lyriq’s livestream debut.

The angular styling of the Lyriq also reflects a new design language for Cadillac developed under Australian Andrew Smith.

"The Lyriq represents the next iteration of the iconic brand's styling, enabled by electrification, as only Cadillac can express," he said.

“Inside and out, Lyriq is a thoughtful integration of design and technology and is intended to make every drive an occasion.”

Inside the high-tech two-row cabin that’s helped by a curving 33-inch panoramic LED dashboard that dominates the presentation.

The Lyriq will also come with GM’s latest SuperCruise semi-autonomous driving system, new noise-cancellation technology and – on the flipside – a new 19-speaker AKG audio system.

The Lyriq name also signals Cadillac’s shift away from a generation of confusing alpha-numeric model names. Going forward expect more ‘iq’ badges.

When it does go on sale in the USA, the Lyriq’s pricing is expected to start below $US75,000 (just over $A100,000), pitching it up against the likes of the Audi e-tron, Mercedes-Benz EQC, Jaguar I-PACE and the Tesla Model X.

So what about Australia? Well, don’t hold your breath. GM just axed Holden in Australia and is in the process of setting up a new organisation known as GM Specialty Vehicles, which could sell a range of GM vehicles from the Chevrolet Camaro and Silverado to the GMC Hummer and Cadillac Lyric EVs – eventually.