Story | Norris McDonald
The first managing editor I ever worked for started his career at the Chicago Tribune. His name was Cliff Peters and he once interviewed renowned gangster Al Capone at his South Side home.
Peters was impressed by the car parked outside. It was a black Cadillac V16—an expensive car made-to-order for the man they called Public Enemy No. 1.
Cadillac LYRIQ’s new electric vehicle architecture opens up possibilities in vehicle spaciousness and design.
Images display show car, not for sale. Some features shown may not be available on actual production model.
But that was then. This is now and Cadillac seems to have done it again. While Cliff Peters was dazzled by that 1930 V16, I got my first glimpse of the brand spanking new Cadillac Lyriq EV crossover, which was introduced to the world recently via video streaming from the company’s headquarters in Detroit.
Lyriq is GM’s first all-electric luxury automobile based on the company’s next-generation modular electric vehicle platform and is driven by its Ultium propulsion system (batteries that support 800-volt technology and store about 100 kilowatt-hours of energy).
“We’re looking at a late 2022 introduction as a 2023 model,” said GM North America president Steve Carlisle. As you can imagine, Canadian pricing is not yet known.
Cadillac LYRIQ pairs next-generation battery technology with a bold design statement which introduces a new face, proportion and presence for the brand’s new generation of EVs.
Images display show car, not for sale. Some features shown may not be available on actual production model.
Lyriq is a show car—a concept—rather than the actual production model. A flow-through roof spoiler, a “black crystal” grille and LED lighting front and rear are pretty spectacular features. What the virtual reveal showed, executives said, was a vehicle that’s about 80 per cent of what it will end up being.
In the video, Carlisle says Cadillac will be led by the Lyriq as the company redefines luxury over the next decade with a new portfolio of transformative EVs. It’s the first of what GM is promising will be 20 EVs for sale around the world by 2023.
Cadillac says its internal testing shows the Lyriq will go nearly 500 kilometres (485 kms to be exact) on a full charge, which means a non-stop drive between Toronto and Ottawa, for example. Other technology and performance highlights include:
• Charging options for home, the workplace and the road, including DC fast-charging at more than 150 kilowatts and Level 1 and 2 charging rates up to 19 kW2.
• The battery pack is attached to the underbody to help stiffen the vehicle and allow for a very low centre of gravity. The weight distribution will be about 50-50 (the drive motor will be at the rear).
• Two drivetrains will be available: rear-wheel drive will be on all models, but you can pay extra to have performance all-wheel drive (a second drive unit will be placed at the front).
The latest version of Super Cruise will be on the car, the first truly handsfree driver assistance feature recently enhanced to include automated lane change and remote self-parking. And Lyriq will recognize the driver as he/
she approaches and automatically adjust seat, mirror and climate-control systems.
A 33-inch diagonal advanced LED screen will span the entire viewing area of the driver and contain every bit of driver information imaginable, as well as infotainment info and controls.
A 19-speaker AKG studio system is an enticing option, and the EV will introduce a new road-noise cancellation technology to keep the cabin so ultra-quiet that you’ll be able to listen to Saturday Afternoon at the Met and
not be disturbed.
“Lyriq was conceived to make every journey exhilarating and to drive the brand into a new era, while rewarding passengers with a more personal, connected and immersive experience,” said Jamie Brewer, chief engineer on the Lyriq project. “It is not only an exceptional EV, but first and foremost a Cadillac.”
